1949-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Cross-referenced as FS-501 in the Cherrypickers' Guide, the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar RPM-002 shows an S over S repunched to the south — the most widely recognized repunched mintmark variety in the early Franklin Half Dollar series. The Fivaz-Stanton listing elevates this variety from specialist RPM catalogs into the mainstream variety collecting reference, making it a cherry-picking target for collectors searching through 1949-S half dollars. The southward displacement means the initial S was positioned too high, and the die maker corrected by shifting the punch downward — remnants of the first S appear above the final position, where the upper terminal of the displaced S extends beyond the final letter's top. The combination of low 1949-S mintage (approximately 3.7 million) and FS recognition makes this RPM particularly desirable. Franklin Half Dollars were struck in 90% silver at 30.6mm, and the series' fifteen-year production run (1948-1963) ended when Kennedy's assassination prompted an immediate design change. Sinnock's Liberty Bell reverse — depicting the bell with its famous crack, PASS AND STOW inscription, and the congressionally mandated small eagle — frames the mintmark area. Look for the displaced first S impression above the final southward-corrected position — the FS-501 variety that makes this the most sought-after RPM in the early Franklin series.

External References