NGC Certifies Second Known Example of Mercury Dime Rarity
Posted on 2/14/2017
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation has certified only the second known specimen of a remarkable doubled-die obverse variety for the 1926 Philadelphia Mint dime. This variety was announced to the hobby a year ago and until now no additional examples have been reported.
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| 1926 Double Die Obverse 10C VP-001 NGC VF 30 Click images to enlarge. |
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The obverse die displays doubling in the date and all lettering, though it is most distinct in the upper part of the design. In the legend LIBERTY, letter E has split corners on the top horizontal stroke, while letter R is boldly doubled to the south. What makes this variety particularly appealing, however, is that the fold of Liberty's cap and the feathers on her wing are also clearly replicated to the south. It's all but unknown for Mercury Dimes to show doubling on any features other than the date, monogram and lettering.
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| 1926 Double Die 10C VP-001 Close-ups NGC VF 30 Click images to enlarge. |
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While the discovery coin was certified by another grading service as "MS 60 Details, Cleaned," this new example is free of issues and has been certified by NGC as VF 30. It is presently labeled VP-001 as part of NGC's own VarietyPlus® Service, but Bill Fivaz, co-author of The Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins, has confirmed that this coin will be assigned the CPG number FS-10-1926-101 in the next edition of that book's Volume II. This new specimen was submitted to NGC by Dr. Michael Fey, known to variety collectors as the co-author of Top 100 Morgan Dollar Varieties: The VAM Keys.
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