1941 Mercury Dime Proof : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

The favored Mercury Dime sequence was produced for circulation from 1916 by means of 1945, however Proof variations of the long-lasting Adolph Weinman design have been struck solely from 1936 by means of 1942.

Numismatic researcher and CoinWeek contributor Roger Burdette stories 29 deliveries of Proof Mercury Dimes for 1941, with the standard supply being both 503 or 603 items. Proofs have been struck pretty persistently and often all year long, with an obvious break in manufacturing in July. Burdette notes that these deliveries didn’t symbolize the totality of the Proof examples struck, as about 20% of manufacturing was rejected for high quality causes.

* Supply: Burdette, Roger. United States Proof Cash 1936-1942. Seneca Mill Press.

Freshly struck, almost each 1941 Mercury Dime Proof would have had a glassy sensible end that coated the fields and the units. The Philadelphia Mint deployed a complete of 5 obverse and 6 reverse dies to strike the 1941 Proofs. Three of those die pairs entered manufacturing on the identical time, leaving open the chance that some small variety of cash – if the dies have been correctly ready – would exhibit some extent of Cameo distinction.

To this point, just one coin (NGC PF67CAM #1620403-011) has been licensed as a Cameo. Sadly, the picture, taken from a 2006 Heritage Public sale, is inadequate to determine the thickness of the coin’s frost.

At present, most 1941 Mercury Dime Proofs exhibit some extent of firming or tarnish. Attractively toned examples can be found however usually promote for a premium. Cash which have retained their full brilliance might have been dipped sooner or later.

How A lot Are 1941 Mercury Dime Proofs Value?

Regardless of its low mintage, the 1941 Mercury Dime Proof is inexpensive by means of the Gem grade of Proof 66. Collectors may have no downside sourcing such cash on eBay or throughout the web classes of main public sale firms like Stack’s Bowers or Heritage Auctions. As of Might 2024, a latest survey of eBay costs realized reveals cash of typical high quality promoting for as little as $120. CoinWeek recommends that you simply buy uncooked cash solely from a good supplier, or cash licensed by CAC, NGC, or PCGS.

The highest inhabitants grade vary for the three companies is MS68+ to MS69. Licensed populations are by no means static, and one has to think about that the costs realized for noteworthy specimens symbolize the place the market was on the time of the public sale and usually are not a real indicator of any coin’s present worth.

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Market Information and Noteworthy Specimens

Prime Inhabitants: PCGS PR68+ (7, 11/2024), NGC PF69 (1, 11/2024), and CAC PR68+ (0:1 stickered:graded, 11/2024).

The PCGS PR68+ inhabitants has elevated from three in 2021 to seven as of Might 2024, the place it stays.

• NGC PF69 #4247487-001: As NGC PF68 CAC #178323-012. “The Eugene H. Gardner Assortment, Half IV,” Heritage Auctions, October 2015, Lot 98383 – $7,050. Heritage Auctions, June 2004, Lot 8167; Unknown Intermediaries; Aspen Park Uncommon Cash to Eugene Gardner, by sale, February 2012; As NGC PF69 #4247487-001. Heritage Auctions, March 4, 2016, Lot 4819 – $11,162.50. Gold, purple, and blue firming across the obverse periphery. Peach and fuchsia firming are on the reverse, and blue and purple firming is on the rim.

• CACG PR68+ #837481097: Heritage Auctions, Might 9, 2024, Lot 4117 – $7,500; GreatCollections, December 1, 2024, Lot 1679521 – View. Wealthy darkish firming, particularly on obverse.
• PCGS PR68+ #49240535: GreatCollections, August 11, 2024, Lot 946146 – View. Good. Safe Defend holder.
• PCGS PR68+ CAC #47402094: GreatCollections, September 10, 2023, Lot 1223658 – View. Golden and coppery firming. Safe Defend holder.
• PCGS PR68+ CAC #46410091: GreatCollections, February 5, 2023, Lot 1308149 – View; GreatCollections, July 30, 2023, Lot 1390222 – View. Rainbow firming. Safe Defend holder.
• NGC PF68+ #6058724-001: Heritage Auctions, July 20, 2023, Lot 3500 – $2,880. Streaks throughout the obverse. Awash with ice blue firming.
• PCGS PR68+ CAC #41885791: As NGC PF69 #3809774-001. Heritage Auctions, February 4, 2016, Lot 3171 – $11,162.50; Heritage Auctions, February 20, 2020, Lot 3045 – $13,200; Heritage Auctions, August 3, 2020, Lot 3132 – $7,500; Heritage Auctions, January 21, 2021, Lot 3494 – $10,500. As PCGS PR68+ CAC #41885791. Stack’s Bowers, June 10, 2021, Lot 1446 – $10,800. Crossed to PCGS, downgraded by one-half level. Vivid crescent rim firming in orange, pink, and inexperienced on the obverse. Scattered peach, pink, and inexperienced firming on the reverse.

