A coin with dates that span two World Wars, the Great Depression, and more than three decades of American history, the Mercury dime is an icon of the early 20th century. It can also be worth a lot. Mercury dime values can hit six figures, especially for coveted years and coins in great condition. If you've got some of these dimes in your coin collection, you might just be sitting on a treasure.
The Mercury dime features a portrait of the goddess Liberty, but her winged helmet made many people confuse her with the god Mercury. This iconic 10-cent coin was first issued in 1916 and continued being minted until 1945.
5 Most Valuable Mercury Dimes
There are tons of factors that can influence Mercury dime values, but looking at some of the dimes that are worth the most can help pinpoint what makes one of these coins sell for top dollar. These are some of the most valuable Mercury dimes that have sold in recent years.
| Mercury Dime | Value |
|---|---|
| 1919-D Mercury dime with full bands | $218,500 |
| 1916-D Mercury dime with full bands | $195,500 |
| 1918-S Mercury dime with full bands | $144,000 |
| 1919-S Mercury dime with full bands | $132,000 |
| 1942/1 Overdated Mercury dime with full bands | $120,000 |
1919-D Mercury Dime With Full Bands
Although there were nearly 10 million Mercury dimes struck at the Denver Mint in 1919, very few had what collectors term "full bands." On the back of the coin, there's a bundle of sticks and an axe that are held together with three sets of bands. In full-band Mercury dimes, the middle set of these bands is distinct and shows a split in the middle. This might seem like a tiny detail, but tiny details add a lot of value to coins. One 1919-D Mercury dime with full bands in gem condition sold in 2000 for $218,500.
1916-D Mercury Dime With Full Bands
Another super rare Mercury dime with full bands is the 1916-D. Only about 264,000 dimes were minted in Denver in 1916 because the mint had to halt production to produce an order for quarters that came in late in the year. Because of the low mint number, Mercury dimes with full bands are super rare. One sold for $195,500 in 2010. It was in pristine condition.
1918-S Mercury Dime With Full Bands
One of the most difficult coins for collectors to find with the full bands, the 1918-S Mercury dime is extremely coveted. It's a rare coin to begin with, and finding one in near-mint condition is tough. This is another instance where condition has a big impact on Mercury dime values. One in pristine shape sold for $144,000 in 2019.
1919-S Mercury Dime With Full Bands
Like the 1919-D coin, the 1919-S is rare to find with full bands. Although nearly nine million of these coins were minted, people didn't add them to their collections in the way they did with the 1916 dime. This meant that more coins saw circulation, so finding them in pristine condition is rare. A full bands 1919-S Mercury dime in near-mint condition sold for $132,000 in 2024.
1942/1 Overdated Mercury Dime With Full Bands
Overdating is a minting error that can happen when one year's date is accidentally stamped over another, and it sometimes occurs when the dies for the new year are being produced. In the case of the 1942/1 Mercury dime, the coin features both a 1 and a 2 in the final digit of the year. It's a rare error. Add in full bands and mint condition, and this coin is worth a fortune. One sold for $120,000 in 2018.
Values of Wartime Mercury Dimes
World War II saw the final years of the Mercury dime. The dime was redesigned in 1945 to feature President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had died that year. Although these wartime dimes don't have the high value of some of the earliest coins, they are usually worth quite a bit more than ten cents. If you have one of these dimes in your collection, this value chart can help you get a sense of what it could be worth.
| Wartime Dime | Value Range |
|---|---|
| 1941 Mercury dime | $3 - $490, depending on condition |
| 1942 Mercury dime | $3 - $4,000, depending on condition |
| 1943 Mercury dime | $3 - $425, depending on condition |
| 1944 Mercury dime | $3 - $425, depending on condition |
| 1945 Mercury dime | $3 - $1,400, depending on condition |
Factors Affecting Mercury Dime Values
If you're wondering what the early 20th-century dimes in your collection might be worth, it's important to consider all the factors that can impact the value of these dimes. These are a few of the most important to keep in mind.
Grab a magnifying glass to look at your dimes. A lot of the factors that affect the value are hard to spot with the naked eye.
- Condition - Mercury dimes that haven't seen circulation will be worth more than those that have been passed around. Look for details that are crisp and clear.
- Full bands - The full bands on the back of the coin often go with a coin in good condition, but not every coin started out with full bands.
- Early years - The first year of the Mercury dime, 1916, tends to be especially valuable. Any older dime may be worth more than one of the later examples, all other factors being equal.
- Errors - Minting errors often add value to coins, so check your Mercury dimes for any kind of weirdness in the minting.
Related: 10 Valuable Error Coins Proving That Weirdness Is Worth a Lot
Mercury Dimes Are Part of American History
Mercury dime values are affected by lots of factors, but they do tend to be worth way more than ten cents in any condition. If you're lucky enough to find one, give it a good look to see if it has full bands or is one of the early years. No matter what it ends up being worth, it's an important piece of American history.
