Mercury Dimes

The portrait is Winged Liberty

The series commonly called Mercury dimes was issued from 1916 through 1945. Adolph A. Weinman designed the coin, whose obverse is more formally described as Winged Liberty. The familiar Mercury nickname should not lead you to interpret the portrait as a literal attribution to the Roman god.

A collection can focus on one strong representative, a date sequence, mint-mark combinations or carefully attributed varieties. For a small design collection, pairing a Mercury dime with a Walking Liberty half dollar highlights two different compositions by the same designer. Decide whether your purpose is historical comparison, completion or close study of condition; each leads to different listing choices.

Do not mistake AW for a mint mark

The intertwined A and W on the obverse are Weinman's initials. They are not a West Point mint mark. On Mercury dimes, look for the mint mark on the reverse near the lower left, by the E in ONE. D indicates Denver and S San Francisco; Philadelphia pieces have no mint mark.

This distinction makes a useful first listing check. Read the date, turn to the reverse image and locate the mint area. If the title and the photographed coin appear inconsistent, resolve that discrepancy before considering condition. A correct label description and a clear matching image should reinforce each other.

What Full Bands tells you

Full Bands, commonly abbreviated FB, is a designation associated with detail on the reverse fasces. PCGS describes its test in terms of complete separation of the central bands. Consult the issuing grading service's criteria rather than assuming every company applies every designation identically.

FB is not a replacement for the numerical grade. Consider two separate questions: what condition grade was assigned, and did the coin meet the relevant designation requirements? If the designation is central to your collecting plan, obtain an image that clearly shows the bands and verify the complete certified description. A listing's use of the phrase alone is not the same as a service-assigned designation.

Review both sides at a useful scale

On a small coin, extreme enlargement can make modest marks look dominant while reducing your sense of the whole object. Start with the complete obverse and reverse, then enlarge the date, mint mark, bands and any suspected problem area. Return to the overall view before deciding whether the coin's appearance suits you.

Separate scratches in a holder from marks on the coin where the photographs permit. If the location is uncertain, request an alternate angle. For raw pieces, ask for unobstructed views of both sides and enough rim detail to understand the specimen. Avoid assigning a precise grade from a single photograph simply because the image is sharp.

Keep identification separate from completeness

A date-and-mint checklist can conceal important uncertainties when every slot is marked simply owned or missing. Add a notes field for unclear details, certification and any variety attribution. A coin whose identity is only partly supported should remain a research task rather than an unquestioned completed position.

For purchases, retain the listing images and description alongside your record. Review current Mercury dime listings through TrendingArt's eBay inventory and confirm each coin's specific details there. The grading guide explains how to read condition terminology, while the raw-versus-graded guide helps decide how much independent examination a particular purchase requires.

Common questions

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