Mercury Dime Value: Dates, Mint Marks, Silver and Full Bands

In this article

Quick answer

A Mercury dime is a 1916–1945 U.S. ten-cent coin showing Winged Liberty and a fasces reverse. Standard examples are 90% silver, containing approximately 0.07234 troy ounce of fine silver. Common dates, the scarce 1916-D and Full Bands examples cannot share one value.

The PCGS reference table consulted October 26, 2026 lists ordinary 1945 Philadelphia dimes at $9 in Good 4, $28 in Mint State 63 and $65 in Mint State 65. These non-Full Bands guide estimates apply to a specific issue and grade. They do not price an unverified key date or a designated Full Bands coin.

Coin photos

1945 Philadelphia Mercury dime: Winged Liberty, full date and naturally toned surfaces.

Same 1945 reverse: fasces and olive branch; the photographed coin is not designated Full Bands.

Basics & coin story

Adolph A. Weinman designed Liberty with a winged cap to express freedom of thought. The portrait’s resemblance to the Roman messenger god gave the coin its Mercury nickname. A fasces and olive branch appear on the reverse, combining strength and peace in the design.

The new dime arrived during the redesign of U.S. silver coinage in 1916. Barber dimes also carry that year, so a 1916 date alone cannot identify the series. The Barber dime guide shows the earlier wreath reverse. Roosevelt’s portrait replaced Winged Liberty in 1946.

Collectors can choose a short group of later dates, a full date set or a date-and-mint set. Adding major overdates and Full Bands requirements substantially changes the task. Establish that scope before treating every variety listing as a necessary purchase.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Dated series	1916–1945; not every intervening year was issued
Designer / denomination	Adolph A. Weinman / 10 cents
Alloy	90% silver, 10% copper
Nominal mass / diameter	2.50 g / approximately 17.9 mm
Fine silver	Approximately 0.07234 troy ounce
Mint marks	No mark, D or S where issued; reverse near the lower left of the fasces
Proof years	Regular collector Proofs, 1936–1942
Strike designation	Full Bands (FB), separate from numerical grade

Identification

Find the mint mark on the fasces side

D or S appears near the lower left of the reverse fasces. The AW monogram beside Liberty’s neck identifies Weinman and is not a mint mark. An absent mint letter is normal for Philadelphia. Read the entire date and the correct face together.

Keep key dates and overdates distinct

The 1916-D, 1921 and 1921-D deserve exact issue comparisons. A 1942/1 overdate requires its documented diagnostics; an ordinary 1942 dime or a surface scratch does not receive an overdate price. Added mint marks and altered dates are authentication concerns.

Examine Full Bands without assuming it

Full Bands concerns separation in the horizontal bands at the center of the reverse fasces on eligible regular strikes. Wear, strike weakness and contact marks can affect that area in different ways. Use the grading service’s actual designation instead of assigning FB from a bright photograph.

The pictured 1945 Philadelphia coin is a non-FB example. Its date and toning illustrate identification; a different certified 1945 with Full Bands can trade in a very different market. The grading comparison guide documents why matching a numerical grade alone may still be insufficient.

Condition & value

Amounts are USD. The cited guide was consulted October 26, 2026; its displayed update date is stated below. Values apply only to the specified issue, grade and designation, and are not guaranteed purchase offers.

Value comparisons: match the issue before using a price
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important condition
1945 Philadelphia, non-FB	G4	$9	PCGS guide	Common-date circulated reference
1945 Philadelphia, non-FB	MS63 / MS65	$28 / $65	PCGS guide	Numerical grade and surfaces must match
Contained silver	0.07234 troy oz	0.07234 × silver price per troy oz	Metal calculation	No live quotation implied
1916-D, 1921 or attributed overdate	Exact authenticated issue	Use issue-specific evidence	Different scarcity	Do not use common-date rows
Full Bands or Proof	Exact grade and designation	Compare separately	Separate manufacture or strike detail	Do not transfer non-FB prices

The retrieved PCGS guide displays an October 17 update. These dated estimates and the metal-content formula are different references: a changing silver market does not automatically update a guide table. Dealer offers and sale proceeds also include spreads and costs.

For worn ordinary dates, silver provides a useful starting calculation. For a better coin, compare completed sales with the same date, mint, grade and FB status. A coin described as cleaned or damaged is not equivalent to a problem-free guide entry.

Photograph both faces and the mint area without polishing. If a premium depends on 1916-D authenticity or an overdate attribution, resolve that question before paying for a high-grade comparison. The appraisal guide explains how to move from an initial identification to specialist review.

Summary

Identify Winged Liberty, read the reverse mint mark and establish the grade and FB status. Use ordinary 1945 references only for that issue. Keep key dates, overdates and Proofs separate, and preserve the surfaces while gathering matching evidence.

FAQ

How much silver is in a Mercury dime?

A standard Mercury dime contains approximately 0.07234 troy ounce of fine silver in its nominal 2.50-gram, 90% silver alloy.

Where is the mint mark on a Mercury dime?

Look on the reverse near the lower left of the fasces. D and S identify branch mints where issued; Philadelphia normally has no letter.

Is the portrait actually Mercury?

It represents Liberty in a winged cap. The resemblance to Mercury gave the coin its familiar nickname.

Is a 1916 Barber dime the same as a 1916 Mercury dime?

No. Both designs occur in 1916. The rare 1916-D is a Mercury dime, so identify the design before using a price.

References

References and further reading

References consulted October 26, 2026. Price tables retain the update dates stated in the text; guide estimates, face values and completed transactions are different forms of evidence.