Mercury Dimes (1916-1945)

Mercury Dimes

Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, the Mercury Dime featured an allegorical representation of the Greek god Mercury symbolizing ‘Liberty’ was loved by the collectors of the day. The wings on her cap were supposed to represent ‘Liberty of Thought.’ The reverse depicts a fasces with an olive branch behind it. The 1916-D is the ‘key’ date of the series, with a mintage of only 264,000 pieces. Another pair of interesting varieties is the 1942/1 and 1942/1-D. Both of these overdates are highly sought by collectors and dealers.

Mercury Dimes Design

Mercury Dimes are a United States ten-cent piece minted between 1916 and 1945. They bear an exceptionally beautiful depiction of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, designed by Adolph Weinman. The figure on the Mercury Dime was first thought to be the Roman god Mercury, hence the coin’s common name. Their value is based primarily on their scarcity and condition, as there were fewer varieties of the Mercury Dime minted during its run than other coins, such as the Lincoln Cent.

90% Silver

There are certainly Mercury Dimes that hold great numismatic value. It is an iconic and beautiful U.S. coin that commands a premium when a rare example is found in pristine condition. However, generally speaking, Mercury Dimes’ greatest value lies in their Silver content. These coins were minted in a 90% Silver alloy. Each coin has an actual Silver content of .0723 of an ounce, so the value of its weight in Silver greatly outstrips its face value.

Key Dates of Mercury Dimes

For being one of the most collectible coin series in the world, Mercury Dimes have very few key dates. The oldest variety is the 1916-D edition designed by Adolph Weinman. The 1921 version, produced at the Philadelphia branch of the U.S. Mint, is also considered key and does not include a mint mark. Mercury Dimes produced by the Denver Mint that same year are popular among numismatists, as well. One of the most critical years for the Mercury Dime series in 1942, with two major versions made. The 1942/1 was made in Philadelphia, again without a mint mark, and the 1942/1-D was struck in Denver, with the standard “D” included on the reverse. Other Mercury Dime key dates are:

• 1916-D
• 1921
• 1921-D
• 1942/1
• 1942/1-D