Mercury Dime Values 1916-1945

History of the Mercury Dime

Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty dime earned its enduring nickname from the public, who mistook Liberty's winged cap, symbolizing freedom of thought, for the Roman god Mercury. Struck from 1916 through 1945, it is among the most beloved silver designs of the twentieth century.

The 1916-D, with just 264,000 pieces struck in Denver before dime production shifted to quarters, is the key that defines the series; even heavily worn examples command four figures. The 1921 and 1921-D are strong semi-keys from the postwar coinage slump, and the 1942/1 overdates are dramatic die-error rarities.

Grading centers on the reverse bands binding the fasces: coins with Full Bands, complete horizontal separation, can be worth multiples of ordinary Mint State pieces, especially for branch-mint dates of the 1920s.