Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Repunched mintmark?

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Expert: - 4/4/2010


Question

Repunched mintmark
Hello. Would this be an example of a repunched mintmark on this 1982 D penny? It doesnt really look like strike doubling in my experience, but you have more than me.

Also the penny is in good condition aside from that color disfiguration.

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Kyle:

Thanks for your question.

From your photo, it appears you may have a repunched mintmark. A repunched mintmark, or RPM, is a coin that exhibits two or more images of the same mintmark, caused by errors in the punching of the mintmark onto the coin die (or very rarely, onto the hub.) Up until 1990, the U.S. Mint used to manually punch the mintmark into each individual coin die. Occasionally, due to human error, a die would get two or more punches of the same mintmark, sometimes in almost the same location, and sometimes at 90 or 180 degree rotations! Although the mint workers usually caught these defective dies before any coins were produced from them, on very occasions a die would strike coins with multiple impressions of the same mintmark letter. Such specimens are called repunched mintmarks, or RPMs. In general, they are very collectible.

This appears to be a minor RPM variety and worth about a dollar or two in circulated condition.

Check ebay listing under US coins in the error category to see if coins like yours are listed. You may also want to check out these links:
http://lincolncentresource.com/RPMS/RPMS.html
http://www.varietyvista.com/

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.
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Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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