1974-S 1¢ Damaged Mint Mark Punch

Description:  An apparent split in the upper right serif and curved relief line on the upper portion of the mint mark is due to die fatigue and is not an RPM.  This is commonly seen on 1974-S cents mimicking an RPM, and both the original WRPM-001 and WRPM-002 have been delisted as the damaged punch.

1974-S 1¢ WRPM-001

Description:  S/S South

Die Markers:  Obverse:  Small date.  Small die gouge right of lincoln’s eye.  Die gouge running south from Lincoln’s nose.  Short die scratch runs WSW below lower B in LIBERTY.  Short die scratch runs roughly south from left bottom of Y in LIBERTY.  Reverse:  Small die gouge (dot) below first U in PLURIBUS.  Small die gouge (dot) right of E in ONE.  Die gouge under left side of second A in AMERICA.  Thin die crack on right cornice.  Small die gouge (dot) under right upper T in CENT.  Two die scratches run NE from the upper portion of column 4. 

Submitted By:  Daniel Griffin (Discovered by Aisha Shahid)

Cross-Reference:  Coppercoins: 1974S-1MM-001

Comments:  The apparent upper serif and horizontal line on the top of the mint mark is part of a damaged punch for the year. The lower split serif and horizontal line is the true RPM. This coin is a replacement die for the original WRPM-001, which was discovered to be the damaged punch. Additionally, the WRPM-002 listing has been deleted as the damaged punch.

Second example of WRPM-001 below to illustrate doubling.