1970-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-008

Description

Completing the cardinal-direction quartet among later 1970-D RPM varieties, RPM-008 carries the directional qualifier "D/D North" — the secondary mintmark punch landed above the primary impression, leaving extra metal visible at the top of the D when examined under magnification. Cataloged as UVC-1110 and DMR-009, this variety's UVC number in the 1100s (rather than the 900s of RPMs 004 through 007) suggests it was cataloged at a later date, likely discovered after the initial wave of 1970-D RPM attributions. Three die stages document this variety's production history. Stage A at Early Die State remains unconfirmed. Stage B at Mid Die State introduces a notable secondary diagnostic: numerous die scratches running northeast on the obverse and northwest on the reverse — directional scratch patterns that serve as die fingerprints independent of the repunched mintmark itself. These scratches likely resulted from die maintenance or incidental contact during die handling, and their perpendicular orientations across obverse and reverse provide confirmation that both surfaces belong to this specific die pair. By Stage C at Late Die State (unconfirmed), the combination of die fatigue and the pre-existing scratch patterns would progressively alter the die's surface character. Collectors attributing RPM-008 can use the northeast obverse scratches and northwest reverse scratches as quick confirmation markers before examining the mintmark repunching itself.

Die Markers

• UVC-1110
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Numerous die scratches Northeast on Obverse – MDS
• Numerous die scratches Northwest on Reverse – MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Michael L. Ellis
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References