1942 Mercury Dime Value Guide

The 1942 Mercury Dime Value

The 1942/1 overdate varieties from the Philadelphia and Denver Mint are the most valuable of the year. 

A full bands 1942/1 Mercury dime from the Philadelphia Mint graded at MS 66 is over 370 times more valuable than a proof-strike version of the same grade.  

All full bands versions are more valuable than the regular circulation-strike coins. 

Regular circulation-strike 1942 Mercury dimes from the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints hold consistent value across the grades up to the mid-mint-state range. 

The higher mint-state grades from Philadelphia are the most valuable, followed by San Francisco, and then Denver. 

An N/A for a value below indicates no publicly known examples of that version of the 1942 Mercury dime with that grade, or no value information (or not enough) exists for it yet.

Additionally, all values are conservative estimates based on research. Please note all values are subject to change due to the market or circumstances unaccounted for during research and publication. We always recommend doing further research or consulting with a professional.

Melt Value

The 1942 Mercury dime’s melt value is approximately $1.^1-2 The melt value will fluctuate with the market.

Circulation Strike Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1942 Mercury Dime	1942/1 Mercury Dime	1942-D Mercury Dime	1942/1-D Mercury Dime	1942-S Mercury Dime
Good – G	$3	$408	$3	$346	$3
Very Good – VG	$3	$422	$3	$406	$3
Fine – F	$3	$487	$3	$431	$3
Very Fine – VF	$3	$621	$3	$553	$3
Extra Fine – XF	$3	$800	$3	$675	$3
About Uncirculated – AU	$4-$7	$1,000-$2,200	$4-$7	$950-$2,500	$4-$7
Mint State – MS	$8-$4,800 (68+)	$2,700-$97,000 (67+)	$8-$612 (68)	$3,200-$16,000 (65)	$9-$850 (68)

Circulation Strike Full Bands (FB) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1942 Full Bands Mercury Dime	1942/1 Full Bands Mercury Dime	1942-D Full Bands Mercury Dime	1942/1-D Full Bands Mercury Dime	1942-S Full Bands Mercury Dime
EF 30 FB	N/A	$667	N/A	N/A	N/A
EF 35 FB	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
VF 40 FB	N/A	$691	N/A	N/A	N/A
VF 45 FB	N/A	$1,000	N/A	N/A	N/A
AU 50 FB	N/A	$1,400	N/A	N/A	N/A
AU 53 FB	N/A	$1,800	N/A	N/A	N/A
AU 55 FB	N/A	$2,200	N/A	$2,300	N/A
AU 58 FB	N/A	$2,900	N/A	$3,000	N/A
MS 60 FB	$11	$3,800	$12	$3,800	$12
MS 61 FB	$15	$4,200	$16	$4,300	$16
MS 62 FB	$19	$5,300	$20	$5,200	$21
MS 63 FB	$25	$11,000	$26	$8,700	$29
MS 64 FB	$34	$21,000	$36	$12,000	$52
MS 65 FB	$53	$59,000	$53	$30,000	$122
MS 66 FB	$80	$95,000	$77	$42,000	$210
MS 67 FB	$317	N/A	$182	$95,000	$455
MS 68 FB	$5,000	N/A	$1,300	N/A	$9,200
MS 69 FB	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 FB	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

1942 Proof Mercury Dime
Grade Names	Coin Values
PR 60	$117
PR 61	$130
PR 62	$140
PR 63	$152
PR 64	$180
PR 65	$205
PR 66	$255
PR 67	$400
PR 68	$1,400
PR 69	$34,000
PR 70	N/A

Cameo (CA/CAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

1942 Cameo Proof Mercury Dime
Grade Names	Coin Values
PR 60 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 61 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 62 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 63 CA/CAM	$637
PR 64 CA/CAM	$812
PR 65 CA/CAM	$1,600
PR 66 CA/CAM	$4,700
PR 67 CA/CAM	$8,100
PR 68 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 69 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 70 CA/CAM	N/A

What Makes A 1942 Mercury Dime Valuable?

