1971-D Repunched Mintmark WRPM-003

Description

Third in the repunched mintmark catalog for the 1971 Denver Kennedy Half Dollar, WRPM-003 documents the hand-punching process standard for applying mintmarks to working dies throughout the early 1970s. Each die destined for Denver received its D mintmark individually via a steel punch and mallet, and even skilled engravers occasionally struck the first blow slightly off target, requiring a correction that left traces of the initial placement. The 1971-D Kennedy Half Dollar holds particular significance as the first year of full copper-nickel clad composition for this denomination, ending the 40% silver content used from 1965 through 1970. This transition brought the half dollar in line with the dime and quarter, which had adopted clad composition in 1965. Repunched mintmark varieties from the early clad era are actively collected because the hand-punching method was phased out over the following decades as the Mint transitioned to placing mintmarks directly on the master die. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1971-D 50-cent WRPM-003, this variety appeals to collectors interested in both Kennedy Half varieties and the history of Mint production techniques.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Michael Taw Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1971-D 50¢ WRPM-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References