1946-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-001

Description

Documented by VarietyVista, the 1946-S Washington Silver Quarter RPM-001 is cataloged as UVC-0633 with die marker record DMR-007, holding the primary catalog position for repunched mintmarks on the 1946-S date. Die stage progression documents three states: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B with the reverse at mid-die-state and a light die crack across Washington’s bust on the obverse at MDS, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). Notably, both the 1946-D RPM-004 and this 1946-S RPM-001 share the same Stage B die crack characteristic — a light crack across the bust — though on different die pairs, illustrating how similar stress patterns develop independently in dies bearing the same obverse design because the deep recesses required for Washington’s portrait create comparable stress concentrations across different working dies. The 1946-S Washington Quarter was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 90% silver at 6.25 grams with a 24.3 mm diameter. John Flanagan’s design features Washington’s profile adapted from the Houdon bust on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. The San Francisco Mint’s 1946 quarter production served West Coast coinage distribution, and each working die received its S mintmark via individual hand-punching. As RPM-001 for the 1946-S date, this variety represents either the first documented or most prominent repunched mintmark for this date-mint combination, giving it primary reference status within the catalog. Silver Washington Quarter RPMs from the 1940s occupy a well-established niche in the variety collecting community, and the 90% silver composition provides intrinsic metal value alongside the variety premium. The die crack at Stage B serves as a useful die state sorting criterion for collectors building comprehensive die state sets.

Die Markers

• UVC-0633
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse is MDS
• Light die crack across bust – MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References