Mercury Dimes: I LOVE "Mercs"

Ranked #3,874 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #42,088 overall

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (Preferably a Mercury Dime!)

Many people believe that the Mercury Dime is one of the most beautiful U.S. coin designs ever produced. I happen to be among those people who believe that Adolph A Weinman's design is truly exceptional!. Although I started my Mercury Dime collection later in life than some of my other collections, my "Mercs" are among my favorite coins. Even when I go to coin shows looking for something else completely, conversation almost inevitably turns to Mercury Dimes at least once during the show. In fact one dealer I know moves her Mercury Dimes front and center as soon as she sees me coming down the aisle! (Boy has she got me pegged!)

Production of the Mercury Dime began during the First World War. Production lasted through the Roaring Twenties, spanned the Depression, and continued through most of World War II until it was replaced with a design which bears the likeness of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who died in office in April of 1945.

What Preceded the Mercury Dime?

The Barber Dime!

Barber Dime

The Mercury Dime's predecessor was the Barber Dime (or Liberty Head Dime), which was designed by Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. It was produced from 1892-1916. The basic design was shared with the quarter and half-dollar of the time. The Barber series in general was not well liked by the public at the turn of the century, so the public enthusiastically welcomed anew design for the ten cent piece!

A Look at the Coin Itself

A Little Bit of History


The "Mercury" Dime was first minted in 1916. By the time the US Mint ended production in 1945 more than 2.6 billion of the coins had been produced. Although most dates are readily and affordably available, the key date to the series is the 1916-D, with only 264,000 of this date/mint mark being produced. The "16-D's" regularly sell for more than $500, with certified high grade coins fetching several thousand dollars. The 1921 and 1921-D are semi-keys, indicating that they are difficult to find, but not nearly so difficult as the 16-D. Another difficult coin to locate is the 1942/1-D overdate. And an interesting coin is the 1945-S, which was produced with two different size mint marks, a regularly sized S and a "micro-S." Proof coins were produced from 1936 until 1942, with several years having fewer than 10,000 proofs produced, and no year having more than 22,329.

Mercury on a Dime?

Why would the US MInt put a Roman God on a Coin?

In Roman mythology, Mercury was a messenger. He was the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter. He was the god of trade, profit and commerce. It is from that name that we get the word "merchandise." So it would make perfect sense to put an image of the god of commerce on a coin.

But it's NOT MERCURY who appears on the "Mercury" Dime!

People associated the image on the coin with Mercury because of the wings on the helmet. In actuality, Mercury wore winged sandals, not a winged helmet.

The image on the dime is that of Liberty! According to the coin's designer, Adolph A Weinman (you can see his initials-AW-to the right of Liberty's neck), the wings on the cap were symbolic of freedom of thought! So the more proper name of the coin is the "Winged Liberty Head Dime."

(The belief that the image on the obverse was that of Mercury was enhanced by the image on the reverse of the coin. But we'll talk about that a little further down the page.)

Take Coin Collecting Everywhere You Go

Click the Shirt . . . Take a Look

What's That Thing On The Back?

It's a Fasces, Of Course!

You are probably going to tell me that didn't help very much.

The word fasces is derived from the Latin for "bundle," and that's exactly what a fasces is...a bundle of sticks. The traditional Roman fasces was made of white birch sticks tied together with red leather strips. The symbolism was that while one stick might, in and of itself, be weak and could be easily snapped...when a group of sticks are tied together the resulting whole is much stronger than a single stick. So the fasces is a symbol of strength through unity. Men, when joined together in a group, are far stronger as a whole than any of them would be singly. Often one or more bronze axe blades protruded from the sticks. This was a reference to military power. The fasces was used as a symbol of the Roman Republic, and was carried and displayed in much the same manner that a regimental flag might be carried in the military today.

Never seen one before? One of the insignias of the National Guard includes crossed Fasces on an Eagle. There are two Fasces behind the rostrum in the US House of Representatives.

It really is absolutely amazing what you can learn through coin collecting!

Mint Mark and Designer's Initial

On This Coin They're Easy to Find


Traditionally on US Coins there is a tribute to the designer of the coin in the form of his initial(s) somewhere on the coin. The designer of the Winged Liberty Dime was Adolph A. Weinman. The "W" for Weinman can be found on the Obverse (Heads) side of the coin between the "Y" in LIBERTY and the date.

Weinman was the winner of a competition between three noted sculptors of the time --Hermon A. MacNeil, Albin Polasek and Adolph A. Weinman. Although it is not certain, most people believe that the face of the coin was based on a sculpture Weinman had done years earlier portraying Elsie Kachel Stevens, wife of acclaimed poet Wallace Stevens.

The Mint Mark is on the Reverse (Tails) side of the coin. It can be found between the fasces and the letter "E" in the word "ONE." If no mint mark is present, the coin was minted in Philadelphia. The letter "D" (easily visible in our sample picture above) indicates the city of origin was Denver. An "S" means the coin was struck in San Francisco.

Although you will find some places on the Internet that the "Micro S" is listed as an error or "variety," it was not. There are numerous instances in many coins, especially Mercury Dimes, where different size mintmarks have been placed on coins.

Are Mercury Dimes Really Made of Silver?

Absolutely! U.S. "Silver" coins minted before 1965 actually contained quite a bit of silver. That means that silver dollars, half dollars, quarters, and dimes all have silver content in them. The Mercury Dime is 90% silver, 10% Copper. During World War II there was a shortage of the metal nickel, so the US Mint made 1943 Buffalo Nickels from silver as well.

A Mercury Dime contains 0.0723 troy ounces of silver. That means that if you wanted to sell the coin to someone who would melt the coin down for its metal value you could earn well above ten cents for the metal alone. (See why they don't make real silver dimes anymore?)

Coinflation.com is a website which has a nice calculator which allows you to see how much the silver in a coin is worth at current silver values.

Mercury Dimes on eBay

Loading

Mercury Dime Folders and Albums

Organize and Protect Your Coins!

Using a coin folder is extremely important, especially for a beginning collector, for three reasons. First, it helps you organize your coins. You can see at a glance what coins you have and what coins you need. Many coin folders actually have information about the coins, such as the number of coins minted, printed below the slots into which you can insert the coins. Second, it protects your coins from hitting or rubbing against one another so that you don't accidentally harm them. Third, it just plain looks COOL! And frankly, pride of ownership is a major benefit of having a nice collection.

The difference between a coin folder and an album is actually quite important. With the folders, the coins are inserted into individual slots. One side of the coin is visible, and is actually exposed. The coin may be touched, and in some cases it can even fall out. A folder is an entry-level solution for your coin storage needs, but it is a much less secure solution than an album.

When displaying coins in an album, you insert the coin into a slot. Clear plastic sleves are then inserted on either side of the coin. Both the obverse and the reverse of the coin are available for examination, but you can not touch the coin directly. This is a more secure situation than a folder, and it is actually a much more attractive display for your coins.
Loading

Is My Mercury Dime Valuable?

I can't tell you that, but I can get you started finding out!

2012 Red BookThe value of a coin is based on two factors. The first is how rare the coin is. This is a combination of how many coins were originally minted, and what happened to them. Some are destroyed accidentally. Some have been recalled by the government. Collectors have taken some out of circulation. As a particular type of coin has fewer examples available, it becomes more valuable.

The other factor is the physical condition of a coin. The closer to perfect a specimen is, the more valuable it becomes. So a rare, perfect coin is much more valuable than a common, worn coin.

The American Numismatic has developed a grading system to describe the condition of a coin. What I will discuss here is coins that have been minted to go into general circulation, released. The conditions of the coins are represented by names, as well as a combination of letters and numbers. I have summarized some general conditions here and have indicated some of the more important area of the coin to look at for the Mercury Dime in the various grades.

Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70) This indicates a coin in perfect, new condition. It shows no trace of handling, wear, or contact with other coins. It must have the full mint luster or very light toning.

Gem Uncirculated (MS-65) This is an above average uncirculated coin. It may be brilliant, or it may be lightly toned or light fingermarking. There are very few barely noticeable contact marks either on either surface of the coin or on the rim.

Choice Uncirculated (MS-63) This coin has some distracting contact marks and/or blemishes in the prime focal areas of one or both surfaces. The luster of the coin may be slightly impaired.

Uncirculated (MS-60) This coin has no trace of wear, but it may show several contact marks, and the surface of the coin may lack luster, or even be spotted or toned.

Choice About Uncirculated (AU-55) There is evidence of friction on the high points of the coin's design (the hair above the forehead and in front of the ear on the obverse as well as the horizontal and diagonal lines on the fasces bands), but three quarters of the mint luster remains.

About Uncirculated (AU-50) This coin shows traces of light wear on several of the high points of the coin (The places mentioned above plus the hair along the face. Although wear is more noticeable on the reverse than for AU-55 the edges are still sharply defined.). At least half of the original mint luster is still present.

Choice Extremely Fine (EF-45) The coin exhibits light overall wear on the highest points of the coin. Slight wear is evident at the feather tips and and hairline. On the reverse, the horizontal lines in the fasces are still clearly defined, but the center two may not be clearly separated.) Some of the original mint luster is still evident. All design details are still very clear and sharp.

Coin Reference Book
Extremely Fine (EF-40) There is light wear throughout the design, but all features are still sharp and well-defined. There may be wear on the high points of the upper and lower horizontal bands on the fasces. Although absolutely essential, to the the definition of this grade, some traces of mint luster may still exist.

Choice Very Fine (VF-30) Light, even wear on the surface and highest parts throughout the design. All major features of the design, as well as all lettering remain sharp. The feathers are weak, but still have full details. The details on the branch beside the fasces are still clear.

Very Fine (VF-20) While all major details of the design remain clear, there is moderate wear on high points of the coin's design. Some detail remains in Liberty's hair, although the braid is nearly worn away. The verticle lines on the fasces are still visible, but are not as sharp as in the VF-30. The diagonal bands are present, but one or both are worn smooth in the middle.

Fine (F-12) There is moderate to considerable even wear. The design remains bold, and the overall appearance of the coin is still pleasing to the eye. Liberty's feathers are partially visible. The hair braid is nearly worn away. On the fasces, the verticle lines lack sharpness.

Very Good (VG-8) The coin is well worn with the main features of the design remaining clear and bold, although they have been worn somewhat flat. The rim is still complete. Some of the verticle lines in the fasces are still visible.

Good (G-4) This coin is heavily worn. The design is still visible, but many of the details are flat, and the design is faint in some areas. The rim is visible, the fasces is worn nearly flat but is completely outlined.

About Good (AG-3) This coin is very heavily worn with portions of the lettering, date, and legend have been worn smooth. In many instances, the date is barely readable. The legend is merging into the rim.

1916 D Mercury Dime -- Key to the Set

2 examples -- The Second is the Finest I've Ever Seen


With only 264,000 1916-D Mercury Dimes produced, the 1916-D is the key to the Mercury Dimes. With the scarcity of this issue, prices for certified, high grade examples of this coin can fetch over $1000 even in the lower grades. A certified example with a grade of MS-67 and featuring "full bands" can fetch well over $100,000, according to the Professional Coin Grading Service.

If you are considering purchasing one of these coins, be sure to do your research. Counterfeits and replicas are commonly seen in the marketplace. There is an interesting article on recognizing "fake" 1916-D Mercury Dimes published on eBay. As with almost everything in the "collectibles" universe, know your field and examine your purchase carefully. I highly recommend David Lange's The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes which is described a little further down the page.

Certified 1916 D Mercury Dimes

The Key to the Series, But Make Sure It's Authentic

Yes, counterfeiters will even try to foist fake coins on an unsuspecting public. That's why, in many instances, it is a good idea to look at certified coins. Well known organizations such as PCGS, NGC and ANACS will examine a coin and then certifiy its authenticity and grade.
Loading

More Mercury Dimes on eBay

Sometimes an online auction is the very best place to find coins to "fill slots" in your nice blue folder. Sometimes you'll find that key date that you've been looking for! With due diligence, eBay can be a fantastic place to find coins.
Loading

Mercury Dime Errors on eBay

The US Mint has some of the best quality control in the world. Every now and then an error occurs as a coin is being made. Perhaps the planchet's not quite right. Maybe there's something wrong with the die. There are dozens of things that can go wrong, and sometimes it happens. Even more rarely, the error makes its way into general circulation. People notice that there is something different with a coin and pull it out of circulation. The coins go into collections, or sometimes those error coins show up on eBay. Let's see if there are any Mercury Dime errors available right now!
Loading

They're Blogging About Mercury Dimes!

Are 1945-S Dime Prices in Right Place?
Back in the 1950s there was a lot of interest in the 1945-S Mercury dime. In fact, there was even speculation that some 1945-S Mercury dimes with a smaller than normal mintmark might turn out to be significant rarities. In 1945 the Mercury dime was in ...
This week's letters (02/21/12)
Sometimes it is just a dime, or a quarter. Recently, my son had someone pay for a soda with 1964 dimes. He offered to exchange the rest for dollar bills and ending up with $2.30 in dimes. About a year ago, I received five Mercury dimes in change from ...
Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Tuesday, February 14
Hey, a dime doesn't go as far as it used it. But when it comes to understanding the realities of global poverty, it can be hard to get a handle on just how poor the poorest countries around the world are. We know the richest one percent makes the same ...

