1942 Mercury Dime
Mercury dimes are also known as Winged Liberty Head dimes. The US minted the 1942 dime with no mint mark and also the 1942 D dime and 1942 S dime. The mint mark, when present, can be found on the reverse side of the coin.
- 1942 Mercury Dime Error
- 1942 Mercury Dime Composition
- 1942 Mercury Dime Value
- Mercury Dimes Values Guide
- The Proof 1942 Dime boasts a tiny mintage and it is the last Proof Dime of the Mercury Head series and the last Proof Dime until coinage of these special coins resumed in 1950. Large quantities of these Proofs are available for collectors (PCGS alone has certified obver 5,700 examples alone as of June 2015) in a wide variety of grades.
- Expert Tips on Identification and Value of a 1942 DimeMy Amazon Shop link for Youtubers: https://amzn.to/2D2kPp2.
- Mercury dimes are also known as Winged Liberty Head dimes. The US minted the 1942 dime with no mint mark and also the 1942 D dime and 1942 S dime. The mint mark, when present, can be found on the reverse side of the coin.
- 1942 S Mercury Dime CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1942 S Mercury Dime value at an average of $2, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $50.
- 1942 Mercury Dime
Coin Info
1942 Mercury Dime Error
1942 would have been a relatively uneventful year for the Mercury dime if not for a die variation that caused quite a stir in the numismatic community – the 1942/1 overdate variety. This rare variety, created when two obverse dies were made by the impression of first a 1941 Mercury dime hub then one from 1942, is the most popular for the series and indeed quite rare. Making matters even more interesting – and costly for Mercury dime enthusiasts – is that this variety was created at two mint locations: Philadelphia and Denver.
Outside of the overdates, the only other standout occurrence for 1942 Mercury dimes is the fact that it was the last date in the series for which proof specimens would be struck. World War II would cause the U.S. Mint to focus on producing regular-strike coinage and, later, medals for soldiers returning home from their duties overseas.
Below are mintage figures and values for 1942 Mercury dimes:
1942, 205,410,000 minted; $4
1942/1, mintage unknown; $1,200
1942 proof, 22,329; $400
1942-D, 60,740,000; $4
1942/1-D, mintage unknown; $1,200
1942-S, 49,300,000; $4
1942 Mercury Dime Composition
*Values are for coins in a grade of Extremely Fine-40, unless otherwise noted.
As Mercury dime aficionados will note, MS-65 specimens of the 1942/1 dime from Philadelphia are much scarcer than overdate Mercury dimes in a similar grade from Denver, with prices of around $15,000 for the former and $8,000 for the latter. Gem specimens of the regular-issue 1942 Mercury dimes are much more affordable, at about $30 each.
1942 Mercury Dime Value
Other Years From This Coin Series
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Winged Liberty Silver Dime
What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc.):
The 1942 42 over 41 Overdate Error (1942/1-D) was one of the major errors in the silver Mercury Dime series. This error from the Denver Mint is also very noticeable but not as much as the same error that came from the Philadelphia Mint. This is best identified by noticing the 1942 date punched over a 1941 date. The underlying '1' is slightly noticeable as blobs near the top and bottom of the '2' and part of the doubled '4' is seen near the bottom of the '4' as depicted by the arrows in the example image above.
Mercury Dimes Values Guide
| Good (G-4) | Very Good (VG-8) | Fine (F-12) | Very Fine (VF-20) | Extremely Fine (EF-40) | About Uncirculated (AU-50) | Uncirculated (MS-60) | Uncirculated (MS-65) | Proof (PR-65) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $327 | $508 | $717 | $924 | $1,168 | $1,960 | $2,820 | $9,968 | - |
USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1942-D Mercury Dime (42 Over 41 Variety) is Worth $508 in Average Condition and can be Worth $2,820 to $9,968 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. The Melt Value shown below is how Valuable the Coin's Metal is Worth (bare minimum value of coin). Click here to see the Melt Value of every US Coin.
MELT VALUE: $1.9799