5 Mercury Dime Values Topping Six Figures

This is a coin that stretches across two World Wars, the Great Depression, and over three decades of American history, so it’s an iconic early 20th century piece. And it could be very valuable. Some of the rarer Mercury dimes sell for six figures, particularly the more sought after years and coins in finer condition. If you have some of these dimes sitting in your coin collection, you might just be sitting on a treasure.

Need to Know

The Mercury dime has a picture of the goddess Liberty, though her winged helmet confused her identity as the god Mercury with many people. It was a very popular 10-cent coin that had first appeared in 1916 and continued to be produced until 1945.

5 Most Valuable Mercury Dimes

There are so many factors to consider in a Mercury dime’s value. Looking through some of the most expensive dimes should give an insight into what makes any one coin sell for its top-dollar price. Here are some of the most valuable mercury dimes sold recently:

1919-D Mercury Dime With Full Bands

On these nearly 10 million in 1919 Mercury dimes struck at the Denver Mint, few bear what collectors call “full bands.” On the reverse of the coin this is a bundle of sticks and an axe held by three groups of bands at the back. In such full-band Mercury dimes the middle group shows down the center. Small details add much value to coins. For instance, a 1919-D Mercury dime with full bands sold in 2000 in gem condition for $218,500.

1916-D Mercury Dime With Full Bands

Another very rare Mercury dime with full bands is the 1916-D. Only some 264,000 dimes were produced in Denver during 1916 as the mint had to close for a period to complete an order for quarters which had arrived late in the year. As a result, Mercury dimes with full bands are super rare. One sold for $195,500 in 2010. It was pristine.

1918-S Mercury Dime With Full Bands

This is a harder coin to find complete with all its bands and numismatists certainly hunt for it. Low population to start off is an obvious challenge making appearance of this coin a relatively rarer event. When in near-mint that’s just going to make it more challenging. Again condition has much to say about one graded PR68. The one sold in 2019 for $144,000.

1919-S Mercury Dime With Full Bands

As with the 1919-D, the 1919-S is very rare in full bands. Though it mintage nearly nine million, people did not hoard these coins nearly to the same extent they had with the 1916 dime. This put far more coins into circulation and made finding them much tougher. A PCGS MS-64 full bands 1919-S Mercury Dime sold for $132,000 in 2024.

1942/1 Overdated Mercury Dime With Full Bands

Overdating is the minting error that results when the date of one year has been stamped over another by mistake, and in a few instances, it presents itself when the dies for a new year are being struck. In the case of the 1942/1 Mercury dime, there is both a 1 and a 2 that appear in the last digit of the date. It is a very rare error. Add in full bands and mint condition, and this coin is worth a fortune. One sold for $120,000 in 2018.

Values of Wartime Mercury Dimes

World War II was also the final years of the Mercury dime. The wartime dime was redesigned in 1945 to depict President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who had died that year. While these wartime dimes do not carry the premium prices of some of the earlier coins, they typically do sell for much more than ten cents. So if you have one of those dimes in your collection, this value chart could give you an idea about its worth.

Factors Affecting Mercury Dime Values

If you are wondering about the worth of the dimes of the early 20th century in your collection, think about all factors affecting their value. Here are some of the most crucial to remember:

• Condition – Circulated mercury dimes will be worth less than those that are not circulated. Look for sharp details.
• Full bands- A full band on the back of the coin usually goes with a good coin, but not all coins started with a full band.
• Early years – The 1916 Mercury dime is more special and tends to be relatively rare. Any older mercury dime may be worth more than one of the latter, all other things equal.
• Errors – Most minting errors add value to coins, so be sure to look for any kind of weirdness in the minting of your Mercury dimes.

Mercury Dimes Are Part of American History

Mercury dime value is dependent on many variables, but in any state, it holds significantly more than ten cents. If you are lucky enough to find one, give it some attention for full bands or one of the early years. Regardless of what it will be worth, it is an important piece of American history.

Conclusion

The face value of the Mercury Dime is insignificant compared to its appeal. With coins selling for as much as six figures, these dimes are promising portions of American history and also an excellent investment opportunity. Collectors continue their search for rare pieces of history, each one hoping to find their share of numismatic history. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just stepping into the world of coins, knowing the value of these Mercury Dimes is exciting and very rewarding.

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