1945-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-019

Description

Documented by VarietyVista, the 1945-S RPM-019 Lincoln Wheat Cent displays an S/S West repunched mintmark using MMS-004 (Trumpet Tail) — a specific mintmark punch style identified by its distinctive flared serif terminal, named for its resemblance to a trumpet bell shape, which helps distinguish it from other S punch variants used during 1940s production at the San Francisco Mint. Die markers UVC-221 / DMR-022 track three progressive stages with an unusual asymmetric die-life pattern: Stage A shows the obverse at EDS but the reverse already at LDS, indicating this die pairing combined a fresh obverse with an already worn reverse die — a common Mint practice to maximize die usage by pairing dies at different stages of their service life. Stage B progresses to MDS (unconfirmed), and Stage C to LDS (unconfirmed). The reverse die's advanced state (LDS) even at the earliest documented obverse stage (EDS) means that all known specimens from this die pairing were struck with a deteriorated reverse, and collectors seeking the best representation of this variety should focus on obverse quality rather than reverse preservation. The Lincoln Wheat Cent was designed by Victor David Brenner and struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1945, composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The 1945 San Francisco Mint production used copper reclaimed from wartime sources, and the Trumpet Tail punch identification (MMS-004) adds a layer of die-manufacturing provenance that specialized RPM collectors track to build a comprehensive record of which physical punch tools were in service at each mint facility during specific production years.

Die Markers

• UVC-221
• DMR-022
• Stage A:
• Obverse is EDS
• Reverse is LDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Wilson
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References