A repunched date occurs when one or more digits of the date have been punched into the die in more than one location, showing the digits or parts of the digits as overlapping or even as totally separated images. Repunched dates are usually referred to as RPDs. The direction of the repunching is from the final date to the initial date.

During the 19th century, the dates were punched into each working die as a final step in the production before hardening. Dates were punched into the die by hand. If a mistake was made punching the date, the engraver might remove the old date with abrasives or just repunch the date over the first date. Some of the reasons that might have caused the engraver to repunch the date are:
1. The date was not punched hard enough to get a good impression of the date into the die.
2. The date was punched at a tilt.
3. The digits were punched upside down.
4. The wrong size punches were used.
5. The date was punched too high or low.

How many digits were on the date punch is another area that needs more research. For the two cent series, only date punches with all four digits were used. This was proved by measuring the distance between the digits in the date from coins from 150 dies. Other denominations also need to be studied and documented.

From about 1909 to the mid-1980s, the first two digits of the date were part of the Galvano, with the second two digits being punched into the master die. Currently, the Galvano contains all four digits.

The two photos below on the left are of the 1864 Two cent tripled punched date with extreme repunching seen north on the 18. The top right photo is of the 1865 Three cent nickel with with strong repunching seen on all digits. The bottom right photo is of the 1864 Two cent quadruple punched date which shows the remnants of four 1's and four 8's.

Most repunched dates were caused by the same date punch being used on all striking of the date into the working die. There are some very rare examples of two different date punches being used on the same working die. For now, these are classified under repunched dates.

1. In 1865, for the two cent series, two different 4 digit date punches were used, a 1965 date punch with Plain 5, and an 1865 date punch with a Fancy 5.

For one variety listed in Flynn's book on two cent pieces (KF-F9), the working die was first struck with a Fancy 5 date punch, then struck with a Plain 5 date punch. This is obvious, because the right base of the 1 of the Fancy 5 is twice the length of that of the Plain 5. The length of the right base of the repunched 1 is the same length as that of the Fancy 5. There are other diagnostics that lead to the same conclusion.

It is anyone's guess as to how these varieties were generated. We only can speculate that there was a place for all the date punches for all the denominations. The engraver struck the date into the working die, placed the date punch down, examined the die, then accidently picked up a different date punch.