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The
Barber dime continued through 1916, despite many
complaints from collectors for its perceived lackadaisical design.
The
year 1916 saw sweeping changes in United States coinage, including a new dime.
Designer A. A. Weinman depicted
Liberty adorned in a winged cap, symbolizing
freedom of thought. Surprisingly, the image was widely misunderstood as Mercury, the Roman
messenger god. The new coin was intended to be called the Winged Head
Liberty dime, but the moniker "Mercury" stuck, and will forever be attached to
this popular collector dime.
The new Mercury dime pleased many of the
critics. One of the nation's most prominent coin dealers, B. Max Mehl,
had this to say about Mercury Liberty Head dimes:
To my mind it
does not require very artistic efforts to excel the old issue. The new
issue is indeed a welcome addition to our coinage, and one which I think
will meet with the approval of thinking numismatists.
Thomas L. Elder, a leading commentator of his time, wrote a great deal
about the new dime, including this snippet:
We have in the
new United States dime... the handsomest American coin... so, after years of
waiting and not a little agitation, in which I claim a share, we have here a
coin which is second to none we have issued, and it will compare favorably
with any in Europe, which is saying much.
As Europe was being consumed by war in 1916,
the reverse of the Mercury dime illustrated
themes that were important to Americans: A battle-ax to signify military
readiness, placed next to an olive branch to express hope for peace.
The Mercury dime remained a fixture in American culture for many
years, a faithful companion through two world wars and the Great Depression.
Following the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945, a new dime bearing his
likeness was designed and released the following year. With that, the
Mercury dime was relegated to the history books, but remains foremost in the
hearts of today's coin collectors.
US Coin
Values Advisor has completed
Coin Value Tables™ for the Mercury dime,
reporting price trends over a long period of time for individual coins of this
series. There are key dates in the series that have certainly attracted
more than their fair share of attention from collectors:
For
mint state Mercury dimes in general, the horizontal bands holding together the
rods on Weinman's reverse fasces feature, if fully separated and rounded, can
generate prices far above less distinctive specimens of the same date and
mintmark. Full Split Bands
(abbreviated "FSB") resulted from striking by fresh dies, and are generally much rarer than
blended, flattened bands.
Key date Mercury dimes for sale are offered
below. The "View All" link in the lower right hand side of
each
"Sales Box" will bring up all the selected key date Mercury dimes, if any, available
right now on eBay coin auctions. The left
hand side of the box illustrates value trend data over a very long period of
time for the coin in VG-8 condition. The percent annual
increase is computed for comparative purposes. Don't buy key dates in
this or any other coins series unless they've been certified by PCGS, NGC, ANACS, or ICG, or are being sold
by a reputable dealer, such as
Jakes Marketplace. The coin pictured for
sale in the right hand side is not necessarily an example in VG-8 condition.
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1916-D
Mercury Dime
Condition: VG-8
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1921
Mercury Dime
Condition: VG-8
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Value Trends
1950: $6.50
1980: $400
1995: $600
2002: $750
2007: $1750
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Value Trends
1950: $1.25
1980: $25.00
1995: $27.50
2002: $50.00
2007: $90.00
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% Annual Increase
Since 1950 =
10.31%
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% Annual Increase
Since 1950 =
7.79%
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1921-D
Mercury Dime
Condition: VG-8
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1942/1-D
Mercury Dime
Condition: VG-8
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Value Trends
1950: $1.25
1980: $37.50
1995: $52.50
2002: $70.00
2007: $150
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Value Trends
1950: $ ---
1980: $275
1995: $175
2002: $275
2007: $600
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% Annual Increase
Since 1950 =
8.76%
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% Annual Increase
Since 1995 =
10.81% |
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Half Cents
1793-1857 |
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Large Cents
1793-1857 |
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Flying Eagle Cents
1856-1858 |
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Indian Head Cents
1859-1909 |
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Lincoln Cents
1909-present |
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Two and Three
Cents 1851-1889 |
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Shield Nickels
1866-1883 |
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Liberty Nickels
1883-1913 |
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Buffalo Nickels
1913-1938 |
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Jefferson Nickels 1938-present |
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Early Half Dimes
1792-1837 |
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Seated Liberty Half Dimes 1837-1873 |
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Early Dimes
1796-1837 |
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Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891 |
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Barber Dimes
1892-1916 |
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Mercury Dimes
1916-1945 |
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Roosevelt Dimes 1946-present |
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Twenty Cents
1875-1878 |
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Early Quarters
1796-1838 |
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Seated Liberty Quarters 1838-1891 |
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Barber Quarters
1892-1916 |
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Standing Liberty
Quarters 1916-1930 |
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Washington
Quarters 1932-present |
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Early Half Dollars
1794-1839 |
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Seated Liberty
Half Dollars 1839-1891 |
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Barber Half
Dollars 1892-1915 |
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Walking Liberty
Half Dollars 1916-1947 |
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Franklin Half
Dollars 1948-1963 |
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Kennedy Half Dollars 1964-Present |
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Early Dollars
1794-1804 |
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Gobrecht Dollars 1836-1839 |
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Seated Liberty Dollars 1840-1873 |
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Trade Dollars
1873-1885 |
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Morgan Dollars
1878-1921 |
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Peace Dollars
1921-1935 |
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Eisenhower Dollars
1971-1978 |
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Anthony Dollars
1979-1981,1999 |
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Sacagawea Dollars
2000-present |
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Presidential Dollars
2007-present |
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Gold Dollars
1849-1889 |
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Early Quarter Eagles 1796-1834 |
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Classic Head Quarter Eagles 1834-1839 |
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Coronet Quarter
Eagles 1840-1907 |
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Indian Head
Quarter Eagles 1908-1929 |
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Three Dollar Gold
1854-1889 |
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Early Half Eagles
1795-1834 |
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Classic Head Half Eagles 1834-1838 |
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Coronet Half
Eagles 1839-1908 |
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Indian Head Half
Eagles 1908-1929 |
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Early Eagles
1795-1804 |
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Coronet Eagles
1838-1907 |
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Indian Head Eagles
1907-1933 |
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Coronet Double
Eagles 1849-1907 |
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St-Gaudens Double
Eagles 1907-1933 |
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All three of the Mercury Dimes pictured above
are high grade Mint State specimens. The dime on the left is an
example of no separation between the center horizontal bands on the reverse.
The center photo shows some separation of the bands. In the right
photo, the bands are fully separated and earn the designation "Full Split
Bands". The degree of separation is a function of die wear.
Mercury Dimes struck by fresh dies typically exhibit the "FSB" effect.
As the dies wore down, the band split became less pronounced or
non-existent. "FSB" dimes are relatively scarce compared to the
overall population of Mercury Dimes, and are often worth substantial
premiums over their more common counterparts. |
