Owner Comments:
Total Graded: 120115
Total Prooflike: 54
Percentage: 0.0450%
Prooflike coins from San Francisco are available across several series from the late 1930’s through the early 1950’s. These coins are often characterized by rather strong polishing, but they have generally very strong mirrors. These coins are also among the best struck coins from that mint – notorious for its generally weak strike. In the Mercury Dime series, the 1941S is by far the most common coin in prooflike, with specimens ranging up to 68 FBP (that is, 68 with Full Bands and Prooflike).
My coin is a 67 FBP, with only three graded higher at 68 FBP (although the 68FBP sells for many multiples of this coin’s price). The coin has razor sharp band lines and distinct mirrors. It replaces a 65 FBP which I bought at FUN 2010 (the coin which really convinced me to start this set). The present coin is nearly mark free – an absolutely beautiful presentation of this classic series. I’ve seen quite a few prooflike Mercs, but few have been as mark free as this one. To appreciate these S mint PLs, however, you must appreciate the die polish lines that caused them. Lucky for me, I do. I’ve seen deeper mirrors on a number of PL Mercs, but this coin is quite flashy. I got this coin on Ebay.
A real oddity which I was able to add to my set is a prooflike Mercury Dime from Denver, a 1940D graded 64* FB. It doesn’t have mirrors quite deep enough for the PL designation – but it is unquestionably mirrored. I have encountered very few prooflike coins from the Denver mint from this era. The coin does not have the same die polish as the San Francisco coins, so it has a much “softer” appearance. I don’t really know how to describe it otherwise.