The Mercury Dime is a beautiful work of art with an interesting story. Designed by Adolph Weinman, this ten cent coin was in circulation from 1916-1945 and was made up of 90% silver.
Mercury Dime was the name that was commonly used because the obverse of the coin features a depiction of a young Liberty with a winged cap that many people confused with the Roman god, Mercury. When asked about the uncanny resemblance his design for Liberty had to Mercury due to the winged cap, Weinman stated, that to him, the winged cap was a symbol of “Liberty of thought.” The official name at the time of production was the Winged Liberty Dime.
The reverse of the coin features a Fasces which symbolizes strength and unity, and an olive branch to signify peace.
The Mercury Dime was made as a replacement for the Barber Dime, which had been struck for 25 years, and as such gave the U.S. Treasury the ability to change the coin without authorization from Congress. So a contest was held to find the next dime design in which the designer of the Barber Dime, Charles E. Barber, took part in.
Many people collect Mercury Dimes because there is a wide range of prices and grades. It is also arguably one of the most beautifully designed coins ever minted in the United States. Collectors of precious metals sometimes will buy bags of non-key-date Mercury Dimes, just to keep for the silver value. If you are going to invest in precious metals, why not buy something beautiful with a history to it?
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