Mercury Dimes: What's Their Value? How To Determine What A Mercury Dime Coin Is Worth
To begin with, mercury dimes are misnamed.
The portrait on the front of this coin was mistaken for (and bears resemblance to) the Greek god Mercury.
But the portrait is in fact of Liberty -- the same figure that has graced U.S. coins since their introduction.
More about mercury dime coins and what they're worth...
Little-Known Facts About Mercury Dimes
Mercury in Greek mythology was known as the "quick messenger" and was equipped with wings to better execute his duties.
The confusion comes in when the designer of the coin, Adolf Weinman, added wings to Liberty's headdress.The wings were added to symbolize "liberty of thought". However in the end, due to misconception, the coin was improperly named the mercury dime.
The mercury head dime was minted from 1916 through 1945 when it was replaced by the Roosevelt dime.
All mercury dimes are 90% silver, therefore they are at least worth their silver bullion price... which is more than 10 cents.
For mercury dimes -- and most other 90% silver coins -- you can expect a dealer to pay you 9 times face value for them (silver being 15.00/oz). So every mercury dime is worth at least 90 cents or more. This is of course with the exception of the rarer mercury dimes which are listed here:
Mercury Dime Values
1942 D 2/1 - $675.00-$950.00 : 2 is stamped over a pre-existing 1
1942 2/1 - $625.00-$900.00 : Same as above without the D mintmark
1931 D - $8.00-$20.00 : Lower mintage
1926 S - $12.00-$60.00 : Lower mintage
1925 D - $4.00-$40.00 : Lower mintage
1921 D - $75.00-$400.00 : Low mintage
1921 - $60.00-$300.00 : Low mintage
1919 D - $4.00-$24.00 : Lower mintage
1917 D - $4.50-$45.00 : Lower mintage
1916 S - $4.00-$20.00 : Lower mintage
1916 D - $900.00-$9,200.00 : Extremely low mintage
The large margin in price ranges all depends on the grade of your coin.
The mint mark on the mercury head dime is very small and can be found on the reverse side of the coin on the bottom left -- right after the E in the word ONE and just left of the branch.
The prices listed above for the more rare mercury dimes are from the Red Book. You probably will not receive this amount of money for them from a dealer, because a dealer won't always give you exactly what the coin is worth. If they did, they would never make any money and be out of business.
For the most common mercury dimes, you can expect to get about a buck apiece for them, no matter what condition they're in. Silver is silver, whether it's pretty or not.
Great, T! They're worth about $2-3 in typical, circulated grades!
didanyone tell youaboutthe 44 dimeihave onetoo?
Hi, Kathy,
The "W" is the initial for the coin's designer, Adolph Weinman. Actually, your coin is worth more than $1. It could easily be worth $2-4 given the combination of bullion value and collector value for your coin.
I found a 1941 Liberty Head Dime with no mint mark, but it does have a W to the upper right of the date. What does this mean? Is this worth about $1?
Justin,
Your 1925 Mercury dime is worth $2-5 in typical worn grades. However, the "W" on your coin actually is not a mint mark. The "W" (an "A" and "W" intertwined in the form of a monogram) stands for Adolph A. Weinman, the coin's designer.
Incidentally, "W" is the mint mark for coins made in West Point, New York, but that mint mark did not appear until 1984.
Hi, I found a ciculated 1925-w mercury liberty dime a while back, for some time it has been sitting in a little bank I keep in my room, now I am looking all over to see if it is worth anything. Can someone help me? Once again it is a 1925-w mercury liberty dime. Thank you.
Hi, Buttervan:
A coin dealer is one of the best places to get an appraisal on a collection like that. Check your local phone directory under the category of "coins," "coin collecting," "hobbies," or "collectibles."
I have a collection (150) of dimes dated 1917 to 1944, in good condition. Who could I get to give me an appraisal in Georgia?
Hi, Chris:
Presumably you have an 1873 nickel 3-cent coin as the silver 1873 3-cent coin is rare. The 1873 nickel 3-cent coin is worth $30-45 in moderate-to-light wear grades. The 1873 silver 3-cent coin, by the way, is worth $1,000-1,500 in typical proof grades.
The "W" on the Mercury dime is the initial for the coin's designer, Adolph A. Weinman. A typical 1944 Mercury dime is worth $2.50-4 in average grades.
I have an 1873 3-cent coin with minimal wear. Also have a 1944 Liberty dime with a "w" to the upper right of the date, also minimal wear. Can someone tell me their value? Thank you!
Hi, Teazha
Wow--picking up a 1938 Mercury dime in a grocery store sounds like a nice find!
The 1938 dime is actually considered "common" in terms of coin collecting, but a '38 Merucry dime in average circulated grades is worth $3-5.
I have a 1936 copper lincoln cent with a silver mercury dime reverse. I can email a picture if you are interested.
If you still have this item and you don't mind sending me a picture of same i would love to see it!! if you have a scaner you can scan a picture and email it to me .
