Design and Specifications of the Mercury Dime

The Mercury Dime, also known as the Winged Liberty Head Dime, was designed by Adolph A. Weinman as part of a 1916 effort to beautify American coinage. Despite its popular name, the obverse actually depicts Liberty wearing a winged cap, not the Roman god Mercury. The coin series replaced the Barber dime and was widely circulated during the interwar period and World War II.
Weight 2.5 grams
Diameter 17.9 mm
Mint Marks D (Denver), S (San Francisco), P or no mark (Philadelphia)
Composition 90% silver, 10% copper
Obverse Design Liberty wearing a winged cap, symbolizing freedom of thought
Reverse Design Fasces with an olive branch, symbolizing unity and peace
Years of Minting 1916-1945

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Mercury Dimes significantly impacts their value, with uncirculated specimens commanding premium prices. Full Split Bands (FSB) on the reverse fasces is a crucial factor in determining grade and value for high-grade examples. Errors such as the 1942/1 overdate can dramatically increase a coin’s worth, while mint state examples of key dates like the 1916-D are among the most valuable in the series.
1921 Low mintage year across all mints, with Philadelphia being the rarest
1916-D 264,000 minted; one of the rarest and most valuable in the series
1945-S Micro S Rare variety with a smaller than usual S mint mark
1942/1 Overdate Rare error coin, highly sought after by collectors

Explore Mercury Dime Values by Year

1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Most Valuable Mercury Dime

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1945 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1942/1 Dime (Regular Strike) $350.00 – $2,650.00 –
1943 Dime (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $10.00 –
1916-D Dime (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $14,500.00 –
1936 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $11.00 –
1939 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $12.00 –
1935 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $13.00 –
1941 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1941 Dime (Proof) $60.00 – $100.00 –
1917 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $55.00 –
1921-D Dime (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $1,850.00 –
1940 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1916-S Dime Mercury (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $60.00 –
1943-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1938 Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $25.00 – $14,000.00
1945 Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $4,750.00 – $125,000.00
1937 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1916-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) $10,500.00 – $17,500.00 –
1942-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1919 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $65.00 –
1944 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1918 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $90.00 –
1927 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $35.00 –
1934 Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $40.00 – $11,000.00
1923 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $52.00 –
1943-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1945-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1920 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $50.00 –
1945-S Dime Micro S (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $32.00 –
1942-D Dime (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $10.00 –
1941-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1926 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $45.00 –
1926-S Dime (Regular Strike) $7.00 – $1,700.00 –
1944-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1919-D Dime (Regular Strike) $6.00 – $375.00 –
1921 Dime (Regular Strike) $37.00 – $1,550.00 –
1939-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $22.00 –
1916 Dime Mercury (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $55.00 –
1917-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $100.00 –
1925 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $55.00 –
1928 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $32.00 –
1929 Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $27.00 –
1944-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1918-D Dime (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $135.00 –
1930 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $32.00 –
1942/1-D Dime (Regular Strike) $300.00 – $2,750.00 –
1945-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1939-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $27.00 –
1919-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $385.00 –
1938-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $22.00 –
1941-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1935-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $27.00 –
1936 Dime (Proof) $450.00 – $525.00 –
1940-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1924-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $365.00 –
1939 Dime (Proof) $50.00 – $100.00 –
1936-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $30.00 –
1943-S/S Dime RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $12.00 – $85.00 –
1927-S Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $425.00 –
1938-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $30.00 – $10,250.00
1916-S Dime Mercury, FB (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $14,500.00
1920-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $200.00 –
1928-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $175.00 –
1942 Dime (Proof) $90.00 – $100.00 –
1941-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $15.00 – $1,525.00
1917-D Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $160.00 –
1918-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $170.00 –
1920-S Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $250.00 –
1937-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $27.00 –
1941-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $20.00 – $26,000.00
1924 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $65.00 –
1931 Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $60.00 –
1931-S Dime (Regular Strike) $6.00 – $110.00 –
1937 Dime (Proof) $165.00 – $275.00 –
1919-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $1,100.00 – $145,000.00
1940-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1939-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $30.00 – $9,750.00
1942-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) $13.00 – $14.00 –
1944-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) $13.00 – $14.00 –
1923-S Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $300.00 –
1931-D Dime (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $110.00 –
1935-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $45.00 –
1940 Dime (Proof) $42.00 – $100.00 –
1917-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) $150.00 – $225.00 –
1936-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $40.00 – $32,500.00
1945-S Dime Micro S, FB (Regular Strike) – $125.00 – $30,000.00
1926-D Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $175.00 –
1937-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $27.00 –
1921-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $2,100.00 – $47,500.00
1935 Dime, FB (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $20.00 –
1934-D Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $65.00 –
1918-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $750.00 – $200,000.00
1943-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) $13.00 – $14.00 –
1925-S Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $360.00 –
1929 Dime, FB (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $30.00 –
1936-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $40.00 – $14,000.00
1929-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $42.00 –
1934 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $27.00 –
1944 Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $15.00 – $12,500.00
1930-S Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $110.00 –
1938-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $27.00 –
1942 Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $10.00 –
1945-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $15.00 – $9,000.00
1936-S Dime (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $27.00 –
1920-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $750.00 – $110,000.00
1935-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $65.00 – $90,000.00
1937-D Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $35.00 – $10,000.00
1939-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $75.00 – $14,500.00
1940-S Dime, FB (Regular Strike) – $25.00 – $14,000.00
1924-D Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $285.00 –
1928-D Dime (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $225.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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