1970-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-002

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1970-S 5-cent Pr WRPM-002 with no other known cross-references, this proof Jefferson Nickel shows an S/S South repunched mintmark — the S was initially punched south of its final position before being corrected with a second punch. Proof Jefferson Nickels of this era were struck at the San Francisco Mint in cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) at 5.00 grams and 21.2 mm diameter, produced exclusively for proof sets sold to collectors. The obverse shows no significant die markers, while the reverse exhibits a short die gouge inside the lower D in UNITED. The S/S South displacement pattern shows the traces of the initial S mintmark slightly below the final corrected position, a directional variant that requires examining the lower serifs of the S under magnification. The 1970-S proof set is noteworthy because it was also the year of the famous 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Cent proof — one of the key rarities of modern proof coinage. While the WRPM-002 nickel variety does not carry the same dramatic premium, its presence in the same proof set year adds historical context. Proof coin RPMs remained possible until the Mint began incorporating mintmarks directly into master dies in 1990.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S 5¢ Pr WRPM-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References