1942 (D) Mercury Dime - 2/1

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

This is the 1942/1 overdate variety of the 1942-D Mercury Dime. The 1941 date survives wherever its strokes fall outside the 1942, which is why an overdate is read from the shapes that do not belong to the date as printed. The effect is in the die, so every coin struck from it carries the same remnant in the same position. Any mintage or rarity ranking given below counts the entire issue for this date and mint, not this variety: a variety comes from one die or a few, and how many coins they struck was never separately recorded. Part of the Mercury Dimes 1916-1945 series, the 1942 (D) Mercury Dime - 2/1 is a dime from the Denver Mint. The 1942-D Mercury Dime issue as a whole had a mintage of 60.7 million; how many coins carry this variety is unknown. The obverse features young Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, symbolizing freedom of thought — often called the "Mercury" dime despite not depicting the Roman god and the reverse displays a Roman fasces — a bundle of rods with an axe — entwined with an olive branch, symbolizing strength through unity tempered by peace. The 1942/1 and 1942/1-D overdates came from working dies that received one impression from a 1941-dated hub and one from a 1942 hub. The Denver Mint, which grew from an 1860s gold rush assay office, has served as a major production facility since 1906. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 2.5 grams, 17.9 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #5040.

Cross References

FS-101