Most of us tend to overlook spare change, leaving it in jars for years; occasionally, valuable treasures can be found among those spare coins.
One of the most well-liked collectibles is the Mercury Dime, partly due to its widespread availability. If you go through enough spare change, you should be able to locate a Mercury dime. These Mercury dimes, with tiny wings that can be recognized on either side of Mercury's head, were mostly made between 1916 and 1945.
The average Mercury dime value is $4. Though the 1916-D variety is usually the most valuable, resembling the treasure, it could fetch as much as $364,250. Let's examine a few of the most precious Mercury Dimes. But first, let's explore the Mercury Dime's history.
Most of us tend to overlook spare change, leaving it in jars for years; occasionally, valuable treasures can be found among those spare coins.
One of the most well-liked collectibles is the Mercury Dime, partly due to its widespread availability. If you go through enough spare change, you should be able to locate a Mercury dime. These Mercury dimes, with tiny wings that can be recognized on either side of Mercury's head, were mostly made between 1916 and 1945.
The average Mercury dime value is $4. Though the 1916-D variety is usually the most valuable, resembling the treasure, it could fetch as much as $364,250. Let's examine a few of the most precious Mercury Dimes. But first, let's explore the Mercury Dime's history.
The US Mint produced these well-liked collectible Mercury dimes, which are 90% silver and 10% copper, for 29 years, from 1916 to 1945.
In a letter to ‘The Numismatist’, Adolph A. Weinman, the designer of these dimes, explained that the woman's head crowned with wings "symbolizing liberty of thought".
The coin's reverse side depicts fasces, and an olive branch signifies "the strength which lies in unity".
The Barber dime was intended to be replaced by the Mercury dime, which went into circulation on October 30, 1916. Between 1916 and 1945, the Mercury dime was minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. This series had problems when inserted into vending machines, which was one of the reasons it ended.
A mint state quality specimen of the 1916 Mercury Dime alone can fetch tens of thousands of dollars. Here are some of the most important date coins from the series for your reference:
One of the most well-liked series in American numismatics is the Mercury Head Dime series. With the exception of the 1916-D and 1942 overdates, obtaining the majority of dates is not too difficult. Nevertheless, a few of the dates are very rare and in excellent condition.
Completely split bands, or bands that completely and visibly separate from each other to hold the fasces together on the reverse, are the most desirable issues. Even though the bands in the middle receive a lot of attention, the bands at the ends of the fasces also need to be separated. Once more, full split band dates in gem condition are extremely rare.
Grading Mercury dimes (also called Winged Liberty Head dimes) requires significant expertise, and even the most experienced coin collectors take years to master this skill.
As a Mercury dime circulates and wears down, specific patterns of wear become apparent. The design's major and minor elements gradually fade and eventually blend together. These various stages of wear are assessed and utilized to determine a coin's grade.
If you want to find out the condition and grading of your Mercury Dime, always keep these three considerations in mind.
The coin's surface luster can be used to determine its grade. Shine is added to the surface during the striking process when it is first minted. When a coin is rotated in front of a light source, the shine covers both the top and bottom portions of the coin. The highest points on the design are evaluated first to find any signs of wear.
The higher the luster on the surface of the coin, the higher the grade and condition.
Take into account the coin's signs of aging, including rim damage, polishing, scratches, and polishing. Coins that are in circulation are graded primarily based on how worn they are.
For a Poor 1 grade, a 5% worn coin might only have the date on it; for an About Uncirculated coin, nearly 95% of the details would be visible.
The coin can be compared to common reference pictures or descriptions. You can also consider things like scratches, wear, luster, and color. Note that the rating is subject to variation based on experience and expertise and may be subjective.
For example, two coins may both have noticeable wear, but one may be graded higher because it has a sharper strike and more original luster.
The 1916-D Mercury Dime, made in Denver, is the most coveted date in the series, with just 264,000 mintage.
Do you know why so few were made? In November 1916, F. H. von Engelken, the director of the US Mint, told the three Mint superintendents to manufacture a large quantity of quarters first.
So, at the Denver Mint, only quarters were made until the big order was done. They did not start to make dimes in Denver again until 1917, which makes the 1917-D quite rare, too.
Among the rarest of the dime series is the 1921 Mercury dime. In 1921, a mere 1,230,000 of these dimes were produced.
The value of a 1921 Mercury Dime in circulation ranges from $60 to $1,350, whereas an uncirculated D dime can fetch up to $8,000. A 1921 Mercury Dime's worth is based on its condition.
