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Mercury Dime

The Winged Liberty Head Dime, also known as the Mercury dime, was made from 1916 to 1945.

The designer, Adolph Weinman, added "wings" to Liberty's Phrygian capThe Phrygian cap is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward. It was worn in ancient times by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia. It represents freedom and the pursuit of liberty. to symbolize liberty of thought.

These wings were quickly associated with the Roman god Mercury, however, and the coin became known as the Mercury Dime.

The back of this dime piece features a fasces, another design that was taken from the Ancient Roman world.

A fasces is a battle ax surrounded by a bundle of sticks which symbolizes strength and unity.

The combination of the fasces and the olive branch, also seen on the reverse of the Winged Liberty Head Dime, was intended to symbolize that America had a strong desire for peace, but was ready for war if the need arose.

(click image for larger view)
Winged Liberty Head Dime
a.k.a. Mercury Dime

Type	Winged Liberty Head or Mercury Dime
Designer	Adolph A. Weinman
Years Minted	1916-1945
Weight	2.50 grams
Composition	90% silver, 10% copper (net weight: .07234 oz. pure silver)
Diameter	17.9 mm
Edge	reeded
Mints	Philadelphia - *no mint mark* Denver - D San Francisco - S

Mintage	Philadelphia	Denver- D	San Francisco- S
1916	22,180,080	D - 264,000	S - 10,450,000
1917	55,230,000	D - 9,402,000	S - 27,330,000
1918	26,680,000	D - 22,674,800	S - 19,300,000
1919	35,740,000	D - 9,939,000	S - 8,850,000
1920	59,030,000	D - 19,171,000	S - 13,820,000
1921	1,230,000	D - 1,080,000	S - 0
1923	50,130,000	D - 0	S - 6,440,000
1924	24,010,000	D - 6,810,000	S - 7,120,000
1925	25,610,000	D - 5,117,000	S - 5,850,000
1926	32,160,000	D - 6,828,000	S - 1,520,000
1927	28,080,000	D - 4,812,000	S - 4,770,000
1928	19,480,000	D - 4,161,000	S - 7,400,000
1929	25,970,000	D - 5,034,000	S - 4,730,000
1930	6,770,000	D - 0	S - 1,843,000
1931	3,150,000	D - 1,260,000	S - 1,800,000
1934	24,080,000	D - 6,771,000	S - 0
1935	58,830,000	D - 10,477,000	S - 15,840,000
1936	87,500,000	D - 16,132,000	S - 9,210,000
1937	56,860,000	D - 14,146,000	S - 9,740,000
1938	22,190,000	D - 5,537,000	S - 8,090,000
1939	67,740,000	D - 24,394,000	S - 10,540,000
1940	65,350,000	D - 21,198,000	S - 21,560,000
1941	175,090,000	D - 45,634,000	S - 43,090,000
1942	205,410,000	D - 60,740,000	S - 49,300,000
1943	191,710,000	D - 71,949,000	S - 60,400,000
1944	231,410,000	D - 62,224,000	S - 49,490,000
1945	159,130,000	D - 40,245,000	S - 41,920,000

Mercury Dime - Rare Coins and Errors to Watch For

Keydates - 1916-D with a mintage of only 264,000
Beware of 1916 dimes that have had the "D" mintmark added by unscrupulous sellers looking to make a quick buck.
Semi-key dates - 1921, 1921-D, 1926-S, 1931-S, 1931-S
Overdates - 1942 and 1942D - 2 over 1
Full Split Bands - if the two horizontal bands that tie together the bundle on the fasces show a clear separation between the two bands, these coins have a higher value.


No Separation on Bands	Full Split Bands

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