1942/1 10C FS-101 MS66 Full Bands PCGS....

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on May 9, 2024 for:

$102,000.00 Bid Source: Internet bidder

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

1942/1 Dime, MS66 Full Bands
Tied for the Finest Certified
A Coveted Guide Book Variety

1942/1 10C FS-101 MS66 Full Bands PCGS. The first notice of the 1942/1 Mercury dime variety came from an article in the March 1943 Numismatic Scrapbook, where Arnold Cohn of Kingston, New York, reported his discovery of a specimen. The magazine's editor, Lee F. Hewitt, submitted the dime in question to Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock for authentication. David Lange reports in his series reference that Sinnock first suggested that the coin was created by a 1941 dime being overstruck with a 1942 die.

Lange writes that Sinnock, realizing how incredible such an explanation was, then offered information relating to the actual cause -- a hub-doubling error:

"In September of each year we start engraving the numeral in the new master die for the following year. We have no punches for these numerals since they were sculptured in the first place we follow the individual style of each sculptor. From this master die a working 'hub' is drawn. This is re-touched if necessary, then hardened. This hub is used to fabricate all the working dies for that year. About one thousand dies with new date must be ready by January 1st of each year."

A few years later, Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross confirmed Mint officials' belief that the 1942/1 was created during the period when differently dated dies were being made:

"During that period when utmost vigilance was required to keep the dies segregated by respective years, a die may have been given one blow with a 1941 hub and then, by some accident, finished with a 1942 hub."

Surviving examples, especially those in high grades, confirm the explanations of Sinnock and Ross that the overdate is essentially a doubled obverse die that shows both dates. The entire date shows slight doubling that becomes more pronounced from left to right. This impressive, sharply struck Premium Gem exhibits brilliant and frosty silver luster on its untoned surfaces. The obverse and reverse fields show myriad parallel die polishing lines. Population: 11 in 66 Full Bands, 0 finer (3/24).
Ex: FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2016), lot 5321.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 145474, Base PCGS# 5037, Greysheet# 390395)

Weight: 2.49 grams

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS