Mercury Dime 1916—1945

The Mercury Dime, also known as the Winged Liberty Head Dime, is a ten-cent coin that was minted by the United States government from 1916 to 1945. Here's a brief history of the Mercury Dime:

The Mercury Dime was designed by Adolph A. Weinman, a prominent sculptor and designer. Weinman's design features the profile of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, which is a symbol of freedom and liberty. The obverse (front) of the coin also includes the word "LIBERTY" and the inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST."

The reverse (back) of the coin features a fasces, a bundle of rods tied together with an axe in the center, symbolizing unity and strength, and an olive branch, representing peace. Surrounding the fasces and olive branch are the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" (Latin for "out of many, one"), and the denomination "ONE DIME."

The Mercury Dime was minted from 1916 to 1945, replacing the Barber Dime that had been in circulation since 1892. It was produced at three different United States Mint facilities: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (mint mark "D"), and San Francisco (mint mark "S").

Despite its popular nickname, the coin does not actually depict the Roman god Mercury. The wings on Liberty's cap are intended to symbolize freedom of thought. However, due to their resemblance to Mercury's wings, the coin quickly became known as the "Mercury Dime" among the general public.

In 1945, the design of the Mercury Dime was replaced with the Roosevelt Dime to commemorate the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who passed away earlier that year. The Roosevelt Dime, designed by John R. Sinnock, is still in production today.

Mercury Dimes are highly sought after by coin collectors due to their historical significance and appealing design. Some dates and mint mark combinations are scarcer than others, making them more valuable to collectors. Additionally, the condition of the coin, such as its level of wear and any potential minting errors, can also affect its value.

Overall, the Mercury Dime holds an important place in American numismatic history and remains a beloved coin among collectors.

Key Dates

1916-D: The 1916-D Mercury Dime is highly sought after by collectors. It was minted in Denver and has a relatively low mintage, making it one of the scarcer and more valuable dates of the series.

1921: The 1921 Mercury Dime is another key date in the series. It was minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, with the Denver and San Francisco issues being the scarcer ones.

1921-D: The 1921-D Mercury Dime, minted in Denver, has a low mintage and is considered one of the key dates of the series.

1926-S: The 1926-S Mercury Dime, minted in San Francisco, has a relatively low mintage and is highly sought after by collectors.

1931-S: The 1931-S Mercury Dime, minted in San Francisco, is another key date in the series. It has a low mintage and is considered scarce.

1942/1: The 1942/1 Mercury Dime is a rare overdate variety. It was produced when a 1941-dated die was accidentally overpunched with a 2 to create the date 1942. These error coins are highly valued by collectors.

1942-D and 1942-S: These two issues are considered semi-key dates. While not as scarce as the key dates mentioned earlier, they have lower mintages compared to other years in the series.