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Because of their vintage and beauty, Mercury Head dimes are popular with silver coin buyers. Mercury Head dimes are often called Mercury dimes or simply Merc dimes. They are also called Winged Liberty Head dimes.
Mercury dimes were minted 1916-1945 and were companions to the equally-popular Walking Liberty half-dollars, which were minted 1916-1947. In 1946, to honor four-term president Franklin Roosevelt, Congress passed legislation that replaced Mercury Head dimes with Roosevelt dimes.
Bags of Mercury dimes sell at premiums to pre-1965 Roosevelt dimes, despite a bag of Mercury dimes and a bag of pre-’65 Roosevelt dimes each yielding right at 715 ounces of pure silver if smelted. Although a bag of circulated (junk) dimes may contain a few Mercury Head dimes, buyers should not count on getting many Mercury Head dimes when buying bags of junk dimes. Usually, a bag of junk dimes contains all Roosevelt dimes.
Because Mercury Head dimes were used as money until 1965, most of them show significant wear; However, the Merc dimes that CMI Gold & Silver Inc. delivers to its clients are hand-sorted to eliminate the heavily worn coins. Mercury Head dimes carry premiums over bags of Roosevelt dimes.
Investors buying silver and coins for survival purposes should buy bags of junk U.S. 90% silver coins. Yet, investors wanting added potential price appreciation should consider the venerable Mercury Head dimes, which circulated as money during some of the United States’ most tumultuous times: World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and World War II. During the Great Depression, when a man down on his luck asked, “Brother, can you spare a dime?” he was hoping for a Mercury Head dime.
Additionally, another big difference between bags of Mercury Head dimes and bags of Roosevelt dimes is that Mercury dimes were made of only one alloy, 90% silver and 10% copper. Roosevelt dimes, however, were minted of two alloys, 90% silver and 10% copper between 1946 and 1964
Roosevelt dimes dated 1965 and later contain no silver, being minted of a copper-nickel alloy. Therefore, the Mercury Head design makes them readily recognizable as 90% silver coins, whereas with Roosevelt dimes the dates have to be inspected.
CMIGS most always has bags of junk silver coins ready for shipment, and we usually have bags of Mercury Head dimes. Investors looking to buy are invited to call CMIGS at 1-800-528-1380. We take calls 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST, Mondays through Fridays
CMIGS is headquartered in the Phoenix, Arizona financial district in downtown Phoenix. We are Arizona’s oldest silver bullion dealer. And, we are probably the nation’s oldest silver bullion dealer.
Winged Liberty Head Dimes, also known as Mercury Dimes or simply Merc Dimes, were minted from 1916 to 1945. They are not just coins but a tangible link to the past, a remarkable symbol of American history that embodies strength and resilience. These dimes were minted and circulated during some of the most tumultuous times in United States History, spanning WWI, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and WWII. Introduced during the hardship of WWI, the Mercury Dime symbolized the nation’s hope for progress and peace. During the Great Depression, a man would be down on his luck and ask, “Brother, can you spare a dime?” He hoped to receive a Mercury Head dime. With their rich historical context, these coins have captivated collectors for their exquisite design and timeless significance.
| QUANTITY | 100 | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90% Silver Mercury Dimes | $28.53 | $28.42 | $28.31 | $28.24 | $28.21 |
The Mercury Head Dime was part of the American coinage Renaissance inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt, which replaced the Barber dime design. Adolph A. Weinman, a German sculptor and a leader in the coinage renaissance, known for designing the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, designed the Mercury Head Dime.
The obverse features the portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian or liberty cap, a Roman symbol of freedom. Adolph included feathers on the cap to indicate freedom of thought, which led to the misconception of Lady Liberty as the Roman god Mercury and resulted in the coin’s widespread nickname, “Mercury Head Dime.” Adolph’s monogram discreetly sits on the bottom right of Lady Liberty. Interestingly, the model’s identity for Lady Liberty is shrouded in mystery. Some believe it was Adolph’s neighbor due to the striking resemblance.
On the reverse, a Roman fasces, rods with an axe that symbolize power and unity, is featured in the center. An olive branch encircles the fasces, symbolizing peace with the words “Liberty” and “One Dime” circles around the edge. The coin’s unique design, featuring the patriotic Lady Liberty and Roman symbolism, makes it stand out in the world of coinage.
Mercury Dimes represent a golden age of American coin design and are a popular choice for silver coin buyers. They were made of only one alloy, 90% silver, and 10% copper, compared to Roosevelt Dimes minted with two alloys between 1946 and 1964. Roosevelt dimes, dated 1965 and later, are made from a copper-nickel alloy and do not contain silver. As a result, Mercury Head designs are easily recognized as 90% silver coins; however, the Roosevelt dimes require inspecting the dates.
Buying Mercury Head Dimes
Bags of Mercury dimes tend to sell at premiums compared to pre-1965 Roosevelt dimes, even though both bags contain approximately 715 ounces of pure silver when smelted. While a bag of circulated (junk) dimes may include a few Mercury Head dimes, buyers should not expect to receive many in such purchases. Typically, a bag of junk dimes consists mainly of Roosevelt dimes.
Mercury Head dimes, which were circulated until 1965, show significant wear. However, the Mercury dimes provided by CMI Gold & Silver are hand-sorted to remove heavily worn coins. As a result, Mercury Head dimes carry a premium over bags of Roosevelt dimes.
CMIGS most always has bags of junk silver coins ready for shipment, and we usually have bags of Mercury Head dimes. Investors looking to buy are invited to call CMIGS at 1-800-528-1380. We take calls 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST, Mondays through Fridays
CMIGS is headquartered in the Phoenix, Arizona financial district in downtown Phoenix. We are Arizona’s oldest silver bullion dealer. And, we are probably the nation’s oldest silver bullion dealer.
CMI Gold & Silver, with extensive experience in selling Mercury Dimes since 1974, provides investors with a high level of expertise and confidence. We typically have Mercury Dimes available at all times. Shipments are usually made within one to two days of receiving cleared funds. When you purchase from CMI Gold & Silver, you can be confident in the authenticity and delivery of your Mercury Dimes, providing you with a sense of security. We are backed by over 50 years of experience providing quality products to investors nationwide.
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