As an eBay Affiliate, Collector's Key may be compensated if you make a purchase through the link(s) above.
1942 1942/1 Overdate
| Weight | 2.5 g |
| Diameter | 17.8 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 205,432,329 Combined mintage for all 1942 Philadelphia varieties |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 90% Silver, 10% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Adolph A. Weinman |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-2080 |
Collection
Your collection
Sign in to track this coin.
One tap — add details later from your collection list.
Other recorded varieties for 1942:
External references
The 1942/1 overdate is the most famous variety in the Mercury Dime series and one of the best-known overdates in 20th-century United States coinage. The error originated at the Philadelphia mint when a working die was punched with a 1942 hub over a die that had already received a partial 1941 hub impression. The resulting working die produced coins showing both digits in the final position, with the underlying 1 visible inside the lower portion of the 2. Mintage for the overdate is included in the broader 205,432,329 Philadelphia total for 1942 and was not separately tracked, but the surviving population is small. Discovery in 1943 by collector and dealer specialists turned the variety into instant numismatic news.
Weinman's design carries Liberty in her winged Phrygian cap on the obverse with the suspect date below, and the fasces with olive branch on the reverse. The diagnostic for the variety is a flat raised bar protruding to the LEFT of the 2 in the date, representing the remnant 1 from the 1941 hub; the date appears almost like "19412" under magnification. Secondary tells include a notch at the bottom of the 4's upright and a doubled serif at the top of the 4. The variety is cataloged as FS-101 in the Cherrypickers' Guide. Counterfeits are produced by tooling and engraving the date area on a standard 1942 dime to simulate the overdate, and these alterations sometimes pass casual inspection. Authentication by PCGS or NGC is essential before any meaningful purchase, since both services examine the date under high magnification and confirm the underdigit shape, position, and metal flow against verified die markers. The 1942/1 is a Key Date for the series.
Auction records at Heritage Auctions show strong six-figure results for Gem Mint State Full Bands examples, and even circulated pieces command four-figure premiums. Collectors building a date-and-mintmark set should keep an eye on registry-set premiums when assessing comparable certified examples. The Mercury Dime series history provides further context.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | — | — |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | — | — |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | — | — |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | — | — |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | — | — |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | — | — |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
How many 1942 1942/1 Overdate Mercury Dimes were minted?
What is a 1942 1942/1 Overdate Mercury Dime made of?
What is the melt value of a 1942 1942/1 Overdate Mercury Dime?
Is the 1942 1942/1 Overdate Mercury Dime a key date?
Live listings from eBay. As an eBay Affiliate, Collector's Key may be compensated if you click a link and make a purchase. See all on eBay →
It is important that you educate yourself on a coin before making a substantial purchase, as some coins on eBay could be counterfeit or misrepresented. eBay Money Back Guarantee protects the buyer in these cases.