Description
1942/1-D 10C Mercury Dime PCGS AU58FB
PCGS # 5041
Grading Service PCGS
Grade AU58
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year
Designation FB
Strike Business
Grade Add On NONE
1942/1-D 10C Mercury Dime PCGS AU58FB
1942/1-D 10C, FB
SKU: 57545514
A celebrated overdate rarity and one of the most desirable issues in the Mercury dime series, this 1942/1-D Winged Liberty Head Dime is certified PCGS AU58FB and offers exceptional near-Mint State eye appeal.
Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, the obverse presents Liberty in left-facing profile wearing the winged cap symbolic of freedom of thought, surrounded by LIBERTY, with IN GOD WE TRUST at lower left and the date below. The distinctive overdate feature is plainly associated with this famous variety, created when a 1941 working die was repunched with a 1942 hub. A small “D” mintmark appears on the reverse beneath the fasces, while the reverse itself displays the classic central fasces with olive branch, framed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DIME, with E PLURIBUS UNUM at right.
The coin is notable for its strong detail and highly attractive silver-gray surfaces, with light circulation evident but limited enough to preserve an appearance that approaches Mint State. The designation Full Bands is especially important here, confirming unusually sharp central detail on the reverse fasces bands, a feature avidly sought by Mercury dime specialists. Original luster remains in meaningful measure across both sides, and the surfaces show the honest, lightly handled character expected of a premium About Uncirculated example. Overall visual appeal is decidedly superior for the grade, with balanced color, solid definition, and an impressive presentation.
Within the Mercury dime series, the 1942/1-D stands as a classic key overdate and an issue of longstanding popularity. The series itself is among the most collected in all of 20th-century U.S. numismatics, admired for Weinman’s elegant design and for its many challenging branch mint issues and varieties. The 1942/1-D overdate has long occupied a special place in the series, combining a dramatic and readily understood minting error with genuine scarcity and broad collector recognition. It is a centerpiece variety for advanced Mercury dime sets and a landmark issue in the broader field of 20th-century U.S. overdates.
Certified examples with the Full Bands designation are particularly elusive. PCGS reports a population of just 44 pieces in AU58FB, with only 153 graded finer, underscoring the limited availability of this variety at such a high level of preservation and strike quality. Demand remains consistently strong from date-and-mint collectors, variety specialists, and Registry participants alike. As a key issue with enduring market respect, the 1942/1-D enjoys a level of numismatic prestige that far exceeds that of a typical circulated silver dime.
A premium certified example of one of the Mercury dime series’ most famous and coveted overdates, this 1942/1-D PCGS AU58FB represents an outstanding opportunity for the advanced collector.