The Liberty head (Mercury) dime is hailed by many numismatists as one of the most beautiful circulated coins ever designed. It is one of the smallest coins minted and has a remarkable amount of detail compared to the size.

The Mercury dime was minted from 1916 to 1945. It received its nickname from the winged cap that Lady Liberty wears on the obverse side. The cap was designed to symbolize the freedom of thought, but many people labeled it as a “Mercury” dime because of the Roman messenger god.

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This dime design replaced the Barber design that had existed since the late nineteenth century. While the Barber design made for easy minting, it was not aesthetically pleasing to Americans. The designer for the dime was found through a competition to submit the best designs for the dime, quarter, and half-dollar. The German-born sculptor Adolph A. Weinman won the competition twice: he was awarded the design for both the dime and the half-dollar. The Mercury dime was replaced in 1946 with the image of Franklin Roosevelt in honor of his service as the President of the United States.

The obverse design may have been inspired by one of Wienman’s earlier works. In 1913, Weinman had created a bust of the poet Wallace Stevens’ wife, Elsie. The reverse design with fasces, a battle-ax, and olive branches symbolizes a desire for peace, which came at a time of great turmoil and war in Europe.

The coin’s composition includes a .07234 ounce of pure silver with a copper edge. The mint mark can be found on the reverse side of the coin to the left and below the fasces.

One of the most sought coins in the Mercury dime collection is the 1916-D. There were only 264,000 of these minted to meet the demand for a new coin. Other top-dollar Mercury dimes include the 1921 and 1921-D, the 1942/1 overdates from Denver and Philadelphia, and brilliant proofs from 1936-1942. These coins, popular for collectors, can be worth $40-$700 in good condition. Find one of these coins in better condition and it can be worth up to a $1000. The minimum value for Mercury dimes without rare dates in good condition is $1-$3.

Condition is essential to have a valuable coin. Collectors look for the full split bands on the fasces on the reverse side. This can be confusing, however, because it can also denote a weak strike. Other points of wear to look for is the hair and the area in front of Lady Liberty’s ear.

*Prices are based on values at the time this article was written. Check the Professional Coin Grading Service for current prices.