1916-1945 Mercury Dime Value

In 1916, Congress passed the Mercury Dime Act, which put a stop to the production of mercury dimes. At the time, these coins were costing more than their face value, and ending their production led to a sharp decrease in prices. Although these coins are no longer in circulation, they can still be found in mint condition and are usually worth quite a bit of money. In fact, some specimens can sell for hundreds of dollars or more. If you want to add one of these unique coins to your collection, do your research first!

What Is a Mercury Dime?

The United States Mint produced the Mercury dime, a ten-cent coin, from late 1916 to 1945. It was created by Adolph Weinman and is known as the Winged Liberty Head dime. The obverse image of a young Liberty, who can be recognized by her winged Phrygian cap, came to be mistaken for the Roman god Mercury. Elsie Stevens, the spouse of lawyer and poet Wallace Stevens, is thought to have served as Weinman’s model. The reverse of the coin features an olive branch and a fasces, which stand for peace and unity, respectively.

The new coin’s design was praised for its aesthetic value, but the Mint changed it when it discovered that vending equipment manufacturers had trouble getting the new dime to work in their machines. The coin was produced until 1945 when the Treasury issued an order for a replacement coin featuring deceased president Franklin Roosevelt. For its 100th anniversary, the Mercury dime was reissued in 2016, but this time in gold.

Why Are Mercury Dimes Valuable?

Some people believe that mercury dimes are valuable because they have not seen many of them in circulation in recent years. Others value them because of their rarity and the history behind them.

The 1916-1945 Mercury Dime Values

The 1916-1945 Mercury Dime is a coin that was minted from 1916 to 1945. It was the primary silver coin in circulation during this time, and its value fluctuated based on the market. The mercury dime has since experienced a resurgence in popularity as collectors seek to acquire these coins for their collectible value.

The coin is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. The coin has a diameter of 26.20 mm and weighs 2.61 grams.

Mercury dimes are rare enough that some believe they are worth more than silver dollars. However, due to the rarity of this coin and the fact that it was not produced for very long, most specimens are worth about one-seventeenth of their silver content.

How to Identify a 1916-1945 Mercury Dime

The 1916-1945 Mercury dime is one of the most popular U.S. coins and can be found in high demand by collectors. Here are a few tips to help identify a 1916-1945 Mercury dime:

First, look at the design of the coin. The 1916-1945 Mercury dime features a Lady Liberty right side up with her hair flowing in the wind and a shield in front of her, inscribed “E Pluribus Unum.” The reverse features an eagle perched atop a pole with 13 stars above it and the words “In God We Trust.”

Next, look at the date. The 1916-1945 Mercury dime was released in three different types, dated 1916, 1918, and 1945. You can identify a coin by its year and mint mark. The 1916-1945 Mercury dime was released from Philadelphia, Denver, Ottawa, and San Francisco mints.

Lastly, check for defects or signs of wear on the coin. Sometimes doublings or flan defects can be detected on Mercury dimes from this period. Additionally, if you feel like your coin is not as shiny as others you’ve held, it may be worth checking for scratches or other marks that may indicate it has been handled carelessly or not stored properly in the past.

Mercury Dime Key Dates

The following key dates for Mercury Dimes are as follows:

1892: The United States Mint began releasing Mercury Dime coins.

1916: The Barber Dime was released, replacing the Mercury Dime.

1945: The Roosevelt Dime was released, replacing the Barber Dime.

How to Sell a 1916-1945 Mercury Dime

In 1916, the United States Mint began producing Mercury Dimes. These dimes feature a design by George T. Morgan and are composed of .7775 silver. As with all coins, Mercury Dimes can be sold for their metal content or design.

Coin collectors frequently collect the Mercury dime series. Uncirculated coins are in moderately constant demand, and the coin’s silver melt value determines the value of circulated coins of lower grades. There is nearly a tenth of an ounce of silver in each Mercury dime (0.0723 oz. exactly). 

At the time of writing, the price of silver per troy ounce is almost $16. Consequently, each dime has a silver content of about $1.20. Sorting and organizing your coins will help the dealer quickly identify what you have, which is important if you want to get top dollar for them.

If the buyer is not interested in the coin for its metal content, they can instead look to buy it for its design. Mercury Dimes are popular among collectors so a well-made example can be quite valuable.

How Much Is My Mercury Dime Worth?

A Mercury Dime’s worth can change depending on its date, condition, and mint mark. A single coin may have a value of less than $1.50 or more than $1500. If you have a Mercury Dime from a popular mint year that seems in good condition, you might consider getting it graded by a reputable company like PCGS or NGC.

You might get a better idea of what the coin might be worth to dealers and collectors by spending the time to have your Mercury Dime graded. The grading procedure is extremely thorough and can consider even very minor flaws. You’ll feel more at ease if you have the coin graded.

The buying price and sell value are listed in the following table. The date and mintmark are listed in the first column, followed by the buy price and sell value for an average circulated Mercury dime.

