1971-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Second repunched mintmark variety cataloged for the 1971-S proof Washington quarter, RPM-002 documents an S/S North displacement — indicating the secondary mintmark impression sits above (northward of) the primary S position, contrasting with RPM-001's southward displacement for the same date. John Flanagan's Washington quarter obverse, produced since 1932, carries the S mintmark at the base of Washington's portrait, and the existence of both northward and southward repunched varieties on the 1971-S proof quarter demonstrates that mintmark positioning errors occurred in both vertical directions during the hand-punching process. San Francisco's proof quarter production in 1971 utilized specially prepared dies and polished planchets, and the proof manufacturing process's enhanced strike clarity can actually improve the visibility of repunched mintmark diagnostics by preserving fine detail in the mintmark area. The S/S North notation means the initial (secondary) punch impression landed above the corrective (primary) position, leaving a visible remnant of the first S extending above the final mintmark — typically observable as extra serif material or a partial curve protruding from the top of the letter. The directional complement between RPM-001 (South) and RPM-002 (North) for the same date illustrates the random nature of hand-punching errors: each die received its mintmark independently, and the engraver's initial punch placement could miss in any direction. Repunched mintmarks ceased to be possible after the Mint began incorporating mintmarks directly into the master die in 1990, making pre-1990 proof coins the final generation to exhibit this variety type. Collectors should examine the upper portion of the S mintmark under 15-20x magnification for evidence of the northward-displaced secondary impression, specifically looking for extra metal or a partial letter outline extending above the primary S.

External References