1952-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-010

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1952-S 5¢ WRPM-010 with no known cross-references to other attribution systems, this Jefferson Nickel displays an S/S repunched mintmark variety from the San Francisco Mint. Obverse die markers include NW/SE die scratches at and below the letters LIB in LIBERTY, while the reverse shows N/S die scratches below Monticello along with a heavy die scratch at the CA of AMERICA. The extensive die scratch patterns — running through LIBERTY on the obverse and both below Monticello and through AMERICA on the reverse — provide a comprehensive fingerprint for this specific die pair, enabling confident attribution even in cases where the repunched mintmark itself may be partially obscured by wear or environmental damage. The Jefferson Nickel was designed by Felix Schlag and struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1952, composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.00 grams with a 21.21 mm diameter. The 1952-S is among the later San Francisco circulation-strike Jefferson Nickels, as the mint would cease producing business-strike nickels after 1955 and shift to proof-only production for this denomination. The tenth cataloged RPM for the 1952-S date demonstrates the substantial number of repunched mintmark varieties generated by the San Francisco Mint's hand-punching process, where each working die received its S mintmark individually through manual hammer impression. The heavy die scratch at the CA of AMERICA on the reverse is an especially strong attribution marker, as its prominence and specific location make it readily identifiable even under low magnification when examining potential WRPM-010 candidates.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1952-S 5¢ WRPM-010
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References