Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 2/8/2021: Gold $1813 Silver $26.90

• 1942 Dime Value Wheat Pennies
• 1942 Dime Value Chart
• 1942 Dime Value Silver
• 1942 Dime Value Canadian

1942 S Mercury Dime CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1942 S Mercury Dime value at an average of $2, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $50. Expert Tips on Identification and Value of a 1942 Dime. Here is a treat to all the vintage coin aficionados out there. HobbyZeal gives you tips to identify a genuine 1942 dime as well as some information on the value of these dimes. 1942/1-D Mercury Dime (VG-8 Condition) As good as the 1942/1/-D Mercury Dime has been, it still rates below the average of the Rare Coin Values Index, which computes the composite percent change over time of a representational group of 87 rare US coins.The blue line above charts the 1942/1-D Mercury Dime in VG-8 condition. Roosevelt dimes struck before 1965 are made from a 90% silver composition. They are worth a premium for their precious metal content. Most Roosevelt dimes from the 1946–1964 period are very common. Thus they are worth only their precious metal value if worn. In general, well-circulated Roosevelt dimes made before 1965 are worth between $1.25. The Proof 1942 Dime boasts a tiny mintage and it is the last Proof Dime of the Mercury Head series and the last Proof Dime until coinage of these special coins resumed in 1950. Large quantities of these Proofs are available for collectors (PCGS alone has certified obver 5,700 examples alone as of June 2015) in a wide variety of grades.

Silver Roosevelt dime values are tied directly to the current price of silver. With silver at $26.90 per ounce. Each circulated dime dated 1946 to 1964 is worth $1.80 .

Steps Leading to Value:

• Step 1: Date and Mintmark Variety - Identify the dates and mintmarks with above average value.
• Step 2: Grading Condition - Judge how well you coin is preserved and potential higher collector demand.
• Step 3: Special Qualities - Recognize the clear separation in the Roosevelt dime market; bullion examples and those sought by collectors.

Minted and saved in the millions, today Mint State coins are sought for high end collections. These coins are bright, like new, no wear, and virtually mark free. Beginning to find a following are the affordable, nice circulated coins as an entry to new and young collectors.

The above are wholesale Roosevelt dime values. Computed from dealer's price lists with various mark-up factors figured in. They reflect closely the value you would expect to receive when selling.

Variations in value do occur subject to subtle grading points, collector demands and dealer needs. For more background information, see how value listings in the above Coin Value Guide are determined.

Step 1: Date and Mintmark Confirmed

Roosevelt dimes replaced the Mercury dime in 1946. In the beginning of the series all dimes continued with an alloy of 90% silver to 10% copper. Because of silver content all dimes 1946 to 1964 are worth well above face value.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is portrayed on the obverse, first dimes released on January 30, 1946. Reverse is a 'Liberty' torch. On the sides of the torch are an olive branch - peace and oak branch - strength and independence.

Silver Roosevelt dimes are beginning to gain popularity as an interesting set to collect because of silver content. A few dates and mintmark combination are considered premium coins. The following images identify the different mints and their mintmarks within the silver Roosevelt variety.

Mints and Mintmarks of Silver Roosevelt Dimes

San Francisco Mint Silver Roosevelt Dime

San Francisco mint struck Roosevelt dimes of the silver variety from 1946 to 1955 when the mint closed coinage operations. Over 288 million dimes, lowest total of the three mints striking dimes of the silver variety. A small 'S mintmark is on the reverse at the base of the torch, to identify its production.

Denver Mint Silver Roosevelt Dime

Denver leads in total number of silver Roosevelt dimes. 4.7 billion coins, far outnumbering both the main Philadelphia mint and San Francisco branch. These are available in quantities both in circulated and mint state condition. Denver's mintmark, a small 'D' is on the reverse at the base of the torch.

Philadelphia Mint Silver Roosevelt Dime

Philadelphia, the main mint, struck silver dimes in each year; 1946 to 1964 producing over 2.6 billion pieces. Philadelphia is also known for the lowest number minted for any single year and mint variety. A 12,828,381 mintage of 1955, lowest of the silver Roosevelt dime variety. No mintmark was use during the silver series by Philadelphia. At the base of the torch on the reverse, if no mintmark is present Philadelphia struck the coin.

Step 2: Grading Condition Determines Grade

Collectors and their preferences determine silver Roosevelt dime value. Today the silver issues dated 1946 to 1964 are primarily sought in Mint State - uncirculated condition. This top end grade is affordable throughout the series and leaves any coin with circulation wear as a secondary choice.

Mint State Roosevelt Dimes are Premium Value

Grading your Roosevelt dime separates the bullion value quality coins from the collectible examples worth more. Comparing to images identifies factors for each stage of condition and helps visualize how to grade these dimes.