I MIGHT PERCHASE ITEM!!! bigfoot1412@peoplepc.com
If you can email a picture i would love to see this item, might be interested in perchaseing
Teazha,
Wow--what a find! A 1938 Mercury dime in typical worn grades is worth around $3.
It's especially neat to find a Mecury dime in circulation because they are so scarely found anymore. Congrats!
i have a 1938 mercury dime that i found in a grocery store it looks in good condition i just want to know hoe much its worth it you could tell me that would be great!?!?!?!? thank you
Chachi,
A 1945 dime in typical, worn condition is worth $2-4.
Hi, I have a 1945 Philadelphia Mint Mercury and Iwould like to know how much it is worth.
Megan,
Your 1927 Mercury dime should be worth $3-7 in typical circulated grades.
I have a 1927 mercury dime. Can anyone tell me how much this is worth?
Hi, Joyce,
The 1942-S dime is worth around $3-5 in typical circulated grades. The 1922 silver dollar should be worth somewhere between $15-20 if in typical circulated grades.
i have a 1942 lady leberty dime it has a S on the back after the one. I can't find anything about it though. can you tell me what it might be worth. i'm saving it for my son who has just gone in the military i am also wondering about a lady liberty silver dollar dated 1922.
Jessica,
This sounds like an error where the stamp (called a "die") that impresses an image on the coin was perhaps filled with some kind of debris or oil.
Filled die errors tend not to bring in much money if the coin is a regular issue (like a Roosevelt dime) and circulated. However, your coin may bring in a couple to a few extra dollars over face value if sold to a coin dealer who specializes in error coinage; the dealer will have to inspect the coin to verify that it looks the way it does because of a problem with the die and not because the coin was simply worn down heavily after being struck.
I found a Roosevelt dime that looks crazy. It has no detail on the front, other than the faint outline of Roosevelt's head, but the back looks like a normal dime. I haven't been able to find anything like it online. Help!
Have a Liberty Dime 1944 with no mint stamp, (I have looked after the E in ONE and to the left of the branch, no stamp). Any idea of value? Thanks
You have a Liberty Nickel (5 Cents) not a dime. It's value, depending on condition, is between $2.00 and $26.00 (expect to be paid less from a dealer).
BRansom,
Yes, take them to a coin dealer! He or she should offer you at least the bullion value of those coins. If you have 100 of them, with silver worth around $9.50 per ounce right now, you should expect at least somewhere between $90-100, but perhaps more if some of the coins are not too worn. In general, the less wear a coin has, the more it is usually worth.
While cleaning up my grandmothers belongs following her death I found a jar of Mercury Dimes dates ranging from 1923 - 1945. About 100 in total. Any advise in terms of what avenue I shuold take to get rid of them ($$$)?
I have a 1942 D mercury dime that looks like the date has been double stamped. It doesnt look like the 2 over 1 though, any thoughts?
i have a 1907 dime with a women on the front and a V with wheat around it on the back. it is in cardboard so i assume it is at least a little bit worthwhile looking into, any idea on its value? thank you
i got 1943SILVER DIME WITH D ON THE BACK AND W A ON THE FRONT AND THE G IN GOD LOOK LIKE A C AND GOT A 1943 SILVER WHEAT PENNY AND 1907 SILVER DIME ARE THEY WORTH ANYTHING
Lynne, something tells me you may have a silver bullion coin. In that case, your coin shold be worth approximately whatever the current silver spot price is. Therefore, if the current spot price of silver, per ounce, is $18, and your coin contains one ounce of silver, your coin will be worth at least $18. However, the actual figure a dealer may offer you will vary based on the total weight of silver in your coin as well as your coin's condition.
I have a 1927 dime with a wheat penny on back also has a spot on the wing I check the dime for any rough edges it is very smooth it is in perfect condition. can it be worth anythng?
Thank you
Prprinc511@aol.com
i too have found a coin that has a mercury dime face on one side and a wheat penny back. it has a 1942 date and says one cent on the back
i have a very rare old silver dollar in excellent condition it is a liberty with no date --- it is .999 fine silver one troy oz. i heard it was very valuable as well as extremely rare what is it worth exactly???
If there is not an S or a D where the mark should be then it was minted in Philidelphia who didn't use the P mark until some years later. The initials on the front are the desiners. Adolph Weinman. It's worth about a buck in circulated condition.
What are the dates on them? Are you sure they are mercury dimes and not barber dimes? Barber dimes have somewhat of a similar looking back to the wheat cent. But instead of wheat stalks on the outter edges it is a wreath, and in the center it reads One Dime instead of One Cent. Now if it is indeed a dime and still says One Cent on the reverse you may have a nice error coin there. Most likely they are barber dimes.
Hi, i have a 1939 mercury dime in good condition that has no mint mark on the back after the e in one. but to the bottom right of the face is a w . is my coin of value
Hi, I have a friend who has 2 Mercury dimes. Each one of them have the mercury head but a wheat penny back. Have you heard of these and if you have, do you have any info or links that you can provide?