Mercury dimes were issued by the United States Mint from 1916 through 1945 and largely remained in circulation until the early 1960s, when bullion hoarders began removing 90% silver coins from circulation. And, in recent months, the series made headlines when one of the nicest collections of Mercury dimes ever assembled crossed the auction block and broke records. The Winged Liberty Head dime, more commonly known as the “Mercury” dime due to Miss Liberty’s resemblance on the coin to the Roman god of the same name, still wins over countless new and seasoned collectors today. These 90% silver dimes, which bear an obverse portrait of Miss Liberty donning a winged Phrygian cap and a reverse design incorporating fasces wrapped within an olive branch, have been collected by countless hobbyists since the coin’s earliest days. Gem specimens of the regular-issue 1942 Mercury dimes are much more affordable, at about $30 each.At least since the advent of coin boards in the 1930s and coin folders in the 1940s, Mercury dimes have been a staple for American coin collectors.

* Values are for coins in a grade of Extremely Fine-40, unless otherwise noted.Īs 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. Mint to focus on producing regular-strike coinage and, later, medals for soldiers returning home from their duties overseas.īelow are mintage figures and values for 1942 Mercury dimes: 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. Making matters even more interesting – and costly for Mercury dime enthusiasts – is that this variety was created at two mint locations: Philadelphia and Denver. 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.

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.

1942 mercury dime philadelphia