1942 10C MS64+ Certification #26458460, PCGS #5034

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Charles Morgan

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.

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PCGS #

5034

Designer

Adolph Alexander Weinman

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

17.90 millimeters

Weight

2.50 grams

Mintage

205410000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

4303

Pop Lower

1993

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	75000	R-2.2	79 / 80 TIE	79 / 80 TIE
All Grades	30000	R-2.7	80 / 80	80 / 80
60 or Better	10000	R-3.0	75 / 80 TIE	75 / 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	75000
All Grades	30000
60 or Better	10000

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-2.2
All Grades	R-2.7
60 or Better	R-3.0

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	79 / 80 TIE
All Grades	80 / 80
60 or Better	75 / 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	79 / 80 TIE
All Grades	80 / 80
60 or Better	75 / 80 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
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.

#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.