All resulted from the desire by the government to mint coins to the satisfaction of artists and not practical coiners. 1921 is a scarce coin in any grade, however, the 1930 is a premium value in higher grades. For decades, this . This can be done any time in the year. "[29] A severe case of tonsillitis delayed Weinman's work, and caused him to request an extension of the May 1 deadline. Three mints struck dimes over the 1916 to 1945 span of the series. For example, the D Mercury Dime in certified mint state (MS+) condition can fetch as much as $41,000 at auction. [10] At the time, the Mint was intensely busy producing the Panama-Pacific commemorative coin issue, and immediate action was not taken. The demand for these coins is exceedingly great. Online marketplaces like eBay are a good place to start. Particular coins being offered for sale may not have been included within particular indexes, and if included, may not have experienced the same market movements as the index as a whole. The first year of production was 1916. The following chart clearly shows the wide range in values. By following a step by step method the important dates, mintmarks, and condition of your coin is identified. For long term storage, its best to put them in a dry and cool location, or even consider investing in a safe deposit box at your bank. But the Director of the Mint shall nevertheless have power, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, to engage temporarily the services of one or more artists, distinguished in their respective departments of art, who shall be paid for such service from the contingent appropriation for the mint at Philadelphia. Maximum Compensation up to 2,500.Buy USA Dime 1916 - 1945 Mercury .900 SILVER KM#140 Choose your Date (T32) from only 2.99 Coins Coins United States Dimes 1: 1 0: 0 D: D S: S 1: 1 U: U U: U D: D Weinman wrote again, hoping to make changes to the dime, but was told that only an act of Congress could change the design.[33]. Many collectors ask about the W mark on their Mercury Dimes, wonder why its there, and want to know what it means. Online auction places like Heritage Auctions also often have mercury dimes for sale. Extra effort for sure, but finding the best coin buyers yields the best results. At the top is the name of the issuing country UNITED. r/coins Treasure find. Traces of diagonal bands are visible as they cross the vertical lines. The competition was open to the public, and the judging committee found no entry suitable. Each mint has a different number of mintages, so they may be rarer:. These initials are found on all Mercury dimes. Robert W. Woolley announced that he selected Adolph A. Weinman's design as the winner. They make for a great addition to any collection whether you focus solely on mercury dimes or prefer to have a diverse collection of coins. In the first place is this 100-year-old coin's preservation. Starting at her cheek a flat area is smooth across her hair and wing. [10], Two days later, work on dies was stopped when it was decided that the lettering was insufficiently distinct. On June 24, Woolley wrote to Joyce: The dime is all right. [39] The 1942/41 is generally termed an overdate; it is actually a doubled die errorthe obverse die from which the coins were struck took one impression from a 1942-dated hub and one from a 1941-dated hub (until the 1990s, dies required two strikes from a hub for the design to be fully impressed). Denver struck a total just under 476 million Mercury dimes, second highest of the three mints. Therefore, each dime contains approximately $1.20 worth of silver. Now that you know about the history of this coin, lets talk about how to properly appraise and collect them. U.S. coins tend to be quite abundant in medium grades, so a slight difference in grade can make them extremely rare. 1944 AU50 Mercury Dime. The design of Liberty wearing a winged cap on the obverse was meant to symbolize freedom of thought and a modernization of American coinage. Free Shipping. There are seventy-seven different date and mint mark combinations with over 2.6 billion coins produced across all issues of the series. The mercury dime was produced until 1945, when it was replaced by the Roosevelt Dime. The coins sank with the capsule in the Atlantic Ocean, but were later recovered with the capsule from a depth of nearly 16,000ft (4,900m) in 1999. These coins are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper and are decorated with reed edges, just like the other dimes that preceded them. Still, the story behind the Mercury Dime and complexity of this timeless series are compelling enough to captivate numismatists and lure them down the colorful path of studying these coins in greater detail often inspiring them to build competitive Registry Sets featuring this beloved silver coin. A vertical line or two is often visible, mainly at the edges. Minting of Barber dimes resumed. Indicating the Denver mint struck the dime is a small "D" mintmark on the reverse. Mercury Dimes Mintage The most popular design for the ten cent denomination is the Mercury Dime, which was produced from 1916 to 1945. This is why it is not a bad idea to resort to a TPG (Third Party Grading Service). Total Weight: 2.5 grams. "[17] The press release indicated that the Treasury hoped production of the new coins would begin in about two months, once the designs were finalized. Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com. [17] According to numismatic historian Walter Breen, Barber became "sullen and totally uncooperative". Selling Coins describes the different types of markets, and the type of coins to match each market. Place of minting: San Francisco Year of minting: 1945 Face Value: $0.10 (ten cents) Price: $2.22 to $4.70 (circulated condition) Quantity produced: 41,920,000 Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman Composition: 90% Silver and 10% Copper Mass: 2.5 grams Diameter: 17.9 millimeters Photo Source: USA Coin Book The total Mercury dime mintage in 1929 was 35,734,000, or slightly above the average for the series. Coins minted at Philadelphia do not have a mint mark, while Denver issues carry the D and San Francisco issues carry the S. Your email address will not be published. On the reverse is found the "S" mintmark of San Francisco. Remember, a coin's condition cannot be improved by cleaning it. When it comes to the George, Read More George Washington Gold Dollar Coin 1789 To 1797 ValueContinue, How much money do you really have in your pockets? Since 1916, succeeding the previous Dime, the Barber (1892-1916), the Mercury Dime began to be minted. The low-mintage dates are not rare today as many were hoarded, and 1930- and 1931-dated dimes proved readily available from the banks once the economy improved. [32] On November 4, Weinman enquired of Joyce whether any removal was contemplated; he received in reply compliments on his design and Joyce's statement that the Mint was not responsible for what appeared in print. Click image to enlarge. depending on how nice the mint state condition. Remember, this table is only meant to be a guideline, as each auction is unique. (JM Bullion) 1929 Mercury dime Image Return: 30 days Brand: View all by United States For Sale From A-OK BROADWAY . Buya Merchants get the highest marks in delivery . To better help you figure out how much to pay (or not to pay) for a mercury dime, here is a table with values of the major dates and mint marks for mercury dimes. The mercury dime saw a surge in popularity during World War II, when people hoarded silver as a way to protect their assets against inflation. Mercury Dimes, which ran from 1916 through 1945, carry mint marks on their reverse in the lower left corner of the field by the rim, just to the right of the E in ONE and below the bulk of the olive branch. Proof coins are especially well minted, as they are given a special finish thanks to the treatments in the minting process. The design got its name because it reminded people of the Roman god, Mercury. Each is valued separately and by state of preservation. The same day, Malburn requested the opinion of the Treasury Department's Solicitor concerning the Mint view that it could strike new designs for the three denominations in 1916. [35] Lange traced the history of this misnomer, This misattribution appeared almost immediately in the popular press, as writers imagined that the obviously female Liberty was actually a representation of Mercury, messenger to the Roman gods of mythology and quite certainly a male. One reason is its design and historical significance. Each Mercury dime contains almost 1/10 of an ounce of silver (0.0723 oz. American Sales Machines (owned by Clarence W. Hobbs, whose complaints had delayed the Buffalo nickel) requested design changes so that its counterfeit detector could work. Solid values are the result. 90% Silver, great looking addition to your collection. [34] A letter to the editor in the January 1917 The Numismatist appears to be the first numismatic reference to the coin by the nickname "Mercury". This issue is common in most grades, but when it comes to full-band grades it is more scarce. A bundle of rods tied around an axe; whose meaning is strength through unity. Got some change in your pocket? Legend is clear. These dimes hold historical and collectible value for several reasons. Mint marks can be found on the reverse of Mercury Dimes, which were issued from 1916 to 1945, in the lower-left corner of the field by the rim, just to the right of the "E" in "ONE," and beneath the main portion of the olive branch. This Lincoln penny value chart will quickly tell, Read More Lincoln Wheat Penny Value Chart (Some Rare Ones Cost Up to $408,000)Continue, With the recent unfortunate event, it seems like Queen Elizabeth is everywhere. [18] Lange notes that "numerous delays were encountered as the artists fine-tuned their models while simultaneously avoiding obstacles thrown in their path by Barber. On March 3, 1916, Mint Dir. The location of the mint mark for Mercury dimes is actually located on the reverse of the coin, which is shown in the image below. Required fields are marked *. The obverse showed a profile of Liberty wearing a cap with wings to represent freedom of thought. Your email address will not be published. These collections are built with all coins closely matching visually. High areas include the bands over the Fasces. This variety was caused by the Mint's wartime use of a puncheon (used to impress mintmarks on dies and hubs) which had been made for use with early 20th century Philippine coinage struck at San Francisco, which had only a small space for the mintmark. [25][26] According to Breen, "Weinman's symbolic message in this design was clearly an updated 'Don't tread on me'". These are out of an original full box of 5,000 coins! Denver Mint Denver struck a total just under 476 million Mercury dimes, second highest of the three mints. Notable is the very small number of 1916-D dimes - 264,000, the key to the series. Altogether, in the retrospect, it seems an incredible achievement. Of course, this detail is only noticeable in coins of high quality, because due to wear it is possible that, even if it had been a Full Band in its origin, it would be indistinguishable. Add to cart. [25] The reverse depicts a fasces, the object carried by lictors, who accompanied Roman magistrates; on the coin it represents war and justice. Keep in mind that only a few dates in the series came with proof coins, but it was not the case with coins struck in 1929. Reverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: When rotated and tilted under a light, mint luster reflects a shine. With silver at $20.63 [38], Few varieties are known in the Mercury dime series. The following two columns list the buy price and the sell value for an average uncirculated. Just on the opposite side of the bust, the year of issue of the coin, 1941, below the anagram with the name of the designer, Adolph Alexander Weinman. All rights reserved. Image: USA CoinBook This is a 2023 uncirculated Philadelphia minted mark dime. Theywere produced at three different mints: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). Coleccionistasdemonedas.com is an independent website. Chapter 