Mercury Dime

Mercury Silver Dimes (1916–1945)

The Mercury Dime, officially known as the Winged Liberty Head Dime, is one of the most recognizable designs in American coinage. Designed by renowned sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, the coin was produced by the United States Mint from 1916 through 1945, replacing the earlier Barber Dime.

Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, each Mercury Dime contains approximately 0.0723 troy ounces of silver. Its distinctive design, influenced by the artistic styles of the early twentieth century, remains popular among collectors of historic U.S. silver coins.

History and Design of the Mercury Dime

The obverse features Liberty wearing a winged cap, symbolizing freedom of thought. The portrait was commonly mistaken for Mercury, the Roman messenger god, giving the coin its familiar nickname.

The reverse depicts a fasces, a bundle of rods surrounding an axe, representing unity and strength. An olive branch accompanies the fasces, symbolizing peace.

Weinman's design is admired for its detailed artistry and its departure from the more traditional coin designs of the nineteenth century.

Mercury Dime Mintmarks

Mercury Dimes were struck at three United States Mint facilities: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

Philadelphia issues generally carry no mintmark, while Denver and San Francisco coins display a D or S on the reverse, near the lower left of the fasces.

Several important dates and varieties are associated with the Denver Mint, including the scarce 1916-D Mercury Dime.

Key Dates and Collectible Varieties

The Mercury Dime series includes several notable dates and varieties sought by collectors.

1916-D Mercury Dime: With a mintage of just 264,000, the 1916-D is the key date of the series.

1921 and 1921-D Mercury Dimes: Both are recognized as important low-mintage dates.

1942/1 and 1942/1-D Overdates: These distinctive varieties display remnants of an earlier date beneath the final digit.

Full Bands (FB): Collectors also seek sharply struck Mercury Dimes displaying fully separated horizontal bands on the fasces. Coins meeting the grading service's requirements may receive the Full Bands designation.

The Mystery of Weinman's Liberty Portrait

The identity of the model for Weinman's Liberty portrait has long been a subject of numismatic interest.

One widely repeated theory identifies Elsie Stevens, wife of poet Wallace Stevens, as the inspiration. Weinman had created a portrait bust of Elsie Stevens, and similarities between that sculpture and the Mercury Dime have contributed to the theory.

Although Elsie Stevens is frequently credited as the model, the attribution is not definitively established.

Collecting Certified Mercury Dimes

Mercury Dimes are collected by date, mintmark, condition, and variety. Some collectors assemble complete sets, while others focus on key dates, overdates, or high-grade examples with Full Bands designations.

Certified Mercury Dimes graded by PCGS, NGC, and CACG, along with CAC-approved examples, provide collectors with professionally authenticated coins from this historic American silver series.

The Mercury Dime remained in production through 1945 and was replaced in 1946 by the Roosevelt Dime, honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt following his death in 1945.