1938-S/S PCGS MS66RD Mint Error RPM FS-501 #12 RicksCafeAmerican.com
This photo, courtesy of Error Trends Coin Magazine (ETCM) and Arnold Margolis, shows a Mint engraver getting ready to punch a mint mark into a working die. The working die is held in a vise. His right hand is positioning the mint mark punch and the mallet that he will use to tap the mint mark punch into the die is being held in his left hand.
In some cases the mint mark punches are so closely overlapping that it is not possible to give a direction. Often the one punch will be "tilted" or "rotated" with respect to the other. The Wexler RPM Files refer to these as "S/S Tilted" while CONECA refers to them as "S/S Rotated." When you see these descriptions for RPM varieties it is important for you to realize that they are referring to the same type of mint mark orientations.
Mint error 1938-S/S MS66RD
This specimen particular is of a population of only 28 at this grade with PCGS. The color alone should raise eyebrows for collectors of early wheat cents, but with a grade of MS66RD - It has extreme value and collectibility on its side.
Die Markers: Obverse Stage A: Very heavy die scratch ESE from above the right side of the N of IN toward the G in GOD. Many lighter WNW/ESE die scratches throughout the motto. Three die scratches from the left center of the G in GOD spreading out like a fan. E/W die scratch at the lower area of the ear opening. Very strong, fully detailed secondary mint mark.
Cross References: CONECA: RPM #1, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1938S-501 (016.51), Crawford: CRPM-001, Coppercoins: 1938S-1MM-001
Top 100 RPM: Wexler & CONECA
The mint mark was hand punched into the working dies that would be striking the coins. It was the last portion of the design to be placed on the die. These mint mark letters are as follows: D for Denver, S for San Francisco, C for Charlotte (gold coins only), CC for Carson City, D for Dahlonega (gold coins only), O for New Orleans, P for Philadelphia, and W for West Point.
A die maker would take a thin steel rod (punch) that had the mint mark engraved on one end and hold it in place on the working die where the mint mark was to be applied. Using a mallet he tapped an impression of the mint mark into the die. In most cases it was necessary to strike the punch more than once with the mallet in order to leave a satisfactory impression of the mint mark in the die. In a few cases, the mint mark was applied more than once, resulting in a "repunched mint mark" or "RPM," and sometimes resulting in a doubled or even tripled mint mark.
No serious study of these varieties was conducted until the early 1980s when a small book was published by John Wexler, called "The RPM Book." Since 1990, the mint mark has been applied directly to the hubs that make the dies, eliminating the hand-punch process that resulted in RPMs.
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Please pay as soon as possible after winning an auction, as that will allow us to post your item to you sooner!
We offer FREE shipping on orders over $100!
Your order will be dispatched within 1 working day of receiving payment (Monday-Friday) and you should expect to receive it one or two days after dispatch (for orders sent RM 1st Class).
In the very unlikely event that your item is lost or damaged during post, then WE are responsible and will issue either a full refund or replacement.
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product and get a full refund or exchange the product for another one, be it similar or not.
You can return a product for up to 14 days from the date you purchased it.
Any product you return must be in the same condition you received it and in the original packaging. Please keep the receipt.
1938-S/S PCGS MS66RD Mint Error RPM FS-501 #12 RicksCafeAmerican.com
In some cases the mint mark punches are so closely overlapping that it is not possible to give a direction. Often the one punch will be "tilted" or "rotated" with respect to the other. The Wexler RPM Files refer to these as "S/S Tilted" while CONECA refers to them as "S/S Rotated." When you see these descriptions for RPM varieties it is important for you to realize that they are referring to the same type of mint mark orientations.
This photo, courtesy of Error Trends Coin Magazine (ETCM) and Arnold Margolis, shows a Mint engraver getting ready to punch a mint mark into a working die. The working die is held in a vise. His right hand is positioning the mint mark punch and the mallet that he will use to tap the mint mark punch into the die is being held in his left hand.
Mint error 1938-S/S MS66RD
This specimen particular is of a population of only 28 at this grade with PCGS. The color alone should raise eyebrows for collectors of early wheat cents, but with a grade of MS66RD - It has extreme value and collectibility on its side.
Die Markers: Obverse Stage A: Very heavy die scratch ESE from above the right side of the N of IN toward the G in GOD. Many lighter WNW/ESE die scratches throughout the motto. Three die scratches from the left center of the G in GOD spreading out like a fan. E/W die scratch at the lower area of the ear opening. Very strong, fully detailed secondary mint mark.
Cross References: CONECA: RPM #1, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1938S-501 (016.51), Crawford: CRPM-001, Coppercoins: 1938S-1MM-001
Top 100 RPM: Wexler & CONECA
The mint mark was hand punched into the working dies that would be striking the coins. It was the last portion of the design to be placed on the die. These mint mark letters are as follows: D for Denver, S for San Francisco, C for Charlotte (gold coins only), CC for Carson City, D for Dahlonega (gold coins only), O for New Orleans, P for Philadelphia, and W for West Point.
A die maker would take a thin steel rod (punch) that had the mint mark engraved on one end and hold it in place on the working die where the mint mark was to be applied. Using a mallet he tapped an impression of the mint mark into the die. In most cases it was necessary to strike the punch more than once with the mallet in order to leave a satisfactory impression of the mint mark in the die. In a few cases, the mint mark was applied more than once, resulting in a "repunched mint mark" or "RPM," and sometimes resulting in a doubled or even tripled mint mark.
No serious study of these varieties was conducted until the early 1980s when a small book was published by John Wexler, called "The RPM Book." Since 1990, the mint mark has been applied directly to the hubs that make the dies, eliminating the hand-punch process that resulted in RPMs.
We accept payment by any of the following methods:
PayPal
Please pay as soon as possible after winning an auction, as that will allow us to post your item to you sooner!
We offer FREE shipping on orders over $100!
Your order will be dispatched within 1 working day of receiving payment (Monday-Friday) and you should expect to receive it one or two days after dispatch (for orders sent RM 1st Class).
In the very unlikely event that your item is lost or damaged during post, then WE are responsible and will issue either a full refund or replacement.
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product and get a full refund or exchange the product for another one, be it similar or not.
You can return a product for up to 14 days from the date you purchased it.
Any product you return must be in the same condition you received it and in the original packaging. Please keep the receipt.