1949-D Repunched Mintmark WRPM-031

Description

Thirty-first in the Wexler repunched mintmark census for the 1949-D Lincoln wheat cent, WRPM-031 documents a D/D Tilted (Rotated) variety where the initial mintmark impression was placed at a rotational angle different from the final D position. The tilted or rotated RPM classification indicates the engraver's preliminary mintmark punch was not merely displaced north, south, east, or west, but was delivered at a different rotational orientation — the D letter was turned on its axis before the corrective final punch was applied. This rotational displacement creates a diagnostic pattern where the ghost D impression shows its serifs and curves at angles inconsistent with the primary letter's orientation, distinguishing tilted RPMs from the more common directional varieties. The Wexler Team recorded specific obverse die markers: a die chip in the field right of the lower vest area and south of the mintmark, providing a secondary confirmation point near the RPM itself. On the reverse, die scratches appear to the left and under OF, adding a reverse-side diagnostic. Submitted by Brian Ribar, a noted die variety researcher, this attribution was documented with Stage A as the identified die state. Denver struck approximately 64.29 million wheat cents in 1949, a moderate mintage that consumed substantial numbers of working dies. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1949-D 1¢ WRPM-031, with no additional attribution system listings currently known. Collectors should examine the D mintmark under 15-20x magnification, looking for a secondary D impression rotated from the primary letter's orientation — the ghost D's vertical strokes and curved bowl will appear tilted relative to the final D's alignment, creating an angular overlap that differs from the parallel offset seen in standard directional RPMs. The die chip near the mintmark provides a convenient nearby marker for confirming the correct die.

Attribution History

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1949-D 1¢ WRPM-031
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References