Many factors make a 1942 Mercury dime more valuable, such as grading, strike types, special designations, and die varieties.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

As with all coins, the higher the grade, the higher the coin’s value. 

Lower grades of the 1942 Mercury dime are readily available. However, their value still far exceeds their face value, ranging from $3 to $9.

Higher grades are where you see the value reach the hundreds and the thousands.

All grades of the 1942/1 overdate varieties are valuable. 

Rarity

The Mint minted 1942 Mercury dimes approximately 315,472,329 times across all of its versions. Please see the following list for the breakdown for each version:

• 1942: 205,410,000 minted in Philadelphia^1-2
• 1942/1: Part of the 1942 mintage
• 1942-D: 60,740,000 minted in Denver^5-6
• 1942/1-D: Part of the 1942-D mintage
• 1942-S: 49,300,000 minted in San Francisco^9-10
• 1942 Proof: 22,329 minted in Philadelphia^16,18

The 1942 overdate varieties (1942/1 and 1942/1-D) are some of the rarest versions of the entire Mercury series.

The 1942/1 Mercury dimes are the most valuable in the high mint-state grades because they are exceptionally rare. 

Higher grades of the 1942/1-D are also rare and second-most valuable to the 1942/1 Mercury dimes minted in Philadelphia.

While most coins in this year’s large mintage are readily available, they become more scarce in the higher grades, particularly the full-band designations. 

Though the 1942 proof Mercury dimes have a very small mintage, a large majority have survived. Therefore, these are not as rare as other proof coins.

Mint Marks

There are 2 mint marks for the 1942 Mercury dime:

• “D” mint mark for coins minted in Denver^5-6
• “S” mint mark for coins minted in San Francisco^9-10

Coins minted in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.^1-2 This is also the case for all 1942 proof Mercury dimes.^16,18 

Strike Types

There are 2 strike types for the 1942 Mercury dime: circulation and proof.^19-20 

Proof-strike coins have much better quality than their circulation-strike counterparts. This is particularly true of the 1942 Mercury dimes, which saw many weakly struck circulation coins.^1-10

Cameo versions of the proof coin show mirroring on the coin’s fields and frosting on the coin’s devices. 

There have been no ultra/deep cameo proof versions certified for the 1942 Mercury dime.

Generally, due to the low mintage and low survival rates of proof versions, they tend to be the most valuable version of a coin. However, the 1942/1 overdate varieties are the anomalies here. They greatly out-value the proof versions due to their rarity and overall popularity. 

Design Variations

The 1942 Mercury dime has no design variations.

Special Designations

Full bands is the special designation for circulation-strike 1942 Mercury dimes.^{2,4,5,8,10-15} 

This designation comes from the sets of bands on the fasces (an ax surrounded by a bundle of wooden sticks and secured with 3 sets of bands) on the coin’s reverse side.²³ 

To be designated a full-bands Mercury dime, the central bands on the fasces must show a complete separation in the middle.²³   

Because the volume of Mercury dimes was so great, many tend to be weakly struck. The full-bands detail is illustrative of a sharply struck coin.²³

These are more rare and greatly desired by collectors. So, they are much more valuable than a regular circulation-strike coin. 

Error Coins 

Error coins generally work to increase the coin’s value, even in the lower grades, as they make a unique addition to any collection.

Some known errors for the 1942 Mercury dime are struck off-center errors and wrong planchet errors.^31,21 Both increase the coin’s value. 

Die Varieties

The most notable varieties for the 1942 Mercury dime are the 2 overdate issues from the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. 

These varieties occurred due to the obverse dies receiving impressions from hubs that had the 2 different dates: 1941 and 1942.²²

The 1942/1 and the 1942/1-D are in the top 5 rarest coins of the entire Mercury series.^19-20

These coins range from hundreds to nearly a thousand times its face value.   

The strong overdate of the Philadelphia 1942/1 Mercury dime is one of the most renowned varieties in all U.S. numismatic circles.^3-4,19-20 

Composition

The 1942 Mercury dime is 90% silver.^1-2 It will always be worth its weight in silver, but this is dependent on the fluctuating precious metal market.

