10 Most Valuable Mercury Dimes in 2024
Aug 27th, 2024 ·
The most valuable Mercury Dimes are the following:
- 1916-D Mercury Dime: $850-$40,000
- 1921-D Mercury Dime: $75-$28,800
- 1942/1 Mercury Dime Overdate: $300-$26,000
- 1921 Mercury Dime: $65-$23,500
- 1919-D Mercury Dime: $3.25-$3,000
- 1938-S Mercury Dime: $2.50-$400
- 1918-D Mercury Dime: $2.50-$2,500
- 1925-S Mercury Dime: $4.63-$1,400
- 1926-S Mercury Dime: $3-$1,100
- 1935-S Mercury Dime: $3-$3,000
Mercury Dimes, also known as Winged Liberty Head Dimes, are a series of ten-cent coins minted between 1916 and 1945. They are highly sought-after additions to any coin collection, and one of the most valuable Liberty Dimes.
With two World Wars bookending the creation of these coins, the Mercury Dime sits in a unique historical context, making them incredibly valuable. The name “Mercury” comes from the common misinterpretation of Lady Liberty as the Roman god Mercury.
The Mercury Dime was designed by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman. The obverse features Lady Liberty wearing a winged cap, symbolizing freedom of thought. On the reverse side, you’ll find a fasces with an olive branch.
The design of the Mercury Dime is a departure from the valuable Barber Dime, with this series providing a more artistic and emotionally charged representation of Lady Liberty.
If you have any Mercury Dimes in your collection, contact Coinfully for a free coin appraisal.
You can also download our free instant value guide.
Now let’s jump into the top ten most valuable mercury dimes.
Table of Contents
1916-D Mercury Dime
Starting off, the 1916-D Mercury Dime has the lowest mintage on this list, with only 264,000 produced. This coin is sought after due to its rarity and historical significance, being part of the first year of issues for the Mercury Dimes.
It is often counterfeited due to its popularity, which is why it’s important to get this coin appraised so you can be sure of its value.
In circulated condition, they can fetch prices between $850 and $12,650. Uncirculated prices and coins in pristine condition tend to reach much higher.
Quick Breakdown: 1916-D Mercury Dime
Year: 1916
Mint Location: Denver
Mintage: 264,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $850
- High: $40,000
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
1921-D Mercury Dime
The 1921-D Mercury Dime is another rare issue of this coin, being second to only the 1916-D Mercury Dime in terms of mintage.
It is considered a semi-key date by collectors due to its historical factors. It was produced during the economic downturn experienced after World War One.
Also, in 1921, the U.S. Mint decided to focus on producing Morgan Silver Dollars due to the Pittman Act, which mandated the melting and recoinage of silver dollars. This is why the mintage is very low compared to others on this list.
Quick Breakdown: 1921-D Mercury Dime
Year: 1921
Mint Location: Denver
Mintage: 1,080,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $75
- High: $28,800
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
1942/1 Mercury Dime Overdate
Minted in Philadelphia, the 1942/1 Mercury Dime features a unique overdate which adds to its high value. The coins were originally struck in 1941 and were then changed in 1942.
The mintage of this coin is unknown due to the uniqueness of its overdated variety. However, they are fairly common in circulated grades.
In uncirculated grades, these coins are very rare. They can sell for high prices at auction, with the highest being $90,000 in 2023.
Quick Breakdown: 1942/1 Mercury Dime Overdate
Year: 1942
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Mintage: unknown
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $300
- High: $26,000
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
1921 Mercury Dime
The other valuable 1921 issue of the Mercury Dime was produced in Philadelphia. This coin has the third-lowest mintage on this list, sitting at only 1,230,000.
We can attribute this low mintage to the return of the Morgan Dollar, for the first time since 1904. The Us Mint used most of their silver reserves for the Morgan Dollars and the other denominations ended up having lower mintages as a result.
The value of the 1921 Mercury Dime varies significantly based on its condition. Its rarity as well as unique historical significance, makes it a rare and enticing coin to collect.
In 2010, one of these coins went for $32,200 in auction. You can expect circulated versions of this coin to fetch lower prices.
Quick Breakdown: 1921 Mercury Dime
Year: 1921
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Mintage: 1,230,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $65
- High: $23,500
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
1919-D Mercury Dime
Known for its scarcity and value in high grades, the 1919-D Mercury Dime is another valuable issue of this coin.