Mercury Dime Jewelry on eBay

Have you ever looked at a Mercury Dime as something other than something to spend. Coins are lovely examples of the engraver's art, and Mercury Dimes are prettier than most. Some craftsmen and artisans take these miniature works of art and turn them into jewelry that anyone . . . especially a coin lover . . . would be proud to wear!
Loading

Learn More About Mercury Dimes

These are two of the best references available on Mercury Dimes. I especially recommend the first, but you won't go wrong with either book. If you are serious about Mercury Dimes one of these absolutely must be in your library.
Loading

More Shirts for Coin Collectors

I know these aren't Mercury Dime related shirts, but they really are nice gifts for a Coin Collector in your life. Fun conversation starters for sure (And I don't know a coin collector who doesn't enjoy talking about his collection.).

Crazy About Coins Value T-shirt

As Certified by the PCCGS (The Professional Coin Collector Grading Service of course).

Price: Buy Now

Powered by CafePress

What Dime Came Next?

The Roosevelt Dime was the follow-up to the "Merc." When Franklin Delano Roosevelt died in office in 1945, the country wanted to honor him. Congress decided to accomplish this by minting a dime in his honor. The United States Mint began producing Roosevelt Dimes in 1946.

Take Fun Coin Quizzes on Squidoo! Earn Points!

Send a Few Dimes to a Great Cause!

(Just Make Sure You Check Them For Key Dates First!)

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Coin Resources on the Internet

You can learn a whole lot about coins by reading some of the wonderful resources on the Internet. Here are some that I like.
American Numismatic Association
Perhaps the premier organization for Numismatic Education for the Amateur Coin Collector.
American Numismatic Society
the creation and maintenance of the preeminent national institution advancing the study and public appreciation of coins, currency, medals, orders and decorations, and related objects of all cultures as historical and artistic documents and artifacts
Professional Coin Grading Service
An organization dedicated to grading coins, it provides a wonderful online database showing values for coins which they have graded. Often a little high, the site still gives valuable benchmarks for buying and selling coins.

Follow the US Coin Blog

News and Musings About Coins and Coin Collecting

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

My Coin Lenses

This is the start of a series of lenses which will examine U.S. coins throughout the history of the country.
New Lincoln Penny
Examining the 2009 Lincoln Cents as they come out.
Lincoln Cents
The Lincoln Cent was introduced in 1909 and has been minted continually since. Several design changes as well as changes in the materials of which it was made have occurred. This is a good overview of the coin.
Buffalo Nickels
A great American coin, popular with collectors, this is a wonderful coin. But did you realize that the animal on the reverse is not a buffalo?
Kennedy Half Dollar
A fitting tribute to a fallen President, this wonderful coin was introduced in 1964. The coin is as popular as the President was. An interesting introduction to the coin.
Franklin Half Dollar
Besides the Susan B Anthony Dollar, the Franklin Half is the only U.S. coin featuring a real person who was not President.

Was This Page Helpful, Interesting, or Informational

Please Let Us Know What You Think By Rating This Page

If you are a Squidoo member, please take the time to rate this lens by clicking one of the stars. It lets us know how we are doing and encourages other people to visit the lens as well!
Thanks very much for your assistance.

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Thanks for Visiting the Mercury Dime Lens

Please Leave a Comment!

What did you like? What can we do better? What would you like to see or learn about that we can help with? And please let us know about your Mercury Dime collection or ambitions! Thanks again and please come back! There's something new here all the time!

submit

Off Topic, But Fun Lenses

These lenses are not related to coins, but they are fun...or at least I think they are. My wife says I've got an "interesting" sense of humor. What do you think?
The Viola: Serious Instrument or Just Plain Funny
You've probably heard viola jokes. And if you've heard them, you've laughed...or maybe groaned. But when you've heard them you'll probably want to tell them to someone else. Here are some old, some new, some funny, some...my wife will say, "interesting." Fun lens.
Jed Clampett: Mountaineer Shootin' at Some Food, or Confederate Insurgent?
Allegedly the result of a search of the deserted Beverly Hills mansion which had been occupied by Jed, Daisy (Granny), Jethro, and the lovely Elly May. Evidence indicates that the Clampett clan may have financed Confederate sympathizers and even raised giant jackrabbits to feed a new Confederate Army. And if you thought Anne Hathaway was an attractive secret agent, you should see Jane Hathaway! This lens will make you smile!
Orange Blossom Special
One of the most famous country songs, Orange Blossom Special has been called "The Fiddler's National Anthem." This lens provides some very interesting information about the song, its history, and ho it is played. Take a look!

by

ViolinStudent


Arthur Haule began to collect coins on in 1963. He was thrilled to get two folders with the common dates of a Lincoln Penny collection for Christmas....
more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!