8 Mercury Dimes Every Collector Should Know About

The Mercury Dimes were traditionally considered among the most beautiful U.S. coins. However, did you know the one on the front is not Mercury, the Roman messenger god? Most view the winged cap and just assume it’s Mercury; it actually is Lady Liberty, with the wings signifying freedom of thought. This article will list the most valuable Mercury Dimes that have been sold, some of which brought about incredible prices at auctions.

You might also come across the abbreviation ‘FB,’ which stands for Full Band. It refers to the sharp and rather clear details on the bands of the fasces, or bundle of rods, on the reverse of the coin. Full Band coins tend to bring much more money as such coins are rare in high grades.

1916-D Mercury Dime – The Most Valuable One

• Minted in: Denver (D)
• Grade: MS 67 FB (Mint State, Full Band)
• Sold for: $207,000
• Date of Sale: August 11, 2010

The 1916-D Mercury Dime is one of the most sought-after dimes among collectors. Since it was part of the first year of Mercury Dime production, only a small number were made in Denver, making it extremely rare.

On the back of the coin, you’ll see a fasces (a bundle of wooden rods with an axe blade), wrapped in an olive branch, representing strength and unity. However, some people mistook this design for a golf club, which led to funny nicknames like the “Golf Dime” or the “Battle Axe Dime.”

1918-D Mercury Dime – A Symbol of Freedom

• Minted in: Denver (D)
• Grade: MS 67 FB
• Sold for: $182,125
• Date of Sale: Sep 3, 2015

In the course of the design process, the illustration of the Mercury Dime was influenced by various historic representations of liberty. Among these could be the Phrygian Cap, a soft hat that some say had a cone-shaped top and was worn by those who had been freed from slavery throughout the ancient Roman Empire. This cap symbolizes freedom, and one may note its experience throughout the French and American Revolutions. While the Mercury Dime does not display a Phrygian Cap, it represents the same idea, that of freedom of thought and expression, through the figure’s design sporting wings.

1919-D Mercury Dime – Inspired by a Real Model

• Minted in: Denver (D)
• Grade: MS 66 FB
• Sold for: $156,000
• Date of Sale: January 14, 2019

Most early U.S. coins featured a generic version of Lady Liberty, created by the mint’s engravers. However, for the Mercury Dime, sculptor Adolph Weinman used a real person as his model—Elsie Stevens, the wife of famous poet Wallace Stevens.

To capture the look of a winged cap, Weinman had Elsie wear the cut-off top of an old sock, which helped him visualize the flowing design. Today, this coin remains one of the most artistic U.S. coins ever made.

1942/1 Overdate Mercury Dime – A Rare Mistake

• Minted in: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)
• Grade: MS 66 FB
• Sold for: $120,000
• Date of Sale: January 3, 2018

The 1942/1 Mercury Dime is a famous overdate error, meaning that the year “1942” was stamped over “1941” due to a mistake in the minting process. These types of errors are rare and highly valuable among collectors.

Adolph Weinman, the one who designed this coin, was a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the sculptor behind the famous Double Eagle Gold Coin. His influence quickly helped Weinman to create some of the most beautiful designs for U.S. Coinages.

1918-S Mercury Dime – A Coin That Outlived Criticism

• Minted in: San Francisco (S)
• Grade: MS 67 FB
• Sold for: $144,000
• Date of Sale: January 14, 2019

When the Mercury Dime was first introduced in 1916, some mint officials didn’t like the design. However, it remained in circulation for nearly 30 years, until it was replaced by the Roosevelt Dime in 1946. This change was made as a tribute to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had passed away in 1945.

1919-S Mercury Dime – A Presidential Push for Better Coins

• Minted in: San Francisco (S)
• Grade: MS 66 FB
• Sold for: $103,500
• Date of Sale: November 9, 2006

The Mercury Dime was one of many coins redesigned as part of a coin-reform program undertaken by Theodore Roosevelt, who considered U.S. coins dull and wanted them to be more artistic. So talented sculptors were invited to make coin designings that would become some of the most beautiful coin designs in history of U.S. money.

1945 Mercury Dime – A Coin Artist’s Legacy

• Minted in: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)
• Grade: MS 67+ FB
• Sold for: $96,000
• Date of Sale: March 1, 2018

Throughout the early 20th century, there was often conflict between mint engravers and outside artists. The artists wanted to create intricate, beautiful designs, while the mint engravers were more concerned with making the coins easy to produce. Despite these challenges, Weinman’s Mercury Dime was so well-loved that his design was later used for the Walking Liberty Half Dollar and even the modern American Silver Eagle bullion coin.

1925-S Mercury Dime – A Change in U.S. Coin Design Rules

• Minted in: San Francisco (S)
• Grade: MS 68 FB
• Sold for: $45,600
• Date of Sale: January 14, 2019

Before 1890, new coin designs had to be approved by Congress, making it difficult to update U.S. coins. However, the Coinage Act of 1890 changed the rules, allowing the U.S. Mint to redesign coins every 25 years without congressional approval. This made it easier to introduce new designs, like the Mercury Dime in 1916.

Final Thoughts Mercury Dimes Are a Collector’s Dream

Mercury Dimes are highly collectible because of their beauty, historical significance, and rarity. Some of these coins have sold for over $200,000, proving that even small dimes can be worth a fortune!

If you have a Mercury Dime, check its mint mark, condition, and whether it has Full Bands (FB)—you might be holding a valuable piece of history without even realizing it!

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