1955-D D/S RPM

The 1955-D D Over S Repunched Mintmark Jefferson nickel shows a D mintmark struck over a previous S mintmark, with traces of the underlying S visible beneath the final D. The variety parallels the 1938-D D/S Buffalo nickel and the 1949-D D/S Jefferson varieties in its mechanism: a working die received an S punch (intended for a San Francisco die) before being corrected with a D overpunch when the error was caught.

Identification requires examining the mintmark under magnification. The diagnostic trace of the S appears within or adjacent to the final D, where the curved forms of the earlier mintmark are visible beneath the straight lines of the overpunched D. On well-preserved examples, the doubling is clear. Certification from PCGS or NGC provides reliable attribution for premium-priced coins.

The 1955-D D/S is one of multiple repunched mintmark varieties in the Jefferson nickel series and is particularly significant because it occurred during a year when San Francisco was not producing circulation-strike Jefferson nickels (the 1954-S was the last until 1968). The mistaken S punch therefore makes even less sense than similar errors in years when both mints were actively producing nickels. Whatever the explanation, the variety exists and is collected by Jefferson nickel specialists.

Surviving populations are limited, and Mint State examples with clear diagnostic features are prized. The variety commands meaningful premiums over the standard 1955-D and is a required acquisition for collectors building comprehensive Jefferson nickel variety sets.