The Mercury dime was minted from 1916 to 1945. The coin was designed by Adolph Weinman. He is also known as the designer of the Walking Liberty half dollar. The Mercury dime has become a favorite amongst detectorist because of the silver. If you find one, you found silver!
The coin is 2.500 grams of 90% silver, 10% copper with a net weight of .07234 Troy ounce pure silver. The coin is 17.91mm in diameter with a reeded edge. The 118 reeds let the population know if someone has trimmed silver from the edges. This is a security feature of the coin. These coins were minted at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. The proper name is the "Winged Liberty Head" dime, but who wants to call it that!? (Most detectorist just call it an old Merc)
On the front, is young Liberty herself with a winged cap which was to symbolize America's liberty of thought. The words "In God we Trust" and "Liberty" grace the front of the coin. Just right of the neck is the designer's monogram AW. The date is presented at the bottom.
On the back of the coin is a large olive branch symbolizing peace, along with a fasces. A fasces is a bundle of wooden rods, that includes an axe with its blade emerging. The fasces is bound both horizontally and diagonally by a leather strap, with loose ends at the bottom. The fasces symbolizes unity, magistrate power, and jurisdiction. This design can also be found on the wall behind the podium in the U.S. House of Representatives. The mint mark is found at the base of the olive branch. The Latin words "E Pluribus Unium" graces the back along with "United States of America" and "One Dime."
Key Dates for the Mercury dime include: 1916D, 1921, 1921D, 1926S, 1942 over 41, and 1942D over 41.
Dimes dated 1923D and 1930D are counterfeits.
November 2015 Coin of the Month.