We do not recommend melting your Mercury dime, as it will be more valuable when sold intact. 

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1942 Mercury Dime?

The best way to know if you have a valuable 1942 Mercury dime (or any coin) and to get that value out of it is to have it professionally certified.

However, you can look for many elements to get you started in determining what coin you have.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

A wide variety of grades are readily available, so look out for coins in the higher mint-state range, which are more valuable.  

Higher mint-state grades will:

• Be well struck 
• Have good luster
• Show little wear
• Have few marks or scratches

All grades of the 1942/1 varieties are valuable, even the lowest “good” grade starts at approximately $346.

Mint Marks

Look at the reverse side of your 1942 Mercury dime to find the mint mark. It is to the left of the olive branch’s stem and to the right of the “E” in “One.”

You will find a “D” mint mark if your coin came from Denver and an “S” mint mark if it came from San Francisco.

If your coin has no mint mark, then it is from the Philadelphia Mint.

Strike Types

Proofs are produced using special dies, highly polished planchets, and multiple strikings. They will have crisp and clear details and very few imperfections.

Cameo versions exhibit a more mirror-like look on their fields, and their devices are nicely frosted, creating an attractive contrast. 

The devices (Lady Liberty and the fasces) on both sides of the coin need to exhibit frosting to be designated a cameo proof coin. 

Design Variations

The 1942 Mercury dime has no design variations. 

Special Designations

To determine if you have a full-bands coin, use a loupe or some form of magnification and look at your 1942 Mercury dime’s reverse side. 

Look at the bands securing the wooden sticks of the fasces. Starting with the center bands (the key identifier), you want to see a clear split between the two bands. 

Again, look at the top and bottom sets of bands. There should also be a clear separation between each band. 

There must be no marks or scratches across any of the bands. 

The full-bands designation is given to coins graded MS 60 and higher. However, both the 1942/1 overdate varieties from Philadelphia and Denver are exceptions to this rule.^3-4,7,8 Many have been certified full bands below the mint-state grades. 

Error Coins

Luckily, the known 1942 Mercury dime error coins are relatively simple to determine.

A struck off-center error can occur on either the obverse or the reverse side. 

Look to see if the coin’s design is shifted off-center. Some of the design features may be missing, and the remaining part of the coin will be plain metal. 

A wrong planchet error happens when a coin is mistakenly struck on a planchet intended for another denomination, such as a penny, a nickel, or a quarter. 

Look to see if your coin is a different size to a normal dime. It will be a different color if it was struck on a penny planchet.   

Die Varieties

Here are some ways to help you identify the 2 most notable die varieties of the 1942 Mercury dime. 

1942/1 Overdate

This is the most pronounced overdate of the entire series.²² It is from the Philadelphia Mint, so it won’t have a mint mark.

Look at the obverse side of your coin. On the date, you will see a clear “41” underneath the “42.” It sits slightly to the left but enough to be clearly identified.

Also, look for doubling on “In God We Trust.”

1942/1-D Overdate

This is only for coins from Denver.²³ So first, check the reverse side of your coin for the “D” mint mark. It will be to the left of the bottom of the olive branch. 

Then look at your 1942 Mercury dime’s obverse side.

The date will show both “1941” and “1942.” It is not as strongly pronounced as the Philadelphia version but still clearly visible.

The “19” of the date will show faint lines to the left. The repunched date will be more obvious on the “4” and the “2/1.”  

How To Spot A Fake 1942 Mercury Dime

Unfortunately, there are numerous forged 1942 Mercury dimes around. 

It’s always best to double-check the authenticity of any coin. You can ask the seller to get the coin professionally authenticated or you can do so yourself.

Because the 1942/1 overdate varieties are so popular and valuable, many counterfeit versions have been made. 

1942/1 Altered Dates

This forgery comes from altering the date of a regular coin to make it more valuable.²⁶ 

For example, a forger will punch a “2” over the “1” on a less expensive regular 1941 Mercury dime. Or they will punch a “1” to the side of the “2” on a cheaper 1942 version.

