1989-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Displaying a D/D West orientation with the mintmark positioned higher than on the closely related RPM-004, the 1989-D RPM-003 carries VarietyVista reference codes UVC-1031 and DMR-004. Three die stages are documented: Stage A with the obverse at early die state and the reverse already at late die state, Stage B with the obverse at mid-die state and the reverse at very late die state, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The divergence between obverse and reverse die states — with the reverse aging faster than the obverse — suggests this reverse die may have been in service longer or was paired with the obverse after already accumulating wear from a prior pairing. The westward displacement of the secondary mintmark impression places RPM-003 alongside RPM-004 as a pair of D/D West varieties from the same date, distinguishable by the relative vertical position of their primary mintmarks. As one of the final years in which Denver Mint engravers hand-punched the D mintmark into individual working dies, 1989 RPMs document the twilight of a manual die preparation technique that would be retired in 1990 when the Mint began including the mintmark directly on the master die. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Die Markers

• UVC-1031
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• Obverse is EDS
• Reverse is LDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse is MDS
• Reverse is VLDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Phil Magbanua
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References