1942/1 Mercury Dime. FS-101. MS-66+ (PCGS).；This is a lovely coin that should be seen to be fully appreciated. Brilliant satin white surfaces have an attractive original appearance and delicate antique silver highlights. The luster is full and intense, and the strike is razor sharp in most areas. Only along the left and right reverse borders and at the center of the fasces on the same side do we see extremely minor lack of detail. Close inspection with a loupe reveals that the central crossbands are partially separated. Premium quality for both the variety and the assigned grade, this coin would serve as a highlight in the finest Mercury dime set.<p>The popular 1942/1 owes its existence to the chaotic conditions of the wartime Philadelphia Mint. Tasked with churning out immense quantities of coins to fuel the United States economy during World War II, the engraving department at the Mint often produced dies for multiple years coinage at the same time. One such occasion was at the end of 1941, when dies for both 1941- and 1942-dated dimes were being prepared. During that era two impressions from the hub were required to impart full detail to a working die. In at least two instances, an obverse die for the Mercury dime received its first impression from a 1941-dated hub but its second from a hub dated 1942. One of these dies was shipped to the Denver Mint and was used to strike the 1942/1-D; the other remained in the Philadelphia Mint and is responsible for the 1942/1.<p>This Philadelphia Mint 1942/1 overdate was discovered by Arnold Cohn of Kingston, New York sometime prior to publication of the March 1943 issue of <em>The Numismatic Scrapbook</em>. The May 1943 issue of the same publication elaborated on the variety and included a photograph. The hunt was on, and contemporary collectors retrieved enough pieces that circulated survivors are now generally obtainable, if for a price. Mint State coins remain rare, however, and few are finer than Choice. Indeed, this is one the few Gem 1942/1 dimes that we can ever recall handling.
