Hobbies & Games

Mercury Dime Values

How Much Is My Mercury or Winged Liberty Head Dime Worth?

By James Bucki, About.com Guide

Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

This guide will provides estimated coin values for Mercury Dime minted from 1916 to 1945. If the coin shows signs of wear on it due to being used in business transactions, it considered "circulated." If it was never used, then it is considered "uncirculated." The photos below show examples of both conditions. You will see that some dimes are very valuable even in well worn condition. Remember, you cannot increase a coin's value by cleaning it. In fact, cleaned coins are worth considerable less and coin dealers can recognize coins that have been cleaned immediately. Therefore, under no circumstances never clean your coins.

Introduction to Coin Values

There are many factors that go into determining the value of your coins. First of all you must understand how the coin market works. If the coin dealer runs out of 1916-D Mercury dimes, he cannot just call the mint and order more of them because the mint does not make coins dated 1916 anymore. The coin dealer must replenish his inventory by purchasing coins from other coin dealers or buying them from people off the street. What he pays you for that coin is known as the "wholesale price" or "value." If you want to buy that 1916-D dime from a coin dealer, that is known as the "retail price" or "price."

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What Determines the Value of Your Coins

How Much Should I Pay For a Mercury Dime?

Market Analysis

Mercury dimes are a popular series to collect amongst coin collectors. Demand is relatively strong for coins in uncirculated condition. For lower grade circulated coins, a majority of its value is based upon its silver content. Each dime contains almost 1/10 of an ounce of silver (0.0723 oz. exactly). As of this writing, silver is currently selling for almost $28 per troy ounce. Therefore, each dime contains approximately $2.00 worth of silver. If you want top dollar for your coins, you need to sort them and organize them so the dealer can quickly see what you have.

Key Dates, Rarities and Varieties

The following Mercury dimes in any condition, are worth considerable more than common ones. As such, these coins are occasionally counterfeit or altered from common coins. Hence, before you start planning your early retirement with your new found fortune, have the coin authenticated by a reputable coin dealer or third party grading service.

1916-D
1921
1921-D
1941 41/42 (doubled die on the date)
1941-D 41/42 (doubled die on the date)

Condition or Grade Examples

Circulated	Uncirculated
Click on the photos above for a larger image. Photos courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com Quick Links: How to Grade Mercury Dimes

Mint Marks

Mercury dimes were produced at three different mints: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D) and San Francisco (S). As illustrated in the picture below, the mint mark is located on the reverse of the coin near the bottom at the stem of the oak branch.

Mint Mark Location
Images Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

Average Mercury Dime Values

The following table lists the value (what you can expect a dealer to pay you) for your coin(s). The first column lists the date and mint mark (see the photo above) followed by the value of an average circulated coin and the average value for an uncirculated one. These are approximate values and the final offer that you will receive from a particular dealer will vary depending on the grade of the coin and a number of other factors.

Date	Avg Circ	Avg Unc	Date	Avg Circ	Avg Unc
1916	$4.00	$26.00	1934	$2.70	$12.00
1916 D *	$2,000.00	$13,000.00	1934 D	$3.70	$28.00
1916 S	$6.00	$42.00	1935	$2.90	$10.00
1917	$2.80	$38.00	1935 D	$2.90	$25.00
1917 D	$7.40	$200.00	1935 S	$2.70	$16.00
1917 S	$2.70	$110.00	1936	$2.80	$9.00
1918	$4.90	$70.00	1936 D	$2.70	$17.00
1918 D	$5.10	$170.00	1936 S	$2.70	$13.00
1918 S	$4.00	$170.00	1937	$2.70	$9.00
1919	$2.90	$58.00	1937 D	$2.70	$16.00
1919 D	$9.30	$300.00	1937 S	$2.90	$18.00
1919 S	$6.70	$290.00	1938	$2.70	$11.00
1920	$3.50	$48.00	1938 D	$2.80	$12.00
1920 D	$3.30	$190.00	1938 S	$2.80	$14.00
1920 S	$3.40	$210.00	1939	$2.70	$9.00
1921 *	$100.00	$1,000.00	1939 D	$2.90	$10.00
1921 D *	$140.00	$1,000.00	1939 S	$2.70	$20.00
1923	$3.50	$31.00	1940	$2.70	$7.40
1923 S	$5.30	$270.00	1940 D	$2.90	$10.00
1924	$2.70	$60.00	1940 S	$2.70	$10.00
1924 D	$6.00	$240.00	1941	$2.80	$7.60
1924 S	$4.90	$280.00	1941 D	$2.70	$8.00
1925	$2.80	$59.00	1941 S	$2.70	$8.00
1925 D	$13.00	$400.00	1942	$2.70	$6.80
1925 S	$5.70	$310.00	1942/41 *	$330.00	$3,000.00
1926	$2.90	$41.00	1942 D	$2.70	$8.70
1926 D	$4.30	$160.00	1942/41 D *	$350.00	$2,000.00
1926 S	$26.00	$900.00	1942 S	$2.70	$10.00
1927	$2.90	$36.00	1943	$2.70	$6.50
1927 D	$7.90	$250.00	1943 D	$2.70	$7.40
1927 S	$4.40	$320.00	1943 S	$2.70	$9.00
1928	$2.80	$30.00	1944	$2.90	$7.30
1928 D	$6.70	$210.00	1944 D	$2.80	$7.60
1928 S	$3.40	$140.00	1944 S	$2.80	$9.00
1929	$2.90	$21.00	1945	$2.90	$7.00
1929 D	$3.60	$24.00	1945 D	$2.70	$7.60
1929 S	$2.70	$32.00	1945 S	$2.90	$9.00
1930	$2.70	$31.00	1945 Micro S	$2.70	$23.00
1930 S	$3.60	$70.00
1931	$2.90	$39.00
1931 D	$8.10	$80.00
1931 S	$4.40	$90.00

*= See the section above "Key Dates, Rarities and Varieties" for more information on these coins.

These values have been compiled through my personal analysis of the coin market, referencing publications such as Numismatic News, Coin World, "The Official Blue Book; Handbook of U.S. Coins," The Coin Dealer Newsletter, published auction results and consulting with various coin dealers.