This thread is all about wonderful Mercury Dime varieties that PCGS does not currently attribute. Many of these varieties are very striking and easy to identify, but I have found there is very little information available to collectors. Every so often, I will post a new variety for discussion on this thread. Each post will include detailed explanation of how to identify the variety as well as other interesting facts for discussion. Please message me if you would like me post about a specific Mercury Dime variety in the future.
Up first is the 1942 Trumpet Tail S. This is the cousin of the much better known 1943 Trumpet Tail S, which is recognized by PCGS as FS-501. For information about the 1943 Trumpet Tail S, see https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1942-s-10c-inv-mintmark-fs-501-fb/511114 I have no idea why PCGS recognizes the 1943 but not the 1942. In any event, identifying either is fairly straightforward if you know what to look for. Just like the 1943, the 1942 Trumpet tail has no serif, and the lower end of the S has a rounded, ball shaped end (the bell of the trumpet). In contrast, the normal 1942S has a very clear serif on the lower end of the S. CONECA does recognize the 1942 Trumpet Tail S, denoted as MMS-004. http://www.varietyvista.com/06 Mercury Dime/San Francisco Mintmark Styles.htm NGC coin explorer makes reference to the 1942 Trumpet S. Apparently the Trumpet Tail S was carried over from 1941. https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/mercury-dimes-1916-1945-pscid-31/1942-s-10c-ms-coinid-15042 Note that the 1941 Trumpet Tail S is recognized as the 1941 Large S by PCGS, rather than as a 1941 Trumpet Tail S. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1941-s-10c-large-fs-511/145469 So, in effect, PCGS recognizes both the 1943 and 1941 Trumpet Tail S, but not the 1942. In addition, Heritage auction has noted the Trumpet Tail in at least one auction. https://coins.ha.com/itm/mercury-di...ds-pcgs-trumpet-tail-mintmark-a/a/337-30817.s In my opinion, this is a very important variety, just as important as the 1941 Large S and the 1943 Trumpet Tail S. Below are pictures of my 1942S Trumpet Tail versus my normal 1942S.
Ohhh the list of significant Mercury Dime varieties that are not recognized in the PCGS Registry is quite long and I have some of them. @Dimeman has many many more than I do. PCGS largely goes by what is in the Cherrypickers’ Guide but there are exceptions.
I is a shame that more varieties are not attributed by TPG's . Now I will say Anacs does honor more and most are in cherry pickers guide , as on their form they ask you for the attribution with sorce, or you can pay them to do it. With Anacs I found and recuse to do business any longer is that they may let 1 or 2 go but they will not give you the correct attribution on the slab unless you chose their service. This happen several times till I called them out, at that point we were done doing business. But the other two services do not offer but a few well known varities. And here is a issue I've had on discovery pieces....so you get a letter back from a well know expert confirming a find or new find..So in writing you have it...but they won't honor it. This has happen several times on new discovery pieces I've found. I find this pratice a dis-service to the hobby....as is this hobby not about the mnting, history, and the time peroid they were produced. So artifacts on coins or mistakes found are apart of being a collector. Giving the collector a better understanding of the process and the history behinde it.
Dealing with all of that at ANACS is just plain nutty. Hopefully @Dimeman chimes in a with a link to his PCGS Showcase that has his varieties not attributed by PCGS. He collects them by the CONECA site which is quite thorough and has a TON of them if I recall. If you are not into CONECA but want a book that covers DDO/DDR and RPMs, The Authoritative Reference On Mercury Dimes by John A. Wexler and Kevin Flynn has a ton of fantastic material but is still missing a BUNCH of stuff that you can find on CONECA. Be sure to get the 2014 version of the book though. 1936 has 8 DDOs for the date. The 1942-D has over 20 different RPMs for the date if I recall. Varieties are a bunch of fun.
Well one time I had some respect for Anacs...no longer if you're paying 10 dollars or less to have a coin attributed ,graded and slabed ....then you truly are not getting a deal as most collectors I see at shows these days have little or no faith in Anacs slabs...Unless they are the old school buy the coin not the slab. Most want PCGS, or NGC . And pass on other slabed coins.
As requested by @Keyman64 I am putting a link here to my Showcase on Varieties I have not on PCGS. These include all Dimes not just Mercs. Plus I have some raw which will not show and I just got 9 back from PCGS that have not been entered yet. These are 5 Mercs, 2 Roosies and 1 Barber......all Dimes. Thanks for looking and comments welcome. https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/showcase/1075
Thanks. I think that is your private set link. Here is the public link to your awesome showcase. https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/co...-dime-varieties-not-assigned-by-pcgs-yet/1075
That showcase has some pretty amazing things in there! I just went and looked through the Mercs for the first time in a couple of years. Great progress. Nice job @Dimeman
It's a shame that is the way it works, but right now PCGS only attributes varieties that are in the CPG. When the new CPG comes out later this year there will be more varieties added. I should already have some of them since I collect all varieties.
I have had real good results with coins in anacs slabs especially the old little white ones. I crack them out and submit raw. They always come back at least same grade with a lot of them upgrading.
Most slabs from that generation should upgrade a completely different standard of grading. Someome here once posted , i believe it was "Superdave " one be harder to find an 1938 D without an omm or rpm . Anacs refused to change the attribution like to know why ? Because of the grade both nickels graded 68 and 69 ...had they gave them the attribution they be worth more... And if you been doing this 30,40,50+ years youll learn that TPG's do come and go....at times they grade this other times that way.... Back in the 90's NGC were tough on nickels ...same coin in pcgs a grade higher, thats why you buy the coin not the slab.
Dimeman, your set registry is a sight to behold. Awesome looking dimes in there! Great post, by the way.
Thanks for starting this thread. Mercury's were my first love and I've got a bunch. My folks gave me a cigar box plucked from circulation in the 1960's and that's what got me started in the hobby. I've never considered varieties until now.
