1947-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-012

Description

Showing an S/S repunched mintmark shifted south, this 1947-S Lincoln wheat cent WRPM-012 preserves the traces of hand-applied mintmark punching that characterized branch mint die preparation through the early 1990s. Cross-referenced as CONECA RPM #8B and cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1947-S 1¢ WRPM-012, this variety features a distinctive trumpet tail mintmark style. The obverse carries extensive die marker diagnostics: north-south and NNW/SSE die scratches between the date and profile, a die scratch running southwest from the lower left of the G in GOD, a die scratch extending northeast from the lower right of the N in IN, and north-south die scratches running through the letters of LIBERTY. The reverse shows a heavy die scratch running south from the left leg of the R and C of AMERICA. This dense constellation of die markers provides multiple confirmation points for attribution, making WRPM-012 one of the more reliably identifiable RPM varieties for the 1947-S date. The San Francisco Mint struck 99.0 million cents in 1947, a relatively modest figure that reflects the facility's smaller production capacity compared to Philadelphia. Repunched mintmark varieties were a natural consequence of the manual mintmark application process: an engraver would position a steel punch bearing the S letter over the designated location on the working die and strike it with a hammer, and if the first impression was misplaced, a correcting blow would create the characteristic doubled mintmark appearance. The trumpet tail style seen on this RPM refers to the specific shape of the S mintmark punch used, which can vary across different years and punch generations.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lloyd Hanson Cross References: CONECA: RPM #8B
• CONECA: RPM #8B; Wexler Variety ID: 1947-S 1¢ WRPM-012
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References