The buying price for an average uncirculated and the sell value are listed in the next two columns. These are the rough wholesale and retail prices. Of course, the exact offer you receive from a specific coin dealer will differ based on the coin’s actual grade and many other elements that affect its value.

Date & MintCirc. BuyCirc. SellUnc. BuyUnc. Sell
1916$4.70$3.20$37.00$26.00
1916-D *$1,500.00$1,000.00$15,100.00$11,000.00
1916-S$6.30$4.20$53.00$36.00
1917$4.20$2.60$50.00$35.00
1917-D$6.10$4.00$240.00$160.00
1917-S$4.50$2.90$150.00$110.00
1918$4.50$2.90$110.00$70.00
1918-D$4.50$2.90$230.00$150.00
1918-S$4.20$2.90$220.00$150.00
1919$4.00$2.50$80.00$50.00
1919-D$6.30$4.10$370.00$250.00
1919-S$5.60$3.50$340.00$250.00
1920$4.00$2.60$53.00$37.00
1920-D$4.30$2.80$280.00$210.00
1920-S$4.30$2.60$290.00$200.00
1921 *$72.00$45.00$1,600.00$1,100.00
1921-D *$110.00$70.00$1,700.00$1,200.00
1923$4.20$2.80$40.00$27.00
1923-S$4.90$3.30$340.00$240.00
1924$3.90$2.60$80.00$50.00
1924-D$5.50$3.50$300.00$220.00
1924-S$4.30$2.70$370.00$270.00
1925$4.00$2.50$71.00$49.00
1925-D$6.40$4.40$560.00$410.00
1925-S$4.70$3.10$390.00$270.00

Date & Mint

Circ. Buy

Circ. Sell

Unc. Buy

Unc. Sell
1926$4.30$2.90$52.00$38.00
1926-D$4.60$3.10$220.00$150.00
1926-S$17.00$12.00$1,300.00$900.00
1927$4.00$2.60$45.00$32.00
1927-D$5.20$3.30$320.00$210.00
1927-S$4.10$2.90$470.00$320.00
1928$4.10$2.90$37.00$26.00
1928-D$5.60$3.60$260.00$180.00
1928-S$4.30$2.90$210.00$150.00
1929$3.90$2.50$26.00$18.00
1929-D$4.00$2.50$36.00$24.00
1929-S$4.00$2.50$41.00$29.00
1930$4.00$2.50$44.00$32.00
1930-S$4.30$2.50$110.00$70.00
1931$4.00$2.50$54.00$38.00
1931-D$8.70$5.90$110.00$80.00
1931-S$4.60$2.90$120.00$80.00
1934$3.80$2.40$16.00$11.00
1934-D$4.70$3.20$35.00$25.00
1935$3.80$2.30$14.00$11.00
1935-D$3.90$2.40$36.00$25.00
1935-S$3.90$2.60$27.00$19.00
1936$3.90$2.40$12.00$8.00
1936-D$3.90$2.60$26.00$18.00
1936-S$3.80$2.40$18.00$12.00
1937$3.90$2.60$11.00$7.40
1937-D$3.60$2.40$21.00$14.00
1937-S$3.70$2.40$24.00$18.00

Date & Mint

Circ. Buy

Circ. Sell

Unc. Buy

Unc. Sell
1938$4.00$2.50$14.40$9.90
1938-D$4.00$2.50$18.00$13.00
1938-S$4.00$2.50$22.00$16.00
1939$4.00$2.50$13.00$8.70
1939-D$4.00$2.50$14.30$10.10
1939-S$4.00$2.50$23.00$16.00
1940$3.00$2.50$10.00$7.50
1940-D$3.00$2.50$13.10$9.10
1940-S$3.00$1.72$10.80$7.80
1941$3.00$1.72$9.50$6.60
1941-D$3.00$1.72$10.00$7.00
1941-S$3.00$1.72$10.70$7.50
1942$3.00$1.72$8.50$5.90
1942-D$3.00$1.72$9.50$6.50
1942-S$3.00$1.72$12.90$8.60
1942 42/41 *$440.00$300.00$3,400.00$2,300.00
1942-D 42/41 *$430.00$270.00$3,100.00$2,300.00
1943$3.00$1.72$8.00$5.50
1943-D$3.00$1.72$9.00$6.50
1943-S$3.00$1.72$12.00$8.00
1944$3.00$1.72$8.75$6.00
1944-D$3.00$1.72$9.50$6.50
1944-S$3.00$1.72$12.20$8.90
1945$3.00$1.72$8.00$5.50
1945-D$3.00$1.72$9.00$6.00
1945 Micro S$3.00$1.72$29.00$21.00
1945-S$3.00$1.72$11.10$7.50
Source: Coinflation

Conclusion

Now may be a good time if you’re looking to invest in a mercury dime. Prices for these coins have been on the rise recently and are predicted to continue doing so in the future. While it’s difficult to predict exactly how high prices will go, it’s safe to say that they could potentially reach extremely high values if trends continue. That said, don’t spend your money just yet; take some time to research different types of mercury dimes before making a decision.

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