1918-S 10C MS62 PCGS #4920

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

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.

PCGS #

4920

Designer

Adolph Alexander Weinman

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

17.90 millimeters

Weight

2.50 grams

Mintage

19300000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

403

Pop Lower

236

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

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.
65 or Better	3500	R-4.3	9 / 80 TIE	9 / 80 TIE
All Grades	600	R-5.8	36 / 80 TIE	36 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	80	R-8.2	24 / 80 TIE	24 / 80 TIE

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.
65 or Better	3500
All Grades	600
60 or Better	80

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.
65 or Better	R-4.3
All Grades	R-5.8
60 or Better	R-8.2

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.
65 or Better	9 / 80 TIE
All Grades	36 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	24 / 80 TIE

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.
65 or Better	9 / 80 TIE
All Grades	36 / 80 TIE
60 or Better	24 / 80 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

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+