1980-D Repunched Mintmark WRPM-002

Description

Representing one of the most extensively tracked die state progressions in the entire Lincoln Memorial cent series, the 1980-D 1¢ WRPM-002 was attributed by the Wexler Team and cross-referenced as CONECA RPM #2 and Coppercoins 1980D-1MM-003 / 1980D-1MM-005. This repunched mintmark variety displays a D/D Tilted orientation and is documented across an extraordinary five obverse stages and five reverse stages — one of the most extensively tracked die state progressions in the entire Lincoln Memorial cent series. The dual Coppercoins cross-references (1980D-1MM-003 and 1980D-1MM-005) indicate that what were originally cataloged as separate varieties were later determined to represent different die states of the same die. Obverse Stage A exhibits a small die dot on Lincoln's neck, an E-to-W die scratch under the mint mark extending into Lincoln's vest, a NE-running scratch from the center of 9 to the upper right of 8, a small die gouge below W in WE, and light NE-running scratches above R and T in LIBERTY. Stage B retains the neck dot with increased prominence, weakens the 9-to-8 scratch, adds die gouges in front of and below the bowtie plus a gouge on the lower right L of LIBERTY. Stage C introduces strong NE-to-SW die scratches throughout the obverse — prominently through the date, mouth, nose, RTY of LIBERTY, O in GOD, and TRUST — while retaining the neck dot and L gouge. Stage D shows the neck dot persisting while Stage C scratches become very weak, with only the O in GOD and S in TRUST scratches faintly visible. Stage E retains only the markedly weak neck dot while all prior markers have vanished, replaced by new die gouges left of T in TRUST, above I and B and well above L in LIBERTY, and centered above 98 in the date. The reverse progression is equally detailed: Stage A shows die scratches under the central bar of the second S in STATES, NNE-running scratches in and below bays 2-3, NE-running scratches through bays 7-10, a nearly horizontal scratch on the right roof, and die gouges below column 9. Stage B retains all Stage A markers weakly while adding gouges under the first A in AMERICA and S in PLURIBUS, plus a light die crack at columns 9 and 10. Stage C introduces a new reverse die with a strong die gouge left of C in CENT, a die dot left of T, a scratch running ESE from N in CENT, light scratches through RICA in AMERICA, and NW/SE scratches inside memorial bays 3 and 4. Stage D retains the strong gouges left of C and T in CENT while all other Stage C markers disappear. Stage E shows only the worn gouge left of C in CENT persisting, joined by a die gouge inside the lower R in AMERICA. This ten-stage documentation across both faces represents hundreds of hours of collector research and makes WRPM-002 one of the most comprehensively studied repunched mintmark varieties in existence. The 1980-D cent was struck from 95% copper planchets. Attribution by the Wexler Team. Die scratch runs east to west just under mint mark and into Lincoln’s vest. Die scratch runs northeast from center of 9 to upper right side of 8 in the date. Light die scratches runs northeast above R and T in LIBERTY. Die scratches run mostly northeast through bay 7-10.

Attribution History

• CONECA: RPM #2, Coppercoins: 1980D-1MM-003, 1980D-1MM-005; Wexler Variety ID: 1980-D 1¢ WRPM-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References