1947-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-013

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1947-S 1¢ WRPM-013, this Lincoln Wheat Cent features an S/S repunched mintmark with extensively documented die stage progression across two confirmed states. Stage A obverse markers include a sans serif mintmark, north-south die scratches running south from the chin to the left of the 1 in the date, and two die scratches running north from the top of the 1. Stage B obverse adds a die chip between the R and U of TRUST and a die chip under the V.D.B. designer’s initials. Reverse Stage A shows a die chip above the last S of STATES and east-west die scratches between the A and M of AMERICA, while Stage B adds a die chip at the lower right of the E in STATES. The photo of the RPM was taken by Brian Ribar, whose photographic documentation has contributed significantly to the Wexler reference files. No cross-references to other cataloging systems are currently known. The 1947-S Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse portrait, and the wheat ears reverse was in its thirty-ninth year of continuous production. The sans serif mintmark noted in Stage A is diagnostically significant because it identifies the specific punch style used to apply the S to this working die, as multiple S punch styles were used across different die production runs. The progression from Stage A to Stage B documents accumulating die deterioration through the production run, with new die chips developing at the TRUST area and V.D.B. initials on the obverse and near the E in STATES on the reverse.

Attribution History

• None known Comments: The photo of the RPM was taken by Brian Ribar.; Wexler Variety ID: 1947-S 1¢ WRPM-013
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References