A Good Write-Up on Finest 1942/1 Mercury Dime
RegistryCoin
Posts: 5,117 ✭✭✭✭
There's a very good write-up, and pix of the finest 1942/1 Mercury Dime, a NEWP at MonsterCoinMart.
They're attracting some incredible coins and sets, and Justin's photos are top notch. 
Read the history at: http://monstercoinmart.com/Index.html
11
Comments
Thanks RC.
Justin is doing a great job with his near 7 year old business now. I’m biased, but I think his pics are right up there with the best of them. He might not have the most expensive equipment, but I think it’s the man behind the camera even more than the “state of the art” equipment alone. Similar to the fighter pilot in the cockpit vs. the more state of the art fighter jet (at least that’s what I learned from watching Top Gun 2). 😆
Wondercoin
You pulled me into the thread with a very misleading thread title. Lol Congrats on a nice acquisition though.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
I don't think that he owns the coin. It is quite attractive though.
Coin Photographer.
@keyman64 In case you missed it, here’s the write/up.
“Absolutely Phenomenal 1942/1 Mercury Dime Overdate - one of the greatest numismatic delicacies of the World War II era! PCGS-MS67+: FINEST KNOWN SPECIMEN IN THE WORLD BY 1 - 1 1/2 POINTS!!
The history of the 1942/1 Mercury Dime is fascinating! At a time in the middle of World War II, in the March, 1943 edition of the “Numismatic Scrapbook”, Arnold Cohn of Kingston, New York, reported his discovery of a 1942/1 Mercury Dime. The magazine included a photograph of the coin and the hunt was afoot! The fairly new magazine's founder and editor, Lee F. Hewitt (who launched the magazine in January, 1935) submitted Cohn’s dime to U.S. Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock for authentication. This was just the start of Hewitt’s illustrious career in numismatics that earned him (and R.S. Yeoman of Whitman Publishing) the honor of the first living numismatists elected to the ANA Hall of Fame in 1978.
After initially suggesting the error was created by a 1941 dime being overstruck with a 1942 die, Sinnock thereafter reversed his conclusion correctly stating 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."
Shortly thereafter, 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."
High grade specimens 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.
The legendary 1942/1 is one of the most desirable overdates in all of United States numismatics. Because the error was reported so soon after its creation, hobbyists (for which there were many following WWII) began examining all 1942 dimes they encountered, leading to hundreds and hundreds of AU examples known today as well as thousands of coins in sub-AU grades. But, true Mint State coins are scarce (and gems are rare) and while the certified population reports of PCGS and NGC show that both companies have certified many dozens of Uncirculated examples, there is likely much duplication within those two reports. Case in point is this PCGS-MS67+ coin that is also the NGC-MS68 pop 1/0 finest known coin and the buyer will receive from us the NGC-MS68 insert tag from the very old NGC former holder that housed this coin for around a couple decades.
This overdate is simply amazing to look at; a naked-eye variety nearly as obvious as the 1955 Doubled Die cent! And, the reverse of the coin is a marvel as well. Not only are the central horizontal bands on the reverse nearly fully split and rounded, but also the top and bottom bands. The top diagonal is full and the lower diagonal shows the typical slight weakness where it joins the nearby olive leaf. The surfaces are almost entirely frosty with a touch of prooflike (“die burn”) being displayed.
We believe NGC got it right nearly 2 decades ago when they graded the coin MS68 (and that was before “gradeflation”)! On top of that, this coin is very close to full bands. With MS66FB coins now selling for “six figures”, one could only venture a guess what this coin might fetch at public auction if one day it is awarded a “full band” designation- even at the “lowly” MS67+ grade!!
This PCGS specimen has never seen CAC, but we have little doubt the coin would qualify for the green or, quite possibly even, the gold sticker upon submission. This piece is simply the finest quality specimen in the numismatic universe both obtainable or imaginable; the Grand Prize for the Registry Set collector or 20th century series enthusiast. From an original mintage of 205,410,000 Mercury Dimes, here is, in our opinion, the greatest specimen extant from those 205,410,000 coins!!”
Curious to discover whether this coin could be a Hansen target?
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
monster overdate.
what is the blue/milky stuff?
TV
@RegistryCoin... Wow... that is a beauty. Thanks for the history and great pictures. Cheers, RickO
The write-up is inaccurate. It is misleading. The source of the material should really strive for #TruthInAdvertising when trying to sell coins. They should strive to come off as being the most honest possible. The overselling and saying it could Gold Sticker could also bring false hope to a potential buyer. With the spots and activity on the cheek, I would disagree. The dark toning at the base of the branch on the reverse and other areas would not help it in my opinion when it looks like that toning has eaten through the luster layer. The spot between the date and initials, the spot above the D in GOD, the hit at the bottom of the bust, the spot in the back of the head, the weaker than desired strike in the hair...the dark spotting near the B in Liberty, the spot on the T in Trust...etc. I'm not trying to say it isn't a nice coin, because it is...but the over selling is what I have a problem with. Why not submit it to CAC to find out, instead of speculation and over-selling? The coin should be able to speak for itself...and it does, as the finest known non-FB example. Why not leave it at that?
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
I agree the gold speculation was overwrought, but in reality, for such a coin I'm not sure that a CAC designation is meaningful. It's a unicorn.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
That’s pretty cool! 👍
My YouTube Channel
I've seen quite a few of these, most circs, and this one is one of the nicest. Throw in that it is pristine and it's a real show stopper.
An amazing example.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
‘’The write-up is inaccurate.’’
Really? So, the way I read this “crit” is a coin that was graded MS68 for a couple decades in a old “fatty” NGC holder that the owner elected to cross down to MS67+ at PCGS at a grading event has 0 chance for CAC to assess is a 68 quality coin? That’s a first for me and my (57) years real life experience handling Mercury dimes and then graded coins! But, I think I get it - “the [board member] doth protest too much, methinks”
Wondercoin
.
I never said it had 0 chance. No need to put words in my mouth, thank you. I’ve seen plenty in this hobby, like a 42-S graded 68+FB and CAC while the coin has a road rash of scratches on the face. I disagree with the grade and sticker. I am allowed to do that. I merely expressed my opinion as to why I think it should not/would not Gold Sticker. That’s all. Why not stop with the overselling? Why not submit it to CAC to find out and then let everyone know the result? Why not call the coin exactly what it is, the finest non-FB example known? I’m very active on Instagram and see so many YN sellers way over-hyping coins and I see these traits in this post. The thing is, with this coin, it just isn’t necessary. It’s a great coin. Why try to take it beyond that?
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Key man. That description was only posted here because the OP was confused about your original posting (as I was frankly). I am comfortable with the description of a coin honestly stating that it is possible it might be viewed by CAC as the grade it had been for nearly 20 years. No wild speculation in that. That said, if it is offensive to some, I might suggest Justin edit it as I agree the coin speaks for itself and Justin is not interested in upsetting anyone. Thank you for the crit. I’ve never been on Instagram (best I know) so not really sure what the youngsters are doing over there. Wondercoin
The description appears to be full of hype to me as well. Why not send it to CAC, instead of speculating about it? Also, to me that coin is not even close to full bands and to speculate that it might FB is pure hype as well.