The Mercury Dime, despite its small size, might be the most elegant coin the US Mint has ever produced. It is very amazing that a coin this little could have such a complex and beautiful design.
The coin’s official name is the Winged Liberty Head dime. However, people mistook the image of Lady Liberty on the coin’s obverse wearing a winged cap symbolizing the freedom of thought to be the Roman god Mercury. Because of this, the misnomer “Mercury” has persisted through years of widespread use.
Learn more about the 1934 Mercury Dime below.
What Is the 1934 Mercury Dime Made Of?
Adolph Alexander Weinman designed the reeded-edged 1934 Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dime. He was a German-born American who, by 1915, had already gained a reputation as one of the country’s leading young sculptors.
The Mercury dime Weinman designed has a diameter of 17.90 millimeters, weighs 2.50 grams, and has a metal composition of 90% Silver and 10% Copper. This particular coin debuted in 1916. It replaced the Barber (or Liberty Head) dime designed by Charles E. Barber.
This type of coin was in circulation from 1916 to 1945. None were produced in 1932 or 1933. Most of the issues from 1916 to 1931 proved far scarcer than those from 1934.
If you check the coin’s obverse, you will see Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with wings on either side. The stunning design also includes the word LIBERTY arching over Lady Liberty. You can also see the year of minting, 1934, below the image, with the designer’s initials AW slightly above it and behind Lady Liberty. We can also see the motto IN GOD WE TRUST inscribed on the left side of Lady Liberty’s neck.
On the reverse, you will see the fasces, which symbolize strength and unity. The fasces comprises a battle-ax atop and an olive branch, which respectively signifies preparedness and the country’s desire for peace.
If you examine the coin further, you will see the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA engraved along the coin’s upper edge. The coin’s denomination, ONE DIME, can be found below. You will also find the mint mark “D” below the olive branch for the coins minted in Denver. The coins minted in Philadelphia do not bear any mint mark.
1934 Mercury Dime Varieties
The Mercury Head dime series is one of the most well-liked series in all of American numismatics. Most dates, except the 1916 D and 1942 overdates, are easily accessible. Several of the dates are, however, incredibly rare in high grades.
The most prized issues include those with Full Split Bands on the reverse, meaning that all bands holding the fasces together must be visibly and completely separated. The bands on the ends of the fasces must also be separated, although the middle bands receive most of the attention. Again, several dates in Gem condition with Full Split Bands are rare.
Here are the Mercury dime varieties minted in 1934:
| Variety | Mint Location | Mintage |
| 1934 D Mercury Dime | Denver | 6,772,000 |
| 1934 P Mercury Dime | Philadelphia | 24,080,000 |
| Total | 30,852,000 |
1934 D Mercury Dime
Year of minting: 1934
Mint Mark: D
Place of minting: Denver
Quantity produced: 6,772,000
Face Value: $0.10 (10 cents)
Price: $2.21 to $40.00 (circulated condition)
Mass: 2.50 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman
Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
Diameter: 17.90 millimeters
The Denver Mint didn’t start producing again until the spring of 1934 after the unsuccessful mintage of dime coins in early 1931. By June 30, only 673,000 1934 D Mercury dimes had been produced. The remaining coins for this year were minted in the following months. While not extremely rare, specimens of 1934 D Mercury dimes with Full Bands are conspicuously rarer and frequently have a weakness at their centers.
Either the new Large D mintmark, which debuted on the cents of 1933, or the Small D mintmark, which was left over from dies shipped to Denver in earlier years, are found in this issue. For this date, there are two repunched mintmark types noted. Both of these are in the Large D fashion.
The NGC Price Guide set the value of a 1934 Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) dime in circulated condition between $2.50 and $40. But if you have one in pristine and uncirculated condition, you can make as much as $750 if you sell it on the open market.
