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1952-D/D Franklin RPM-002 - Interesting Stages

Here's an interesting RPM I ran across recently. 1952-D/D south CONECA RPM-002 (Wexler WRPM-003).
I've had the late die state in my files for quite some time. While I was going through some Franklins earlier this year I found the earlier stage. At the time I noted it as a new listing since it didn't appear to match the LDS or any other known RPMs.
I sent it to John Bordner and he attributed it as WRPM-003 (CONECA RPM-002). I told him I didn't think this was correct since it didn't seem to match the LDS example. I sent Bordner the LDS to compare and just got the results yesterday.
<< <i>1952-D, WRPM-003, Stage B, S/S South (RPM#2).
Amazingly this is a later die state than the coin that you sent in the first package. If you look between the W and E of WE on the first coin that you sent, you will see a die gouge. The die gouge is still present on the second coin you sent but very weak. The reason that the mintmark is stronger is because the die received a hard blow when the mintmark punch was struck. As the die was polished the relief changed allowing more of the secondary mintmark to show. The second coin also shows more die deterioration. The coin in the first package will now be stage A in the files. >>
Early Die State

Late Die State
I've had the late die state in my files for quite some time. While I was going through some Franklins earlier this year I found the earlier stage. At the time I noted it as a new listing since it didn't appear to match the LDS or any other known RPMs.
I sent it to John Bordner and he attributed it as WRPM-003 (CONECA RPM-002). I told him I didn't think this was correct since it didn't seem to match the LDS example. I sent Bordner the LDS to compare and just got the results yesterday.
<< <i>1952-D, WRPM-003, Stage B, S/S South (RPM#2).
Amazingly this is a later die state than the coin that you sent in the first package. If you look between the W and E of WE on the first coin that you sent, you will see a die gouge. The die gouge is still present on the second coin you sent but very weak. The reason that the mintmark is stronger is because the die received a hard blow when the mintmark punch was struck. As the die was polished the relief changed allowing more of the secondary mintmark to show. The second coin also shows more die deterioration. The coin in the first package will now be stage A in the files. >>
Early Die State
Late Die State

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Comments
Very interesting.