It is considered extremely rare in higher grades. In fact, one particularly high-grade example of this coin sold for a whopping $156,000 at auction in 2019.
However, its circulated value is a lot lower than this, sitting at between $3.25 and $264.
Quick Breakdown: 1919-D Mercury Dime
Year: 1919
Mint Location: Denver
Mintage: 9,939,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $3.25
- High: $3,000
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
1938-S Mercury Dime
The 1938-S Mercury Dime is another valuable issue of this coin. While not the rarest year by far on this list, it is still very hard to find this coin in mint condition.
It is most notable for its auction price of $364,250 in 2019. This is, unfortunately, not a typical selling price for this coin! The high price was due to the fact that this coin was well preserved.
Quick Breakdown: 1938-S Mercury Dime
Year: 1938
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 8,090,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $2.50
- High: $400
Image Credit: Numismatic Guaranty Company
1918-D Mercury Dime
The 1918-D Mercury Dime is an early issue in the series. It has one of the highest mintages on this list and is valued between $2.50 and $120 in circulated condition.
In fact, this coin is not rare at all in circulated grades! It makes this list because it is incredibly rare in mint condition, especially for Full Band versions.
This coin can go for upwards of $1,000 in mint condition.
Quick Breakdown: 1918-D Mercury Dime
Year: 1918
Mint Location: Denver
Mintage: 22,674,800
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $2.50
- High: $2,500
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
1925-S Mercury Dime
Known for its rarity and value, the 1925-S Mercury Dime is one of the more common issues on this list. It has a mintage of 5,850,000 and was produced following World War One, half a decade before the Great Depression.
This coin was minted in San Francisco. Its value varies depending on its condition, with highly preserved coins fetching around $1,000 or more.
Quick Breakdown: 1925-S Mercury Dime
Year: 1925
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 5,850,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $4.63
- High: $1,400
Image Credit: USA Coin Book
1926-S Mercury Dime
The 1926-S Mercury Dime is rare and valuable, especially in mint condition. These coins have one of the lowest mintages on this list and also in the entire series, with only 1,520,000 produced.
They were minted during a period of economic growth and cultural change in the U.S. following the First World War.
In lower grades, this issue can sell for around $13 to $60. However, the value increases significantly with better-preserved versions.
Quick Breakdown: 1926-S Mercury Dime
Year: 1926
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 1,520,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $3
- High: $1,100
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
1935-S Mercury Dime
The 1935-S Mercury Dime is quite valuable, especially when in high-grade condition. This coin has a higher mintage than most coins on this list, so it is considered relatively common among collectors.
However, its value varies greatly depending on its condition; its commonality is the reason why it is ranked at number 10 instead of higher.
The high-grade versions of this coin are very sought after. In 2019, one such coin sold for $90,000 in auction.
Quick Breakdown: 1935-S Mercury Dime
Year: 1935
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 15,840,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $3
- High: $3000
Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
Conclusion
Mercury Dimes can be some of the most valuable and sought-after coins for collectors. Their unique design, historical significance, and low mintage make them highly desirable and increase their market value.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or looking to expand your collection, you can’t go wrong with a Mercury Dime. Reach out for a free at-home coin appraisal on us.
If you decide to sell your coins, you can do so using our online site.
Sources:
- 1916-D Mercury Dime:
- 1942/1 Mercury Dime Overdate
- 1921 Mercury Dime:
- 1921-D Mercury Dime:
- 1919-D Mercury Dime:
- 1918-D Mercury Dime:
- 1938-S Mercury Dime:
- https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/highest-graded-1938-s-winged-liberty-head-dime-realizes-364-250-dollars
- https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/1526/dimes/mercury/1938-S/
- https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/united-states/dimes/mercury-dimes-1916-1945/15015/1938-s-10c-ms/?des=ms-fb
- https://www.greysheet.com/coin-prices/item/1938-s-10c-mercury-dime/4593
- 1926-S Mercury Dime:
- 1925-S Mercury Dime:
- 1935-S Mercury Dime:
Wyatt McDonald President & Co-Founder of Coinfully. A student of numismatics and trained in the ANA Seminar in Denver, Wyatt is the face of Coinfully and a true expert. After spending a decade buying coins over the counter at a coin shop, he knew there had to be a better way, for everyone involved.
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