1934 P Mercury Dime
Year of minting: 1934
Mint Mark: no mint mark
Place of minting: Philadelphia
Quantity produced: 24,080,000
Face Value: $0.10 (10 cents)
Price: $2.21 to $14.00 (circulated condition)
Mass: 2.50 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman
Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
Diameter: 17.90 millimeters
From mid-1931 until the second half of 1934, the economic depression’s aftereffects prevented the coining of dimes. That year, Philadelphia’s production of dimes was fairly generous, comparable to the mintage figures of the affluent 1920s.
The 1934 Mercury dime is widely available in the MS-66 grade, and a sizable portion of these coins have Full Bands. The Census data may give the impression that FB coins are truly more prevalent. However, this reflects a greater propensity to submit coins likely to be given this classification.
Most samples are generally well-struck, but minor details like the 4 of the date and the tops of the lettering may be a little off.
As of February 2023, the NGC Price Guide estimates that a circulated 1934 Mercury dime is worth between $2.50 and $15. On the open market, however, these coins in pristine and uncirculated condition can be worth up to $950!
List Of 1934 Mercury Dime Errors
Errors cause coins to become distinctly one-of-a-kind. They consequently become significantly more expensive to purchase than their standard counterparts. See below a list of some of the more notable 1934 Mercury dime errors.
Broadstrike Mint Error
When a coin is struck outside of the collar or retaining ring that determines the final diameter of the freshly struck coin, it is characterized as a broadstrike mint error. A broadstrike will occasionally significantly expand beyond a coin’s typical diameter.
Repunched Mint Mark
When the letter punch used to place the mint mark into the working die leaves two or more offset imprints, the result is a repunched mintmark variant. The impressions almost always cross over. A completely separate secondary mintmark is extremely uncommon.
How Much Is The 1934 Mercury Dime Worth Today?
As of February 2023, the NGC Price Guide set the melt value of the 1934 Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dime at $1.75. It has a face value of $0.10 or ten cents.
In addition, the USA Coin Book estimates the value of a 1934 Mercury dime in average condition to be $2.78. They also set coins in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition to be worth $28 to $56 for the Philadelphia variant and $67 to $94 or more for the Denver variant.
How Does The Grading System Work?
Coin appraisers frequently use a magnifying glass or a coin microscope to evaluate the value and condition of the coins they examine. To assess its value, these experts evaluate the coin’s brilliance, strike, color, preservation, attractiveness, and other qualities.
Seek assistance from experts in the coin grading industry. You should get in touch with organizations like the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). Your coin can be officially graded with their assistance, which could significantly increase its value.
In addition to the equipment stated above, these professionals utilize the Sheldon Scale, a 70-point grading system that helps them classify coins into the PR (Proof) or MS (Mint State) categories. If you get a coin with a grade of 60 to 70, it is considered to be in MS condition, meaning that you would have to use a coin microscope to see any flaws or imperfections on its surface.
Where To Buy Or Sell 1934 Mercury Dime?
The best place to look for a 1934 Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dime is online, where you may find marketplaces and auction sites such as eBay, Amazon, Etsy, and Craigslist. Many sellers bid on rare coins and other collectibles on those sites. However, you may also buy a 1934 Mercury dime at coin and antique shops. But finding one there can be more difficult.
You can also seek advice from reputable coin grading services providers like the PCGS and the NGC if you need recommendations on where and how to buy or sell 1934 Mercury dimes.
FAQs
Where is the mint mark on a 1934 Mercury dime?
On the coin’s reverse, you will find the mint mark “D” below the olive branch for the coins minted in Denver. The coins minted in Philadelphia do not bear any mint mark.
How much silver is in a 1934 dime?
The reeded-edge 1934 Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dime, designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman, has a metal composition of 90% Silver and 10% Copper.
How much is a 1934 dime worth today?
The 1934 Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dime has a face value of $0.10 or ten cents. As of February 2023, the NGC Price Guide set its melt value at $1.75. The USA Coin Book estimates its value at $2.78 in average condition. However, in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition, they can be worth $28 to $56 for the Philadelphia variant and $67 to $94 or more for the Denver variant.
