1942/1 Mercury Dime (10c)

The 1942/1 Mercury dime overdate ranks among the most famous and sought-after varieties in the entire series. This occurred when mint workers used leftover 1941 dies to create 1942 production dies, failing to completely efface the underlying "1" before punching in the "2". The result is a clear diagnostic where both numerals are visible, with the underlying "1" most evident in the lower loop of the "2". This variety was discovered relatively early and has been a cornerstone of Mercury dime collecting ever since.

This solid VF30 example housed in a classic ANACS Soapbox shows the overdate feature beautifully - you can easily make out the telltale "1" peeking through the "2" in the date. The coin displays smooth, even wear consistent with the grade, and the surfaces retain nice original color with good eye appeal. No significant marks or problems detract from this classic variety, making it an excellent representative of one of the series' most important overdates.