The Mercury Dimes series, which ran from 1916 to 1945, is overdated and replaced by the 1942/41 Mercury Dime. The Denver and Philadelphia issues both have the 1942/41 overdate on them.
Coins from the 1942/41-D Mercury Dime are among the rarest in the series. Being more well-known than the Philadelphia version could result in increased demand. Twin errors are unique because they don't occur frequently.
Did you know Mercury dimes flew to space on July 21, 1961?
They joined a mission called Mercury—Redstone 4. It was the second trip for Project Mercury of the US. The coins stayed in the Atlantic Ocean after the mission. They lay deep down, almost 16,000 ft (4,900 m). Then, in 1999, they were recovered back up with the capsule. Imagine the journey these dimes made! It's quite something!
There's a reason rare coins are rare. Because of their historical, cultural, or supply-and-demand significance, rare coins may be worth more. A number of factors, including mintage, collector demand, important dates, specific conditions, and good grades, influence a mercury dime's value.
Take a thorough look at your coin, inspect it, and decide if it belongs in the rare category.
After careful examination of your coin, if you believe it is rare, then send clear images of the coin to the grading expert or coin grading organization.
If a coin grading organization advises getting the coin graded, it is wise to get it graded from PCGS or NGC.
Consider all facts and, if required, consult with a coin expert to decide on price and list on auction sites like eBay, Heritage Auction, or Stack's Bowers to get good value.
| Name - Mercury Dimes 1916 - 1945 | Grade | Mint | Date | Auction Record | Auction House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | Philadelphia | 11-15-2013 | $1,998 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1916-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | Denver | 08-05-2007 | $29,900 | Stack's |
| 1916-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | San Francisco | 03-21-2013 | $4,406 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1917 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS64 | Philadelphia | 11-05-2007 | $4,140 | David Lawrence RC |
| 1917-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Denver | 11-20-2019 | $7,800 | Stack's Bowers |
| 1917-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | San Francisco | 07-07-2006 | $3,795 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1918 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS66 | Philadelphia | 05-25-2023 | $1,293 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1918-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | Denver | 03-06-2008 | $2,990 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1918-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS66 | San Francisco | 01-14-2019 | $7,200 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1919 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | Philadelphia | 09-10-2006 | $14,950 | Superior Galleries |
| 1919-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS66 | Denver | 02-27-2014 | $5,288 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1919-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS64 | San Francisco | 10-01-1997 | $12,100 | David Akers |
| 1920 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Philadelphia | 09-30-2021 | $2,613 | eBay |
| 1920-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Denver | 08-20-2023 | $4,080 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1920-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | San Francisco | 07-30-2003 | $4,830 | Bowers & Merena |
| 1921 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | BU | Philadelphia | 06-01-2000 | $3,960 | Sotheby's |
| 1921-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | Denver | 02-25-2021 | $23,500 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1923 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 05-25-2023 | $1,087 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1923-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67* | San Francisco | 11-08-2011 | $4,313 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1924 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | Philadelphia | 10-01-1997 | $3,850 | David Akers |
| 1924-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Denver | 06-01-2002 | $1,725 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1924-s Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | San Francisco | 09-01-2003 | $6,900 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1925 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 08-04-2015 | $995 | eBay |
| 1925-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | CH BU | Denver | 10-01-1998 | $2,200 | Stack's |
| 1925-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS64 | San Francisco | 06-15-2010 | $3,450 | Stack's |
| 1926 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 05-25-2023 | $1,469 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1926-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Denver | 12-17-2023 | $3,120 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1926-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | San Francisco | 05-24-2015 | $9,950 | David Lawrence RC |
| 1927 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 08-11-2010 | $863 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1927-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS66+ | Denver | 01-07-2015 | $2,820 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1927-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | San Francisco | 12-17-2023 | $7,500 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1928 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 04-05-2001 | $5,520 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1928-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS64 | Denver | 10-01-1997 | $6,600 | David Akers |
| 1928-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | San Francisco | 05-25-2023 | $3,290 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1929 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | Philadelphia | 05-16-2019 | $2,468 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1929-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 11-15-2011 | $8,913 | Stack's Bowers |
| 1929-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 05-04-2005 | $1,438 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1930 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | Philadelphia | 09-20-2020 | $1,740 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1930-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS66 | San Francisco | 02-08-1999 | $2,070 | Superior Galleries |
| 1931 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 08-08-2013 | $1,293 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1931-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Denver | 11-20-2019 | $1,800 | Stack's Bowers |
