Numismatic

1942-S Mercury Dime MS-66 NGC (FB)

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During the height of the Second World War, the San Francisco Mint struck over forty-nine million silver dimes featuring the iconic winged Liberty design. This particular ten-cent piece from 1942 stands out for its exceptional preservation, having achieved a high certified grade of Mint State 66. Its survival in such pristine condition offers a vivid window into mid-century American coinage. What makes this specific coin especially fascinating to observers is the Full Bands designation. This detail indicates that the horizontal lines wrapping around the fasces on the reverse side are completely defined and split, a rare occurrence that proves the coin was struck with immense pressure and precision. The obverse features the classic profile of Liberty wearing a winged cap, which the public famously associated with the Roman god Mercury, while the reverse displays the traditional bundle of rods alongside an olive branch, carrying the Latin motto E Pluribus Unum. Struck in 90% fine silver, this piece contains approximately 0.0715 troy ounces of precious metal. Marked with the S mint mark to denote its West Coast origin, it remains a brilliant example of wartime minting artistry, capturing the sharp details of a design that defined an era.