PCGS MS68
PCGS MS68
- PCGS #:
- 5034
- Designer:
- Adolph Alexander Weinman
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 17.90 millimeters
- Weight:
- 2.50 grams
- Mintage:
- 205,410,000
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $4,800 • MS68+ • 01-14-2019 • Heritage Auctions
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 75,000 |
| 60 or Better | 30,000 |
| 65 or Better | 10,000 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-2.2 |
| 60 or Better | R-2.7 |
| 65 or Better | R-3.0 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 79 / 80 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 80 / 80 |
| 65 or Better | 75 / 80 TIE |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 79 / 80 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 80 / 80 |
| 65 or Better | 75 / 80 TIE |
Condition Census What Is This?
#1 PCGS MS68+
Heritage Auctions, August 10, 2016, Lot 3696 – $3,290; Heritage Auctions, October 31, 2016, Lot 3994 – $3,525; “The Five Generations of Eby Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 11, 2019, Lot 5027 – $4,800. "Technicolor" toning in gold and magenta, with trace amounts of blue and green at the border. |
|
#1 PCGS MS68+
GreatCollections, September 15, 2024, Lot 1658201 - $4,331.25. Brilliant with a splash of orange-magenta toning along the lower left of the obverse and across D · STATES · OF on the reverse. |
#2 PCGS MS68
Legend Rare Coin Auctions, March 26, 2020, Lot 267 - $1,351.25; Heritage Auctions, April 26, 2022, Lot 27192 - $1,320; Heritage Auctions, October 2, 2023, Lot 50017- $1,380. The obverse features intense iridescent crescent toning, showcasing vibrant bands of amber, magenta, and peacock green. The reverse toning is more uniform; a russet wash covers most of the surface, punctuated by a vivid patch of gold, green, and blue in the upper-right field. |
|
#2 PCGS MS68
Both sides exhibit rich target toning in intense gold, amber, and green. |
#2 PCGS MS68
Gold and amber centers are encircled by a circular ring of prismatic toning before turning terminal at the border. |
#2 PCGS MS68
Vibrant and intense target toning in amber, green, and red. |
#2 PCGS MS68
Pearlescent toning with a diagonal russet streaks. |
|
#2 PCGS MS68
Intensely toned centers in blue, purple, and amber. |
The 1942 Mercury Dime (#5035) is a common-date issue best known for a fascinating and highly valuable overdate variety. For the 1942, the Philadelphia Mint produced 205,410,000 coins for circulation—a record-breaking output at the time for a single year. While Philadelphia would later surpass this figure in 1944 and 1946, these numbers pale in comparison to modern production; today, the Philadelphia and Denver Mints each produce roughly 200 million clad dimes every month.
As a type coin, the 1942 Mercury Dime is readily available in both circulated and Mint State (MS) grades, including examples with and without Full Bands (FB). While common circulated examples generally trade at a small premium over the silver spot price, raw coins in About Uncirculated (AU) to Choice Brilliant Uncirculatied (BU) condition often command premiums of two to three times the metal value.
The most frequent grades assigned by PCGS fall between MS64 to MS66. However, the 1942 Mercury Dime becomes conditionally scarce at the MS67 and higher, where premiums rise significantly.
* * *