1970-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Arguably the most complex variety in the entire 1970-D Lincoln Memorial cent roster, RPM-002 combines a D/D South repunched mintmark with a dual listing as DDO-005 — making this a die that carries both a positional mintmark error and hub doubling on the same working die. The strong secondary mintmark displaced south of the primary D is the defining RPM characteristic, while the DDO-005 cross-listing confirms doubled die features that elevate this beyond a simple repunched mintmark. Cataloged across three distinct Universal Variety Code assignments — UVC-3331/DMR-017, UVC-935/DMR-003, and UVC-3502/DMR-019 — this variety's documentation spans six die stages that reveal not only progressive die deterioration but also two reverse die changes during the die's service life, providing extraordinary insight into Denver Mint die management practices. Stage A (UVC-3331/DMR-017) presents the die in Early Die State with a strong secondary mintmark visible south of the primary D. Critically, the bar above the 7 — the diagnostic feature of the DDO-005 component — does NOT show in this earliest stage, suggesting the doubling may be too subtle to detect without the die wear that later stages introduce. The reverse is also EDS, establishing a baseline pairing. Stage B (UVC-935/DMR-003) marks a pivotal transition: the strong secondary mintmark remains visible at EDS, but now the bar above the 7 IS visible — indicating that slight die wear or surface changes have revealed the hub doubling that was present but masked in Stage A. The reverse die has been changed, with the new reverse already at Late-Mid Die State, and die chips have developed on columns number 1 and number 12 of the Memorial. Stage C sees the secondary mintmark weaken to light visibility at Early-Mid Die State, with northeast-to-southwest scratches appearing on the obverse while the reverse — now LDS — develops northwest-to-southeast scratches, die cracks along the left baseline, and a light crack on the N of ONE. By Stage D, the secondary mintmark has further diminished to weak visibility at Mid Die State, with the obverse scratches showing wear, and the reverse at LDS. Stage E (UVC-3502/DMR-019) introduces the second reverse die change: the bar above the 7 is no longer visible at Late-Mid Die State on the obverse, east-to-west scratches have appeared, and die clash marks of the Memorial columns are visible behind Lincoln's neck — evidence of at least one strike without an intervening planchet. The new reverse die enters at MDS with southeast-oriented scratches. A tentative Stage F at LDS has been reported but remains unconfirmed. This six-stage, three-UVC, dual-variety die provides researchers with one of the most complete die life histories available for any Lincoln cent variety, documenting the progressive loss of secondary mintmark visibility, the appearance and disappearance of the doubled die bar above the 7, and two confirmed reverse die swaps — a comprehensive narrative of die service at the Denver Mint.

Die Markers

• UVC-3331
• DMR-017
• Stage A:
• Strong secondary mintmark – EDS
• Bar above the 7 does NOT show
• Reverse is EDS
• UVC-935
• DMR-003
• Stage B:
• Strong secondary mintmark – EDS
• Bar above the 7 is visible
• Reverse die changed – LMDS
• Die chips on column # 1 and #12
• Stage C:
• Light secondary mintmark – EMDS
• Die scratches Northeast-Southwest on Obverse
• Die scratches Northwest-Southeast on Reverse – LDS
• Die cracks on Left baseline
• Light die crack on N of ONE
• Stage D:
• Weak secondary mintmark – MDS
• Die scratches on Obverse are worn but visible
• Reverse is LDS
• UVC-3502
• DMR-019
• Stage E:
• Bar above 7 is NOT visible – LMDS
• Die scratches East-West on Obverse
• Die clash columns show behind neck
• Reverse die changed – MDS
• Die scratches Southeast on Reverse
• Stage F:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References