1918-D 10C

1919 10C

1918-S 10C (Regular Strike)

Series: Mercury Dimes 1916-1945

PCGS MS67

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PCGS MS66+

PCGS #:: 4920

Designer:: Adolph Alexander Weinman

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 17.90 millimeters

Weight:: 2.50 grams

Mintage:: 19,300,000

Mint:: San Francisco

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $7,200 • MS66 • 01-14-2019 • Heritage Auctions

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (2)

Major Varieties

1918-S 10C
1918-S 10C, FB

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PCGS Population

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For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	3,500	R-4.3	9 / 80 TIE	9 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	600	R-5.8	36 / 80 TIE	36 / 80 TIE
65 or Better	80	R-8.2	24 / 80 TIE	24 / 80 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	3,500
60 or Better	600
65 or Better	80

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-4.3
60 or Better	R-5.8
65 or Better	R-8.2

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	9 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	36 / 80 TIE
65 or Better	24 / 80 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	9 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	36 / 80 TIE
65 or Better	24 / 80 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS67	As PCGS MS67 #50042628. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, May 25, 2023, Lot 122 - $2,467.50. As PCGS MS67 #47309799. GreatCollections, October 29, 2023, Lot 1447592 - $3,093.75. Predominantly brilliant with hints of golden toning.
2	PCGS MS66+	Heritage Auctions, Decmber 3, 2015, Lot 3684 - $1,528; Dell Loy Hansen Collection. Predominantly brilliant with faint traces of golden-brown toning.
2	PCGS MS66+	Heritage Auctions, December 5, 2013, Lot 3329 - $2,115; "SES Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Pearlescent toning with hints of gold. Dark toning spot below O of ONE.
2	PCGS MS66+	GreatCollections, February 26, 2023, Lot 1292686 - $1,816.88. Predominantly brilliant. Small tick to the left of Liberty's eye. Wispy gold toning on the lower half of the reverse.
2	PCGS MS66+

#1 PCGS MS67

As PCGS MS67 #50042628. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, May 25, 2023, Lot 122 - $2,467.50. As PCGS MS67 #47309799. GreatCollections, October 29, 2023, Lot 1447592 - $3,093.75. Predominantly brilliant with hints of golden toning.

#2 PCGS MS66+

Heritage Auctions, Decmber 3, 2015, Lot 3684 - $1,528; Dell Loy Hansen Collection. Predominantly brilliant with faint traces of golden-brown toning.

#2 PCGS MS66+

Heritage Auctions, December 5, 2013, Lot 3329 - $2,115; "SES Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Pearlescent toning with hints of gold. Dark toning spot below O of ONE.

#2 PCGS MS66+

GreatCollections, February 26, 2023, Lot 1292686 - $1,816.88. Predominantly brilliant. Small tick to the left of Liberty's eye. Wispy gold toning on the lower half of the reverse.

#2 PCGS MS66+

Charles Morgan:

United States Mint records reveal that San Francisco utilized 73 obverse and 66 reverse dies to strike 19,300,000 1918-S Mercury Dimes (#4920, #4921). While it is a testament to the skill of the coiners that the average die survived more than 277,000 impressions, such high-volume production required compromises. Consequently, the 1918-S is typically characterized by a soft strike, making Full Bands (FB) examples—especially in Gem grades—exceptionally difficult to locate. According to PCGS population data, Mint State coins without Full Bands outnumber those that do by a 4:1 ratio. Despite this discrepency, the grade distribution follows a remarkably similar pattern for both categories. The population peaks at MS64, before dropping by about 50% for MS65. This "Gem" cliff continues in the higher grades. Superb Gems are truly outliers and MADHATTER's PCGS MS67+FB example is the single finest known in either category.

Vintage Market Snippet

April 1976: New York dealer Joel D. Coen offered choice BU 1918-S Mercury Dimes for $150 in The Numismatist.

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David Hall: Like most of the early Mercury dimes, the 1918-S is not really rare in circulated grades. In mint state this is a rare issue with or without fully struck crossbands. About 35% of mint state survivors have full bands. Gem MS65 or better full band specimens are very rare.