Sometimes, they will make a completely counterfeit coin with the 1942/1 overdate.

Sometimes, the forged date is positioned incorrectly or at an odd angle.  

Make sure you know what the authentic 1942/1 overdate varieties look like so you can compare the coins. 

If you find a 1942/1 Mercury dime with an “S” mint mark, you immediately know it is a fake. Only the Philadelphia and Denver Mints produced the 1942/1 overdate versions. So, therefore, this coin wouldn’t have the “S” mint mark.

Misshaped Letters

Again, this applies to the 1942/1 overdate varieties because they are so valuable.²⁶

Look at the words “In God We Trust” on the obverse side and “E Pluribus Unum” on the reverse side.  

Examine the letters to see if they are smaller than normal or misshapen. 

It is helpful to compare letters on both sides of the coin to determine discrepancies. 

Forged Full Bands

This forgery applies to all full-bands Mercury dimes and, in particular, to the 1942/1 dimes due to their value.²⁶ 

To be designated a full-bands coin, there must be a clear split between the bands around the fasces on the reverse side of the 1942 Mercury dime. 

This leads some coins to be doctored to look like they have this separation and the full-bands status.

Using a sharp object, forgers will score a line between the bands of a regular circulation-strike coin to make it appear to have a full split. 

This forgery is not easy to spot, so only purchase Mercury dimes with a professionally certified “full bands” designation. 

1942 Counterfeit Proofs

It is not just the 1942/1 overdate varieties that are subject to forgeries. There are also 1942 proof Mercury dime counterfeit coins.^16-18 

It is important to remember that no ultra/deep cameo versions of the 1942 Mercury dime have been authenticated. 

So, be cautious of anyone trying to pass one off as an ultra/deep cameo coin. 

Equally, make sure any cameo versions come with a professional certification.

Additional Information About The 1942 Mercury Dime

History

Designed by the sculptor Adolph Alexander Weinman, the Mercury dime series ran from 1916 to 1945.^19-20 It is one of the most popular American collectible coins.  

Bookended by both World Wars and remaining steady through the Wall Street Crash and America’s Great Depression, the Mercury dime (and indeed its design) holds a special place in the history of the American Economy.  

The design offers symbols of America’s strength, readiness, and desire for peace, as well as America’s liberty and freedom of thought. 

Though the coin’s device is actually of Lady Liberty, her winged cap reminded people of the Roman god, Mercury. This mistake proved popular, and the inaccurate name of the “Mercury dime” endured.^19-20  

The 1942/1 overdates from the Philadelphia and Denver Mints are key coins in the Mercury series and some of the most desired varieties in all U.S. coin collections. 

1942 is the last year of proof versions of the Mercury dimes.^19-20 The production of proof strikes was halted due to the outbreak of World War II. 

The Coin’s Obverse Side

The center of the 1942 Mercury dime’s obverse side features a profile of Lady Liberty, who wears a winged cap.

On the left-hand side, just under Liberty’s chin, is “In God We Trust.” On the right side are Weinman’s initials, “AAW.” 

Slightly to the right, under the base of Liberty’s neck, is the year “1942.”

Curving along the coin’s rim at the top is “Liberty.”

^{Sources: 1-2}

The Coin’s Reverse Side

The reverse side of the 1942 Mercury dime features a fasces in the center. As before, this is an ax surrounded by a bundle of wooden sticks and secured with 3 sets of bands. 

Curving around the fasces is an olive branch.

To the right of the fasces is America’s motto, “E Pluribus Unum.” This means “Out of many, one.”

To the left of the bottom of the olive branch, if present, is the mint mark. There will be a “D” mint mark for coins minted in Denver. There will be an “S” mint mark for coins from San Francisco.

Circling the coin’s rim is “United States of America” at the top and “One Dime” at the bottom. A single star separates them on each side. 

^{Sources: 1-2,5-6,9-10}

Sources

1942 Mercury Dime Value Guide Sources