Mint State Grade: Roosevelt Dime

1942 Dime Value Wheat Pennies

Obverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: Traces of wear to the surface decides if a coin is uncirculated or a lower grade. First signs of wear are visible by the removal of luster across high points of the coin. Luster, a delicate fine grain to the metal produces the shine and is the original surface of the coin when minted.

Centrally located and high in relief is the hair over Roosevelt's ear. Inspect closely to detect any smoothing to the metal.

Dulling of the cheek below the eye is a sign of wear. A fine-grained surface needs to remain on the upper contours of the cheek, jaw line, and Roosevelt's neck. Compare lower areas of contours of the face to match higher areas for matching qualities of luster and texture.

Reverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: A reverse free of wear requires absence of smoothing from high areas of the touch flame and leaves on both sides of the touch.

A broad surface at the base of the flame is high in relief with tips of flames prone to first wear. A consistent shine and luster is present to the surface on a Mint State grade dime.

Fine details are horizontal bands at both the top and bottom of the torch. Judge the surface of these bands is free of any smoothing to the metal and matches surrounding surfaces.

Leaf edges are next viewed for evidence of wear. No smoothing to the metal confirms the grade.

Extremely Fine Grade: Roosevelt Dime

Obverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: A slight amount of wear is visible on a coin in Extremely Fine condition. Wear is limited to only the high contour areas.

Inspect the hair just above Roosevelt's ear. A few of the fine lines have disappeared. A small flat area is now in place of these lines. Hair remains well detailed towards the top of his head and along the back.

Roosevelt's cheek just below the eye displays a smooth surface with just a small flat area.

Looking closely at the outer edge of Roosevelt's ear, the once rounded edge is flattened.

Reverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: Light wear has replaced mint luster on high areas of the design and dulled the shine of most letters.

Wear is evident in the flame. A small flat area is in the center of the flame; however, detail remains separating the individual flames.

Two horizontal bands across the vertical lines of the handle to the torch are well defined and raised.

Vertical lines of the torch handle are visible. Weakness of these lines is often found with just a few lines merged. A sharp looking torch must remain.

Fine Grade: Roosevelt Dime

Obverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: Wear is beginning to create a slight 'faded' look to a dime in Fine condition.

Hair details and lines remain in Roosevelts hair although the area just behind the forehead is very smooth and lacking details.

Contours of the face are weakened by wear. A separation of the forehead and temple remains. Contours defining the separation of cheek and jaw are very slight.

Inner edge of the ear is now merged with the outer edge creating a wide flat line to the ear.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: Most of the fine inner lines to the torch, flame, and leaves are missing.

Once with inner detail, the torch flame is now flat.

Horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the torch handle are worn smooth.

Vertical lines of the torch are mostly merged; a few details show towards edges.

Leaves are flat, no central detail. Each leaf is defined from the next.

Good Grade: Roosevelt Dime

Obverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: An outline of Roosevelt remains. Wear has removed most detail to his portrait.

Hair is worn smooth leaving just an outline to the ear.

Letters of 'Liberty' are faint towards the top. Some of the letters are beginning to connect to the rim.

Date is readable. Often the last digit is weak but readable.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: Outlines remain of the torch, leaves of the two branches and flame of torch.

The rim is weak in areas but mostly complete.

Tops of lettering is worn to becoming faint in places.

Edges of leaves are worn and merged forming flat clusters.

Video: Grading Roosevelt Dimes

Grading condition is an important part of determining the difference between the collector quality and bullion quality silver dime. Using a single light source and a magnifying glass are two helpful tools.

Your primary consideration in grading Roosevelt dimes is the confidence of separating the bullion silver dime pieces from the higher value collectable ones.

Video proceeds through the grading process. Identify the higher mints state grades and better-quality circulated Roosevelt dimes. Close-up images with added descriptions help in judging condition.

Step 3: Special Qualities of the Silver Roosevelt Dime Variety

Values of silver Roosevelt dimes are influenced and supported by both collectors and the silver bullion market.

Collectors and Their Preferences

Most collections of the silver era Roosevelt dime are focused on mint state examples. Coins with no wear to the surface, boldly struck, and few marks. Realize within the mint state grade there are levels of preservation. Brighter luster, fewest marks, and overall eye appeal are considered.

Gem quality mint state dimes are highest in demand. These high-end coins are sent to grading services to encapsulate and grade. Once an impartial judgement of grade is made and the coin in in the holder of the service, acceptance of grade in the market improves. A wide value range becomes narrow. Coins outside a grading service holder are also traded in the market, generally a slightly less quality mint state dime.

Silver and Roosevelt Dimes

First era Roosevelt dimes (1946 to 1964) are the silver alloy variety. The majority are valued based on silver content. A movement in the price of silver - up or down - and a bullion quality dime follows. In the market these coins are typically traded in quantities of 50 coins (representing a standard 'roll') or more.

