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1942/1 Overdate Mercury dime value guide -- one of the most famous US coin errors, and grade-by-grade prices.
Condition drives the price — full breakdown below.
Note: a full grade-by-grade breakdown for this coin is still being compiled.
Per USA Coin Book, this is "one of the most identifiable and prominent errors in all US coins," identified by a visible underlying "1" on the left side of the "2" and a doubled "4" from the 1941 date punched underneath.
The MS-60-to-MS-65 jump is roughly 6x ($3,089 to $18,710), far steeper than the AU-50-to-MS-60 step -- plausible and consistent with known condition rarity for this heavily-collected overdate, since true gem examples are closely tracked by variety specialists.
Live listings matching the 1942 42 Over 41 Overdate Mercury Dime
Other dates and varieties in this series
What to check before you pay, specific to this date.
The same date runs from about $380 worn to $18,710 at the top of the scale — a 49× spread. Nearly all of that gap is condition, not the date on the coin, so work out where an example sits on the table above before deciding whether its asking price is fair.
A PCGS or NGC holder settles authenticity and grade in one go, which is most of what you're actually paying for at this level. The premium it adds is small next to the cost of being wrong about either.
Every Mercury Dime listed here is priced by an individual seller, so the same coin in the same grade can differ by a wide margin on any given day. Sort by price, check Metal Points and order history for a sense of the seller's record, and message them if the photos don't show enough to grade confidently.
About the 1942 42 Over 41 Overdate Mercury Dime
Value depends heavily on condition. A well-worn example brings closer to $380, while an uncirculated one can reach $18,710 or more.
Per USA Coin Book, this is "one of the most identifiable and prominent errors in all US coins," identified by a visible underlying "1" on the left side of the "2" and a doubled "4" from the 1941 date punched underneath.
For anything you believe is a key date or an error, professional grading protects both buyer and seller by settling condition and authenticity before money changes hands.
The rest of the series, with what each is worth at the top of the grade scale.
List it free on PeerMetals — flat 2.75% seller fee, zero listing fees, 1–3 day payouts.
