1942-S

San Francisco struck 49,300,000 Mercury Dimes in 1942, a strong wartime figure that reflected continuing growth in commercial activity across the West Coast during the early years of America's involvement in World War II. The mint was busy supporting payrolls, vending machines, and retail commerce in a region that had become an industrial powerhouse for war production. These dimes circulated immediately and continued to do so through the war and into the postwar decades. Mint State examples are available in adequate numbers from the original roll and bag hoards of the silver speculation era, and the 1942-S is one of the more approachable San Francisco Mercury Dimes in high grade.

The Weinman design carries Liberty in her winged Phrygian cap on the obverse with LIBERTY arcing around the top and the date at the lower right. The reverse displays the fasces with olive branch and the S mintmark to the left of the fasces base. Composition is 90% silver and 10% copper, weight 2.5 grams, diameter 17.9 mm, with a reeded edge. The S punch on 1942-S coins is the knob-end style used at San Francisco in this era. Authenticators check the mintmark shape and position, the date for the proper Philadelphia-style 1942 punch with no overdate features, and the central horizontal bands on the fasces for the complete separation required for the PCGS or NGC Full Bands designation. The 1942-S typically strikes well and Full Bands examples are available with reasonable effort.

The date is affordable through MS-66 Full Bands and steps up at MS-67 and above. Heritage Auctions records confirm steady demand for top-graded pieces, especially those with strong eye appeal. Population reports updated regularly by Professional Coin Grading Service and Numismatic Guaranty Company give the best read on conditional scarcity by grade. The Mercury Dime series history offers broader context.