1962-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-013

Description

One of the more complex entries in the 1962-D Lincoln Memorial Cent RPM series, RPM-013 is distinguished by the fact that its obverse die was paired with two different reverse dies during its production life at the Denver Mint, creating two separate die marriage records in the VarietyVista catalog. This kind of reverse die change occurred routinely in high-volume production: when a reverse die deteriorated beyond acceptable tolerances, it was retired and replaced while the still-serviceable obverse die continued in use, generating a new die pairing. The first marriage, UVC-867 / DMR-017, begins in Stage A with a light secondary mintmark visible in early-to-mid die state (EMDS). As the die progressed, Stage B documents a die break developing at the right base tip of the reverse, and by the die's later stages a die chip and depression appeared at the right eave — deterioration severe enough to warrant the reverse die swap. The second marriage, UVC-868 / DMR-018, picks up with the obverse now in mid-die state (MDS) and paired with a fresh reverse that itself carries a die chip on upper column #12 and a die chip on the right cornice. By Stage C of this second pairing, the secondary mintmark has weakened to a very faint outline as the obverse steel continues to erode under striking pressure, while the reverse die chips have grown more pronounced in late die state (LDS). For collectors, the two-reverse history creates distinct sub-varieties: specimens with the first reverse and its right-base die break predate those with the second reverse and its column #12 chip, offering a built-in chronological framework for organizing a specialized collection of this single RPM variety.

Die Markers

• UVC-867
• DMR-017
• Stage A:
• Light secondary mintmark – EMDS
• Die break at Right base tip – LDS
• Die chip and depression at Right eave
• UVC-868
• DMR-018
• Stage B:
• Obverse is MDS
• Reverse die changed – MDS
• Die chip on upper column #12
• Die chip on Right cornice
• Stage C:
• Very weak secondary mintmark – LDS
• Die chips on reverse are stronger – LDS

External References