1953-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-012

Description

The 1953-S Lincoln Wheat Cent RPM-012 is catalogued in the VarietyVista registry under die codes UVC-491 and DMR-016. Struck at San Francisco in 95% bronze, this variety is part of the rich Lincoln Wheat cent variety landscape spanning 1909 through 1958. The repunch on RPM-012 is not described by direction in the available attribution data, making die markers the most critical identification path. Three die stages are documented: Stage A is an early die state (unconfirmed). Stage B at early-mid die state (EMDS) shows die scratches running north-south on the obverse, while the reverse had advanced to a very late die state (VLDS) — an unusual disparity indicating the reverse die was far more deteriorated than the obverse at this pairing. Stage C is a late die state (unconfirmed). The dramatically abraded reverse in Stage B is among the most visually distinctive die-state characteristics for this variety and helps distinguish it from other 1953-S Lincoln cent RPMs. Collectors should confirm the mintmark repunch and note the relative wear disparity between obverse and reverse as a die-state confirmation.

Die Markers

• UVC-491
• DMR-016
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die scratches North-South on Obverse – EMDS
• Heavily abraded Reverse – VLDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References