1931-S Mercury Dime. MS-67 FB (PCGS).This dreamy Superb Gem is fully struck from the rims to the centers to justify the coveted FB designation from PCGS. Bathed in billowy mint frosty, the silky smooth surfaces are brilliant apart from blushes of iridescent reddish-gold here and there along the rims. A delight to behold, and destined for inclusion in a high ranked Mercury dime set on the Set Registry.<p>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. When coinage of this denomination resumed in 1934, mintages were forthcoming from only the Philadelphia and Denver mints. The economic crisis of the early 1930s explains why only 1.8 million 1931-S dimes were produced, a limited total by the standards of the Mercury type. The effects of the Great Depression also resulted in much of the mintage for this issue remaining in government vaults until the mid 1930s. When the 1931-S was finally released in quantity beginning in 1934, the limited mintage immediately attracted the attention of contemporary numismatists, who set aside sufficient numbers of Mint State coins to satisfy todays less discerning collectors. On the other hand, "the percentage of full band specimens for this [issue] is notably low" (per David W. Lange, <em>The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes</em>, 2005 edition). Combining full striking detail and virtually pristine surfaces, the present Superb Gem is a true wonder coin in a 1931-S dime.
