1945-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-020

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with attribution codes UVC-222 and DMR-023, this 1945-S Lincoln Wheat Cent displays a S/S East repunched mintmark where the initial S punch was positioned slightly west of the final placement, and the corrective repunch shifted the letter eastward. The MMS-006 designation, identified as the "Ball Serif" mintmark style, specifies the particular S punch tool used — a variant with rounded, ball-shaped serifs at the terminals of the letter that distinguish it from other S punch styles employed at the San Francisco Mint during this period. Three die stages document progression: Stage A in early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at mid-die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C in late die state with both obverse and reverse showing LDS characteristics — indicating this die pair was used extensively before being retired from service. The Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1945 during the final months of World War II, composed of the standard bronze alloy of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm. The wartime context is significant because high production demands during 1944-1945, as the Mint resumed bronze cent production after the 1943 steel cent experiment, likely accelerated die consumption and increased the total number of working dies needed, creating more opportunities for mintmark placement variations. Victor David Brenner\'s obverse portrait and the wheat ears reverse complete the design. The "Ball Serif" mintmark classification adds a dimension of punch-tool identification that helps researchers connect RPM varieties sharing the same physical punch across different working dies, contributing to a broader understanding of the San Francisco Mint\'s tooling practices.

Die Markers

• UVC-222
• DMR-023
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Wilson
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References