• NGC PF68 #5747842-001: GreatCollections, November 17, 2024, Lot 1670535 – View. Good.
• PCGS PR68 CAC #48119743: GreatCollections, September 29, 2024, Lot 1370032 – View. Darkish firming round rim. Safe Defend holder.
• NGC PF68 #6211441-005: “The Salem Assortment of Proof Mercury Dimes,” GreatCollections, August 25, 2024, Lot 1639952 – View. Good.
• PCGS PR68 #49311160: GreatCollections, August 11, 2024, Lot 1472795 – View. Safe Defend holder.
• NGC PF68 #6301014-004: GreatCollections, July 21, 2024, Lot 1605186 – View.
• PCGS PR68 #49146044: GreatCollections, June 30, 2024, Lot 1464138 – View. Safe Defend holder.
• NGC PF68 #6605055-003: GreatCollections, April 28, 2024, Lot 1260373 – View. Gentle firming.
• NGC PF68 #6329427-003: Heritage Auctions, July 20, 2023, Lot 7090 – $1,200.
• PCGS PR68 CAC #7124226: Heritage Auctions, November 9, 2011, Lot 3598 – $4,887.50. Outdated Inexperienced Holder.; “The Maltese Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, October 16, 2020, Lot 3329 – $8,400. Rim firming in gold and magenta on the obverse high and a skinny curved rainbow of orange, magenta, blue, and inexperienced throughout IN GOD WE TRUST, bust truncation, and the date. Diagonal streaks of speckled orange firming throughout the decrease half of the obverse. Pale firming on the reverse.
• PCGS PR68 CAC #25387023: Heritage Auctions, December 5, 2013, Lot 3582 – $4,993.75; “The Maltese Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, October 16, 2020, Lot 3330 – $5,520. On the obverse, vivid iridescent crescent rainbow firming. Purple and orange rim firming on the reverse.
• PCGS PR68 CAC #22058904: “The Larry Shapiro Proof Mercury Dimes PCGS Registry Set,” Heritage Auctions, January 5, 2006, Lot 2104 – $5,750. Larry Shapiro on insert; “The Good Humor Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, April 2008, Lot 744 – $5,175; “The MKJ Assortment, Half II,” Heritage Auctions, June 6, 2013, Lot 4438 – $7,050. Engaging crescent rainbow firming on the obverse and reverse.
• NGC PF68* #1575644-001: Heritage Auctions, August 9, 2007, Lot 1029 – $2,760. Crescent firming in iridescent gold, inexperienced, and purple on the obverse. Fingerprint under IN GOD WE TRUST.
• PCGS PR68 #9433460: Heritage Auctions, April 27, 2006, Lot 1426 – $7,475. Absolutely sensible.
• NGC PF68* #657214-002: As PCGS PR68 #4099434. Heritage Auctions, January 13, 2005, Lot 6315 – $6,900. As NGC PF68* #657214-002. Heritage Auctions, December 13, 2005, Lot 560 – $2,530. Crossed to NGC, Star designation added; Heritage Auctions, April 6, 2006, Lot 494 – $2,300. Crescent obverse firming in pink, gold, and inexperienced. Streaks of firming throughout the face and within the left obverse discipline. Rim firming on the reverse.
• PCGS PR68 #21765628: “The Bruce Scher #1 All-Time PCGS Registry Set,” Heritage Auctions, February 24, 2005, Lot 4081 – $6,900. Orange and pink firming bracketing the left and proper of the obverse.

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Design

Obverse:

Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman’s design options Liberty (of Thought) dealing with to the left. A winged cap adorns her head. Tufts of hair curl across the base of the cap on her brow and behind her ear. A braid of hair wraps across the base of her neck. The phrase LIBERTY wraps across the high of the coin with letters spaced aside. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is to the left of Liberty’s neck.

The letters “E” and “R” are partially obstructed by Liberty’s cap. The designer’s monogram (a “W” surmounting an “A”) seems behind Liberty’s neck under and to the left of the “Y” in LIBERTY. The date 1941 seems under the bust truncation to the rear. A delicate basin creates a dish-like look within the discipline.

Reverse:

Within the middle of the reverse of the 1941 Mercury Dime Proof is the fasces, a logo of governmental authority utilized by the traditional Romans. An axe blade faces to the left. A curvilinear department of olive leaves wraps behind the fasces. Wrapping across the high of the design is the legend UNITED · STATES · OF · AMERICA. Wrapping across the backside of the design is the denomination ONE DIME. Two five-pointed stars separate the legend from the denomination. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM (“Out of Many, One”) seems to the appropriate of the fasces, barely under middle.

Edge:

The sting of the 1941 Mercury Dime Proof is reeded.

Designer

Adolph Alexander Weinman was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States as a youngster. He studied and labored below such well-known American sculptors as Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French. Weinman is accountable for two of essentially the most iconic coin designs in U.S. historical past: the Mercury or Winged Liberty Dime and the Strolling Liberty Half Greenback, each of which debuted within the annus mirabilis numismaticus of 1916. Weinman’s sons additionally grew to become sculptors and coin designers, and he taught such pupils as Anthony de Francisci. Adolph Weinman died in 1952.

1941 Mercury Dime Proof Coin Specs

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