[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, David W. Lange. This information was originally published in 2005 in The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes]
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MINTAGE: 43,090,000 (Ranking 57/77)
POPULAR VARIETIES: Two entirely different mintmark puncheons were used for the San Francisco Mint dimes of 1941. Most 1941-S display the Small S with serifs used regularly since 1917. Introduced this year, however, was a new Large S having an upper serif which projects downward only and a lower lobe shaped like the bell of a musical instrument, from which this puncheon has received the designation “Trumpet Tail S” (photos). This designation, as well as subsequent ones identified for later ‘S’ Mint dime, are attributed to variety expert Bill Fivaz, who documented their various appearances for coins of the 1940s across all denominations.
The Small S dimes include at least one “broken nose” die state and two repunched mintmarks. The second of these (RPM-2) is not entirely convincing and may be just a flaw in the die, but the first one (RPM-1, known in two die states) is a whopper. While not all that rare, it is very popular and especially desirable in its earlier die state (RPM- 1a). See accompanying photos.
Trumpet Tail S varieties appear to be limited to the “broken nose” die state. Bill Fivaz notes two positional varieties for this mintmark, indicating that at least two dies used in 1941 bore this style of mintmark (photos).
The common die crack from wingtip to rim may exist with either mintmark. Another crack parallels the numeral 1 in the date, making it seem to read 19411. Yet another is known connecting letters DI in DIME.
Finally, 1941-S is known with the reverse rotated either 90 or 135 degrees clockwise, relative to the obverse. Readers are reminded that Mercury Dimes were coined with the reverse die as the upper, or hammer, die. Since only the lower or anvil die can come loose in the press without falling from it, the obverse die is actually the one which rotated from its initial setting. One might therefore prefer to call these coins “rotated obverse” varieties rather than using the more popular expression “rotated reverse.”
RARITY: Common in all popular grades including fully struck gem, original rolls likely exist.
COMMENTS: A fair number of 1941-S dimes are semi-prooflike, in that they have brilliant fields, while others simply display annoying die-polishing lines.
If, indeed, just two reverse dies bore the Trumpet Tail S in 1941, this would account for the rarity of this popular variety. These two dies could be expected to coin no more than about half a million dimes between them, or about 1% of the total mintage for 1941-S. Having studied dimes drawn from circulation over a 20-year period during the 1940s and ‘50s, Jack H. Tod published his results in 1961.74 He observed that just one in 30 1941-S dimes carried what he described as the “Large S.” If this ratio was accurate, then there must be at least one other Trumpet Tail S reverse die awaiting discovery.
The exact reason for introducing a new mintmark punch for San Francisco Mint dies is uncertain, as the old punch seems to have been in good condition. Even so, this move followed by some years a similar action made with respect to Denver Mint dies when the ‘D’ punch had begun to fill. Both ‘S’ varieties appear for all denominations dated 1941-S, excepting the half dollar—its transitional varieties appear during 1942. In each instance the Small S is the more common variety. The degree to which this is true varies from one denomination to another, the halves being perhaps the most evenly divided.
(Readers are reminded that all dies were manufactured at Philadelphia and then shipped to the respective branches with mintmarks already punched. Thus, the decision to make such changes rested within the Engraving Department at Philadelphia. Only the manufacture of collars and the final polishing, or lapping, of the dies, was performed locally at each respective mint.)
Before the 1970s officials of the United States Mint routinely denied all reports of irregularities in its products. The efforts of collectors and the numismatic press to get at the truth were thwarted at every turn, particularly during the 1940s and ‘50s. Their inquiries typically ran afoul of Leland Howard. While his title was Acting Director, he seemed to have been designated as the Mint’s unofficial information officer, and he held a deep suspicion and dislike of coin collectors. Persons furnishing examples of oddities and errors to the Mint for verification were typically given an uncompromising denial of authenticity. After a wait of months or even years, the coins’ owners would ultimately be told that their lucky finds had been irretrievably lost to the Mint’s furnaces in an official effort to secure against “counterfeits.”
An example of such leaden thinking is to be found in this 1941 account by Lee F. Hewitt, editor and publisher of The Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine:
While touring the Mint last month we asked Mr. Sinnock, the chief engraver, about “large and small mint marks.” He stated that only ONE punch for each mint was used so the mint marks had to be the same size—at least during his thirty years at the mint the same punches have been used. When a die wears the mint mark may appear to be thicker.75
As chief engraver, it’s inconceivable that Sinnock didn’t know about the introduction of a new ‘S’ mintmark punch that very year. Evidently, he believed it his duty to keep such “sensitive” information from coin collectors.