4: Counterfeit & Altered Coins", "Mercury dimes. Accurately determining the grade leads to an accurate value. A few small details are merging but major waves are well raised. One Minneapolis newspaper dubbed it the "battle ax" or "golf" dime, reflecting a lack of knowledge concerning the fasces. Depending on taste and budget, we can even incorporate some variants, or Full Bands versions, making the budget multiply by two. The lowest mintage of the series occurred for the 1916-D, which has become a classic key date coin of the twentieth century. After discussions between Woolley and McAdoo, Weinman was notified on February 28 that five of his sketches had been selectedfor the dime and half dollar, and the reverse of the quarter. STATES. Distinct waves show in Liberty's hair above her forehead. Waves of hair above Liberty's forehead sit high in profile and luster quickly wears from the surface. Many in Fine grade or less are considered as part of this group. This was a little confusing for the public, and led to the coin being called both the Winged Liberty Head Dime and the Mercury Dime. Their historical significance and potential for rare mistakes or variations make them a valuable addition to any coin collection. The introduction had followed a design competition to replace the Seated Liberty coinage, which had been struck since the 1830s. In fact, the same expert can grade the same coins differently on different occasions. We have since 1916 to forge an extensive collection. These are approximate retailprices and wholesale values. A color change and smoothing of the metal are signs the coin saw use in commerce. Demand was so high that orders were no longer able to be placed within 45 minutes of the coin becoming available. Viewing closely the grading images helps decide if your coin is a collector quality, higher value Mercury dime. Is they'll have to rent it out a correct expression. In 1916 the San Francisco mint finished striking the last of the Barber series and began producing the Mercury dime series. I beg to enjoin you not to pay out any of the new dimes until you have received special instructions from this office. Surrounding this female bust we find the legend LIBERTY, which is precisely what the head represents. The coins are actually made of 90% silver and 10% copper. Woolley asked the Commission to view sketches produced by the Mint's engraving department. Chapter 6: 1945-S Micro S", "Annual Report of the Director of the Mint for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1916", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercury_dime&oldid=1112757719, 2016 gold commemorative version: 0.9999 fine, diameter 16.5 mm, mass 0.10, This page was last edited on 27 September 2022, at 23:49. [41] Beginning in 1928, coin albums were issued by private publishers, mostly in folder form, which were widely used to collect the pieces. Condition: AG-3. 2023 VIP Art Fair Collectibles - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Lincoln Wheat Penny Value Chart (Some Rare Ones Cost Up to $408,000), How Much Is A Queen Elizabeth Coin Worth: Currently Very Much In Demand, Ultimate List Of Most Valuable State Quarters (Cost Upto $17,250), George Washington Gold Dollar Coin 1789 To 1797 Value, Rare And Valuable 2022 Quarter Errors: Lets Do Some Pocket Hunt, The 1966 Roosevelt Dime Value (Worth As Much As $2,820). The same day, Woolley wrote to MacNeil to tell him he would sculpt the quarter's obverse, and to Polasek to inform him of his lack of success. [31], The Mercury dime was released into circulation on October 30, 1916, the same day that production of the Barber dime ceased. The price of proof coins is usually higher than for normal coins, except for certain exceptional specimens, i.e. In a draft of his unpublished autobiography, Woolley wrote that Weinman refused to name the model, but told him it was the wife of a lawyer who lived above his Manhattan apartment (Woolley, in a later version, omitted the location, saying only that Weinman said it was the wife of a lawyer friend). $69.00. The first column lists the date and mintmark (see the photo above), followed by the buy price and the sell value for an average circulatedMercury dime. Many collectors never notice the A intertwined toward the bottom center of the W until more closely inspecting the obverse of the coin with a 5X or 10X coin magnifier. Discover how much your box of old coins is worth. Just as the AW monogram on Mercury Dimes points to the designer of these iconic coins, there are coins with markings of similar origins, including 1909 VDB Lincoln Cents, the Buffalo Nickels with F mark, and many others. [26] The lettering is in Roman style, and is made as discreet as possible. [25] Weinman's monogram, AW, appears on the obverse, midway between the date and the letter Y in "LIBERTY". This is because it is the first dime of the Mercury series, and specimens in higher grades can be very hard to come by. The above are wholesale Mercury dime values. That is quite the achievement for a coin, and one that makes it extremely interesting to numismatic history collectors. A greater number than the two branch mints combined. They will then classify your coin as damaged, significantly reducing its value. Mercury Dime 10C In the case that the two are clearly differentiated, it is said that it is a Mercury Dime Full Band. 1944 P Mercury Dime in circulated condition, 1944 P,D&S Mercury Dimes in circulated condition. Second large market in Mercury dimes are the bullion quality coins. . Editors note: Since there are too many variations and grades for each date and mint mark, we grouped them by timeframes of 5 years. It was Woolley's intent to have distinct designs for the dime, quarter and half dollarpreviously, the three pieces had been near-identical. If your coin looks similar to the one illustrated in the link below and has no evidence of wear due to being in circulation, it is considered anuncirculatedcoin. Totally uncooperative '' and began producing the Mercury dime began to be placed within 45 minutes of the occurred! 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