Exceptionally well produced and preserved with great care, this is one of the finest certified survivors of the semi-key date 1931-S Mercury dime. Dressed in soft satin luster, the surfaces are silky smooth in texture with a razor sharp strike from the rims to the centers. Wisps of light russet toning enhance the appeal and speak volumes about this coins originality.The final San Francisco Mint issue in the early portion of the Mercury dime series, the 1931-S is actually the final S-Mint dime struck prior to 1935. No dimes were struck at all during 1932 or 1933 as the nation struggled through two of the worst years of the Great Depression. A mintage of 1,800,000 pieces was sufficiently large to help guarantee the relative availability of the 1931-S in circulated grades. The less discerning collector should have little difficulty procuring a softly struck example, even in MS-65. Full Bands pieces are elusive, rarely Choice, and even more rarely Gem or Superb. Among the finest certified at PCGS, the present example would make an important and impressive addition to a top-ranked Mercury dime collection on the Set Registry.,,PCGS# 4987. NGC ID: 23J9.,PCGS Population: 9; 0 finer in this category.,
