Mercury Dime Values

In 1916 the San Francisco mint finished striking the last of the Barber series and began producing the Mercury dime series. Over the life of the series production was interrupted a few years notably; 1922, 1932, and 1933 when no dimes by any of the mints were struck. San Francisco contributed just over 440 million Mercury dimes.

On the reverse is found the "S" mintmark of San Francisco. At the base of the Fasces to the left is a small "S" indicating San Francisco struck the dime.

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. Later issues of the teens and twenties are also elusive. All needed to complete a date and mint set.

Indicating the Denver mint struck the dime is a small "D" mintmark on the reverse. Just to the left of the olive stem at the bottom of the coin along the rim look for the "D" mark.

Philadelphia is the main and original mint of the US. Its total production of Mercury dimes exceeded 1.7 billion coins. A greater number than the two branch mints combined. Notable low mintage years are 1921 and 1930. 1921 is a scarce coin in any grade, however, the 1930 is a premium value in higher grades.

Philadelphia did not use a mintmark to indicate its production of coins at the time. If there is no mintmark at the lower rim, left of the Fasces, Philadelphia struck the coin.

Obverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: An uncirculated - mint state - coin must not show any evidence of wear to the surface. High points of design are closely examined confirming original surfaces remain intact.

Waves of hair above Liberty's forehead sit high in profile and luster quickly wears from the surface. A color change and smoothing of the metal are signs the coin saw use in commerce. An even texture of the metal along high points of hair matching lower areas indicates a mint state coin.

Leading edge of the wing is also an area to judge. Fine lines are part of the design and original texture remains overall helping to judge evidence of wear.

A subtle indicator of wear is a smoothing of metal to Liberty's cheek and jaw line. A close look fines a continuous, even texture of metal overall.

Reverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: When rotated and tilted under a light, mint luster reflects a shine.

High areas include the bands over the Fasces. These are showing no dullness and smoothing. Both horizontal and diagonal bands are lustrous and exhibit an original texture.

Additionally, leaves of the olive branch each have a "glow" similar to the fields of the coin just below.

Obverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: Small amounts of wear have now flattened high point areas. Wear is light however, with many fine details remaining.

Distinct waves show in Liberty's hair above her forehead. A few small details are merging but major waves are well raised.

Small areas are flattened on hair curls at back of neck with major lines of separation remaining.

Lower portion of wing is smooth across the fine feather detail. Full separation remains of the upper feathers along the horizontal lines.

Liberty cheek is full with high and low areas defining her cheek, jaw, and eye brow.

Leaves over the vertical lines remain outlined with no merging, a small but important detail.

Reverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: A first indicator of an Extremely Fine grade Mercury dime are full diagonal bands as they cross the vertical lines.

As the top and bottom band cross the center, a clear line remains.

Wear has removed the line in the horizontal band creating a small flat area. All three horizontal band are well defined from the vertical lines.

Vertical lines of the rods are beginning to show flatness but remain completely separated.

Obverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: Wear has created areas of the surface appearing both heavily worn and moderately worn. An overall sharp look remains because of finer lines visible.

Hair curls alone Liberty's face are now beginning to merge with her forehead. A slight separation remains with a faded contour line.

Leading edge of the wing is faded only in disconnected areas. Majority of wing outline remains defined and recognizable from the cap areas below.

A bold Fine grade coin shows inner wing detail.

Upper ends of letters are fully defined and not connected to the rim.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: A modernly detailed Fasces remains as the center of a Fine grade Mercury dime.

Traces of diagonal bands are visible as they cross the vertical lines. When closely examined; often the lower edge of the band is sharper.

Horizontal bands tying the rods are now smooth, lacking any center line. Top, center, and bottom bands are merging with center vertical rods.

Vertical lines are merging in areas. Merging of vertical lines must remain disconnected and confined where diagonal bands cross.

Lettering is complete and separate of the rim. Additionally, a full rim is noted with a raised inner edge.

Obverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: Wear has now removed all finer detail and major details are mostly an outline.

Liberty's hair is merged with her forehead and a flat area extends into the wing. Starting at her cheek a flat area is smooth across her hair and wing.

Date remains bold with a small blending of the last digit with the rim. Any separation of the last digit and rim is a strong Good grade.

Legend is clear. Tops of letters are worn and becoming faint in areas. Letters touching the rim is found only in isolated spots.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: A strong outline of the Fasces remains along with a mintmark if present.

All traces of diagonal and horizontal bands are flattened and missing. A vertical line or two is often visible, mainly at the edges.

Legend is readable with most letters very plain. Rim is just beginning to fade into the tops of letters in areas. Important, letters are only merged with rim in disconnected areas and only the tops of letters are involved.

Collector quality dimes are scarce when compared to the numbers of bullion pieces. To meet high quality a coin has limited to no wear, pleasing toning to bright mint silver, and few distractions.

Collectors develop a preference for a particular "look" and enjoy the search finding a suitable example. Often many examples are viewed before one meeting their preference is found. These collections are built with all coins closely matching visually.

A set of lightly circulated, similarly toned Mercury dimes is an enjoyable challenge to many collectors. Solid values are the result.

One of the few US coins with the designer's initials - Adolph A. Weinman, displayed in an open field of the design. He designed both the Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half dollar, considered two of the best US coin designs. A stylized "AW" is on the obverse field just behind Liberty. These initials are found on all Mercury dimes.

More Dime Values

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