1963-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-004

Description

Breaking from the three southward RPMs that dominate the 1963-D set, this RPM-004 shows a D over D repunched to the west — the first horizontal displacement among the five varieties cataloged for the final Denver Franklin Half Dollar. The westward correction means the initial D was positioned too far right, and the die maker shifted the punch leftward before applying the final impression. Remnants of the first D appear displaced to the east of the final position, creating horizontal rather than vertical overlap — visually distinct from the three southward RPMs that show first-punch remnants above the final D. The directional change from south to west on RPM-004 suggests this die was prepared by a different operator or under different conditions than the three southward-repunched dies, demonstrating that mintmark placement errors were not uniformly directional even within a single date's production run. As a westward RPM on the series' final Denver issue, RPM-004 continues the tradition of westward D corrections seen on 1949-D, 1952-D RPM-001, and 1954-D RPM-001 — a recurring direction across multiple Franklin Half Dollar dates. Struck in 90% silver at 30.6mm. Examine the D mintmark for the eastward-displaced initial impression — the horizontal overlap that clearly differentiates RPM-004 from the three southward varieties.

External References