PART II. Die Varieties:

Repunched Date:

1957-D Lincoln cent with repunched 7 (controversial)

Definition: A repunched date is produced when a numeral (or several numerals) is punched more than once into a working die, with movement of the punch or die between impacts.  On the coin, this results in two overlapping numbers of the same type.  A repunched date always involves the same numerals.  If different numerals are involved, then we call it an overdate.

Repunched dates should not be confused with doubled dies, re-engraved dates, or misplaced dates.

For U.S. coins, the era of repunched dates ended in 1908.  Beginning in 1909, the date was placed on the master hub or the master die.  As a result, any claims of repunched dates later than 1908 must be greeted with extreme skepticism.

The 1957-D Lincoln cent seen in the image above has a diagonal bar to the left of the top of the 7 digit in the date. Similar in nature to the 1956-D Lincoln cent with “repunched” 5 digit, an argument could be made that a mis- engraved or mis-punched master die was used as a working die. While this is possible, it seems highly unlikely.

A more feasible scenario is that the anomaly is a die dent or gouge.

The photo used is a facsimile.