Condition is the key factor identifying a bullion dime. Circulation wear on most dates and mints lowers the coin below collector grade. Highlighted on the value chart a few in Extremely Fine grade are showing a slight premium. When located, these higher quality coins are nice additions to a beginning or your collectors set. Low initial cost and 90% silver combined in an old coin.

Pictured are coins very close, but just missing the mint state grade. Despite the minor circulation wear these have a potential as time passes. By tilting a coin at a sharp angle to a single light; surface wear and the slight smoothing and color change of metal is evident.

References

US Mint. Symbols on Our Coins. https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/us-circulating-coins
US Mint. 1946 US Mint Annual Report. https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/514144

Coin Values CoinStudy Articles

The small letters 'JS' at the base of Roosevelt's portrait, next to the date, are the designer's initials. John R. Sinnock was supervisor of all die work at the Philadelphia mint at the time. He personally designed the obverse and reverse, sculpted the model, and engraved the dies for the Roosevelt dime. A long-time designer and engraver at the mint, Mr. Sinnock also designed the Franklin Half dollar of 1948 and commemorative coins dating back to 1925.

Dime Values listed for Bust, Liberty Seated, Barber and Mercury Dimes. Match your coins to the Variety images, date and mintmark, and grading images. Determine a narrow range from the value charts.

Dime series are graded using video, close-up images and descriptions. Barber dimes and Mercury dimes are studied to judge condition.

Video index of how to grade coins, videos, close-up images and descriptions of other coin series are found here.

Many of your old US silver coin values are tied closely to the price of silver. Silver dimes, quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars are all heavy with 90% silver and worth many times their face value. With today's high price of silver your old coins are becoming surprisingly valuable.

Follow the steps to sell silver coins. Determine value first before finding a dealer.

A step by step method combined with the coin value online guide identifies how to value a coin collection. Discover how much your box of old coins is worth.

★Coin Values Discovery finds Roosevelt Dime Values and...

All old US coin values. It is an excellent index with images and text links to all coin series, from Cents to Gold. Value charts, grading images and a step by step procedure uncovers how much your box of old coins is worth.

Print the Coin Values Worksheet to list Roosevelt dime values. Should you decide to sell... use the worksheet as an invoice and packing slip when sending coins through the mail to dealers. It indicates you have done your coin values homework.

1942 Dime Value Chart

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1942 Dime Value Silver

Although most commonly referred to as the 'Mercury' dime, the coin does not depict the Roman messenger god. The obverse figure is a depiction of the mythological goddess Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, a classic symbol of liberty and freedom, with its wings intended to symbolize freedom of thought. Designed by noted sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, the Winged Liberty Head dime is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful U.S. coin designs ever produced. The composition (90 percent silver, 10 percent copper) and diameter (17.9 millimeters) of the 'Mercury' dime was unchanged from the Barber dime.

Weinman (who had studied under Augustus Saint-Gaudens) won a 1915 competition against two other artists for the design job, and is thought to have modeled his version of Liberty on Elsie Kachel Stevens, wife of noted poet Wallace Stevens. The reverse design, a fasces juxtaposed with an olive branch, was intended to symbolize America's readiness for war, combined with its desire for peace. The fasces symbol was later officially adopted by Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party, though this was the fourth party with a name invoking the fasces (in Italian: fascio) to which Mussolini had belonged. The symbol was also common in American iconography and has generally avoided any stigma associated with its usage in wartime Italy.

The 1916-D issue of only 264,000 coins is highly sought after, due largely to the fact that the overwhelming majority of the dimes struck at the Denver Mint in 1916 carried the pre-existing Barber design. Thus, the 1916-D is worth up to thousands of dollars if it is in relatively fine condition. A considerable number of common 1916 Philadelphia mint dimes have been altered with a 'D' added, so buyers should be careful to purchase only from reputable dealers or to accept only sealed and graded coins.

Many coins in the 'Mercury' series exhibit striking defects, most notably the fact that the line separating the two horizontal bands in the center of the fasces is often missing, in whole or in part; the 1945 issue of the Philadelphia Mint hardly ever appears with this line complete from left to right, and as a result, such coins are worth more than usual for uncirculated specimens. A valuable variety is an overdate, where 1942 was stamped over a 1941 die at the Philadelphia mint. A less obvious example from the same year is from the Denver mint.

Of particular interest to numismatics is the condition of the horizontal bands tying together the bundle on the fasces, on the coin's reverse. On well-struck examples, separation exists within the two sets of bands (known as Full Split Bands). Coins exhibiting this feature are typically valued higher than those without it.

1942 Dime Value Canadian