| 1931-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | San Francisco | 01-06-2016 | $1,763 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1934 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Philadelphia | 02-06-2019 | $1,680 | Stack's Bowers |
| 1934-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Denver | 03-22-2012 | $920 | Stack's Bowers |
| 1935 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Philadelphia | 03-19-2021 | $1,140 | eBay |
| 1935-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 04-26-2006 | $2,300 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1935-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 06-04-2014 | $3,819 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1936 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | PCGS Genuine | Philadelphia | 12-25-2021 | $7,111 | eBay |
| 1936-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | Denver | 04-25-2022 | $840 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1936-s Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 10-31-2022 | $1,920 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1937 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS64 | Philadelphia | 10-18-2020 | $1,800 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1937-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 02-01-2007 | $1,725 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1937-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | San Francisco | 11-20-2019 | $2,280 | Stack's Bowers |
| 1938 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 01-02-2006 | $1,150 | David Lawrence RC |
| 1938-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 09-01-2003 | $1,783 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1938-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 06-03-2004 | $776 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1939 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS69 | Philadelphia | 04-25-2021 | $6,600 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1939-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 09-04-2014 | $617 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1939-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 09-08-2019 | $2,160 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1940 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Philadelphia | 10-19-2022 | $800 | eBay |
| 1940-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 05-30-2006 | $1,093 | Goldberg Auctioneers |
| 1940-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68+ | San Francisco | 04-27-2023 | $8,519 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1941 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Philadelphia | 04-05-2001 | $2,128 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1941-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 08-10-2016 | $423 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1941-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 09-09-2004 | $1,266 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1942 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68+ | Philadelphia | 01-14-2019 | $4,800 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1942/1 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | Philadelphia | 01-15-2023 | $90,000 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1942-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 05-26-2006 | $1,093 | Bowers & Merena |
| 1942/1-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | Denver | 07-27-2002 | $6,900 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1942-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS65 | San Francisco | 02-23-2023 | $1,234 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| 1943 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS66 | Philadelphia | 12-05-2022 | $900 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1943-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 07-08-2022 | $925 | eBay |
| 1943-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | UNC Details | San Francisco | 05-12-2021 | $2,950 | eBay |
| 1944 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67+ | Philadelphia | 12-13-2016 | $1,410 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1944-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 08-12-2022 | $720 | eBay |
| 1944-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 01-01-2006 | $1,265 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1945 Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS67 | Philadelphia | 09-09-2018 | $5,520 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1945-D Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68 | Denver | 06-22-2022 | $1,600 | eBay |
| 1945-S Mercury Dime 10C (Regular Strike) | MS68+ | San Francisco | 12-18-2018 | $15,000 | eBay |
| 1945-S Mercury Dime 10C Micro S (Regular Strike) | MS68 | San Francisco | 06-27-2019 | $2,291 | Legend Rare Coin Auctions |
| Name - Mercury Dimes Proof | Grade | Mint | Date | Auction Record | Auction House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 Mercury Dime 10C (Proof) | PR68 | Philadelphia | 12-03-2015 | $29,375 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1937 Mercury Dime 10C (Proof) | PR68+ | Philadelphia | 03-31-2021 | $26,400 | Stack's Bowers |
| 1938 Mercury Dime 10C (Proof) | PR68 | Philadelphia | 02-01-2005 | $32,200 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1939 Mercury Dime 10C (Proof) | PR68+ | Philadelphia | 08-22-2021 | $21,600 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1940 Mercury Dime 10C (Proof) | PR69 | Philadelphia | 01-12-2005 | $15,295 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1941 Mercury Dime 10C (Proof) | PR69 | Philadelphia | 02-23-2020 | $13,200 | Heritage Auctions |
| 1942 Mercury Dime 10C (Proof) | PR69 | Philadelphia | 06-07-2015 | $37,600 | Heritage Auctions |
To sum up, Mercury dimes are more than just regular coins; they have an interesting past and are valuable to numismatists and collectors. These dimes are more than just money; they're works of art and history, thanks to Adolph A. Weinman's symbolic design and nearly three decades of production.
The excitement of coin collecting and the possibility of unearthing hidden treasures in common change are highlighted by the rarity of some important dates, such as the 1916-D and the 1942 overdates.
A basic coin can become a priceless piece of numismatic history if you know its history, grading, and value—whether you're an experienced collector or just happened to find a Mercury dime in your pocket.
BOLD offers the Mercury Dime at the lowest prices. You can also purchase these coins in multiples of 100 and 500, and they will arrive in a canvas bag. The bag of 500 coins will include Roosevelt Dimes. Enhance your collection by adding historical value with these coins.
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