SHOP NUMISMATICS
MERCURY DIME DESCRIPTION
Obverse:
Design: Portrait of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, commonly mistaken for the Roman god Mercury; the image symbolizes freedom of thought.
Designer: Adolph A. Weinman.
Legend: LIBERTY appears along the rim; IN GOD WE TRUST is inscribed near the chin; the date is at the lower right.
Field and strike: High-relief portrait with fine hair and wing detail; devices may show reflective fields and frosted portrait on well-struck examples.
Reverse:
Design: A fasces (bundle of rods bound around an axe) symbolizing strength and unity, flanked by an olive branch representing peace.
Legend: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the rim; E PLURIBUS UNUM appears to the left of the fasces; denomination ONE DIME at the base.
Designer: Adolph A. Weinman.
Detail: Crisp fasces rods and olive-leaf veins on well-preserved coins; rim and lettering should be sharply defined.
General Information:
Official name: Winged Liberty Head dime (commonly called the Mercury dime).
Minting years: 1916–1945.
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper.
Weight: 2.50 grams.
Diameter: 17.9 mm.
Edge: Reeded.
Mintmarks:
Location: On coins dated 1917 and later, mintmark appears to the right of the fasces on the reverse, adjacent to the rim. 1916 issues have mintmarks below the wreath? (Note: 1916-D dimes were minted in Denver; check specific year placement if needed.)
Common mintmarks: D (Denver), S (San Francisco); no mintmark indicates Philadelphia.
Collecting notes:
Key dates: 1916-D is the most famous scarce issue. Other dates with high value include certain low-mintage years and coins in exceptional grade.
Condition: Large differences in value between circulated, high-grade uncirculated, and certified mint-state coins. Look for original mint luster, absence of heavy wear on Liberty’s cheek and wing, and sharpness of the fasces and olive branch.
Silver content: Contains approximately 0.07234 troy ounce of silver per coin.
Common issues: Circulation wear shows smoothing of the wing tips and cheek on obverse, and flattening of fasces rods and olive leaves on reverse; bag marks and rim nicks can affect grade.
Authentication tips:
Weight and diameter testing verify basic authenticity.
Edge reeding should be uniform and continuous.
Seek certification from reputable grading services for high-value pieces.
Historical context:
Issued to replace the Barber dime; admired for its artistic design and considered one of the classic U.S. coin designs of the early 20th century.
Designer Weinman also created the Walking Liberty half dollar.
Use this description for catalog entries, auction lot descriptions, or general informational material about the Mercury (Winged Liberty Head) dime.
INDIAN HEAD PENNY
The Indian Head Cent was minted by the U.S. Mint from 1859 to 1909. Designed by James Barton Longacre, the obverse features a profile of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American feathered headdress, while the reverse displays the face value framed by a wreath and a small shield.
Design & Specifications
Obverse: Lady Liberty facing left in a feathered headdress, inscribed with "LIBERTY" on her headband and encircled by "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the year.
Reverse: Features "ONE CENT" inside a wreath (laurel in 1859, oak and a shield from 1860 onward).
Designer: James Barton Longacre.
Diameter: 19 mm.
Composition Changes
1859–1864 (Copper-Nickel): Composed of 88% copper and 12% nickel, giving these early issues a thicker, whitish-gray or pale look often called a "white cent".
1864–1909 (Bronze): Composed of 95% copper and 5% tin/zinc, reducing the coin's weight to 3.1 grams and making it thinner. The rare 1864 "L" on ribbon variety includes the designer's initial "L" on the hair ribbon.
Mint Marks & Key Dates
Mint Location: Almost all were struck at the Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark). Only the 1908-S and 1909-S issues feature an "S" mint mark on the reverse below the wreath.
Key Dates: The 1877 (lowest regular mintage) and the 1909-S are the rarest and most valuable circulation dates.
If you're looking for information on a specific coin, tell me:
The year stamped on the coin
Its condition or color (brown, red-brown, or bright red)
The Buffalo nickel (or Indian Head nickel) is a classic U.S. five-cent coin minted from 1913 to 1938. Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, it features a Native American profile on the front and an American bison on the back. Most common circulated pieces are worth $1 to $2, while rare dates or mint marks command high prices. [1, 2, 3]
History and Design
Designer: James Earle Fraser, who included his initial "F" on the obverse near the date.
Type 1 vs. Type 2 (1913): The first-year 1913 coins came in two styles. Type 1 shows the bison standing on a raised mound; Type 2 changed the base to flat ground because the original lettering wore out too fast.
Replacement: Replaced by the Jefferson nickel in 1938.
Value and Collecting
No-Date Coins: Heavily worn coins missing their dates are common and usually worth only about 10 to 25 cents.
Common Dates: Most 1920s and 1930s issues in average worn condition sell for $1–$2.
Key Dates & Errors: Rare finds like the 1918/7-D overdate, 1921-S, or the famous 1937-D "Three-Legged Buffalo" can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on condition. [1, 2, 3, 4]
If you have a Buffalo nickel, let me know:
What year is stamped on it (if visible)?
Is there a mint mark (D or S) on the reverse side
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