As a result, finding these silver Mercury dimes in Mint State condition today is very rare. You should set aside 100 to 300 per piece because these coins are often worth more than those meant for circulation. The low-mintage 1916-D Mercury Dimes were initially overlooked by collectors. However, in 19, no 'D' Mercury dimes were issued – coins bearing those date and mint mark combinations are counterfeits. Mercury dimes were struck at three mints: Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. It is surrounded by a semi-circular olive branch, with the mint mark found to the left of the cut end of the branch. The reverse side of Weinman's silver Mercury dimes features a Roman fasces – a battle ax bound within a group of rods – to symbolize strength and unity.

Once the dime began to circulate, the public made a visual connection to the Roman messenger god, and the nickname 'Mercury Dime' continues to this day. His initials, AW, can be found to the right of the neck. Barber had drawn the right-facing profile wearing a freedom cap, surrounded by a laurel wreath and the word liberty stamped on the headband.īy contrast, Adolph Weinman's classical and more streamlined dime profile faced left, and Liberty's winged, close-fitting cap resembled a woman's cloche (a bell-shaped hat of the period).

Barber's 1892 Liberty Head design (also called the Barber dime). It set the stage for a 20th century motif to replace Charles E. The Act of September 26, 1890, allowed for new coin designs after 25 years, including dimes. Mercury Dimes: First Dime Design For The 20th Century

Mercury dime 1942 silver content