1936 Dime Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?

The 1936 Dime was a Mercury Dime, formally known as the Winged Head Liberty Dime. But it wasn’t Mercury at all – people just assumed it was because the Roman god, Mercury, wears a helmet with wings! Some people called it the golf dime or battle axe dime as well. It’s time to clear up this confusion as we dig into the 1936 Dime Value and learn more about this coin.

1936 Dime Value Chart
Mint Mark	Good G 4	Fine	Extremely Fine	About Uncirculated	Low Mint State	Mid Mint State	Proof
1936 (P) No Mint Mark  Dime Value	$2.09	$3.20	$3.71	$4.68	$6.71	$12	$1,594
1936-D Dime Value	$2.09	$3.20	$6.25	$4.68	$17	$28	–
1936-S Dime Value	$2.09	$3.20	$3.71	$4.68	$14	$27	–

1936 Dime Value Guide

When you’re assessing the value of a coin, you need to consider factors like mint marks, mint volumes, errors, the condition of the coin, and its strike type. In terms of condition, you can submit the coin to ANACS (American Numismatic Association Certification Service), PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), NGC (Numismatic Grading Company), and others.

These coin evaluation companies use grading systems based on the Sheldon Grading Scale, which runs from 1 to 70. And coins that were cleaned, colored, or damaged have special grades like Details (1 to 58), Brilliant Uncirculated (60 to 70), Choice (63 to 70), or Gem (65 to 70). With Dimes, you might also see grades like FB or FSB meaning Full (Split) Bands.

These grades describe the reverse of the coin, specifically the leather straps that hold the sticks. If you can clearly count the separate straps, the coin counts as FB or FSB. As for the coin strike, it can be a regular / business / circulation strike for everyday use, or a collector’s coin e.g. a Proof, Special Mint Set (SMS/SP), Uncirculated Set, or Enhanced Uncirculated.

These coins are minted using different techniques and are sold to collectors at higher prices than normal coins. On the other hand, business strike coins that look like collector’s coins are graded as PL for Proof-Like, DPL for Deep-Proof-Like, or DMPL for Deep-Mirror-Proof-Like. They’re ordinary coins that received no extra treatment, but they look a lot like proofs.

Finally, the mint mark shows you which branch of the US Mint made this coin. Some mints are more expensive than others due to their quality, reputation, and the number of coins they made that year. In 1936, the US Mint made coins in Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco so let’s look at the most valuable coins from each of these mints. We’ll cover all the varieties.

1936 (P) No Mint Mark Dime Value

In 1936, the Philadelphia Mint made 87,504,130 Dimes without mint marks, including 4,130 Proof Dimes. We’ll discuss the Proof Dimes separately – let’s start with the business strikes. In December 2021, a 1936 Dime graded Genuine sold for $7,111 on eBay. The highest known grade for this coin is MS 68+ and it sold for $3,525 in June 2019. PCGS has only graded two.

It estimates their 2023 value as $4,750. Meanwhile, in August 2020, an MS 68+ FB sold for $15,275. By February 2021, the price was down to $13,200. But since PCGS has only graded seven coins, the 2023 price estimate is still high – $17,500. For comparison, PCGS has 24 MS 68 dimes so their price estimate for 2023 is only $3,500. One was $2,525 in December 2022.

1936-D Dime Value

1936 saw 16,132,000 Dimes coined at the Denver Mint, all with the D Mint Mark. In April 2022, an MS 65 sold for $840. But way back in November 2003, an MS 68 FB was $14,950. So far, PCGS has graded 15 coins as MS 68 and estimates their 2023 value as $5,750. But the highest grade they have is MS 68+. They’ve only seen one and estimate its price as $15,000.

1936-S Dime Value

The San Francisco Mint made 9,210,000 Dimes in 1936. They all had the S Mint Mark. In March 2010, an MS 67 only sold for $299 with 250 coins submitted in this grade. But MS 68 FB dimes are much rarer. One sold for $23,000 in November 2006. In May 2022, a sample sold for $22,800. Only one MS 68+ FB is known and its price estimate in 2023 is $32,500.

1936 (P) Proof Dime Value

Proof coins are used to test the accuracy of coin designs, so they have sharp details and a copy is kept in the archives. They can be matte, mirror-like, or reverse proofs, and each type is made in a different way. In 1936, the proof dimes were mirror-like, which means the field was highly reflective and the device was frosted. In 1936, this frosting was done with acid.

Parts of the proof die were pickled in acid, but this acid effect faded every time the die struck. So the first 50 to 100 coins have an extreme contrast between the frosted device and the shiny device. PCGS grades these coins as Deep Cameo (DCAM) while NGC calls them Ultra Cameo coins. The next 100 after that are cameo coins while the rest are ordinary proof coins.

To ensure the mirror-like appearance of proof coins, the planchet is burnished in a drum full of 6mm stainless steel balls before striking it into a coin. The field of the proof die is polished too, by scrubbing it with a horsehair brush. NGC grades proof coins as PF while PCGS grades them as PR. The Philadelphia Mint made 4,130 mirror-like proof dimes for collectors to buy.

In December 2015, a PR 68 sold for $29,375. In July 2022, that dropped to $28,800. But PCGS has only graded four of these coins so the price estimate for 2023 is even higher at $35,000. Meanwhile, PCGS has received 14 submissions of PR 67+ so the 2023 estimate is less than a third of the PR 68 price at $10,750. One PR 67+ sold for $8,400 in April 2021.

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1936 Dime Errors

A mint mistake can raise the value of a coin, sometimes by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. These errors occur as the currency is being coined, a process that starts with an 8” model made of rubber, plaster, and epoxy. A reducing machine at the mint turns this coin into a master hub over several days. The template then makes master dies and working hubs.

Finally, mint marks are manually added to working dies before they strike planchets into coins. These days, many of these steps are automated, so errors are rare. But back then, each stage required multiple strikes, and if the target metal moved in mid-strike, you might get mint errors like doubling, tripling, quadrupling, re-punched mint marks, or misalignment.

1936 (P) Dime DDO

DDO means doubled-die obverse. If the die shifts after the first strike from the obverse hub, the second strike will hit a slightly different spot and cause doubling. This error is copied on every planchet that doubled die strikes, so it becomes a variety. In November 2012, an MS 64 DDO sold for $129. And in November 2018, an MS 67 FB sold for $1,795 at an eBay auction.

1936 (P) Dime Broadstruck Error

Coin collars were previously made using a three-piece detachable mold. If it came off too early, the coin might lose shape, show a partial collar, have a wider rim, or be thinner at the spots without a rim. This is called a broadstruck or broadstrike error. In AU 50 Details (i.e. the coin was cleaned, recolored, damaged, or altered), this 1936 (P) Dime sold for $30.

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History of the 1936 Dime

1936 was the first time that the US Mint made proof coins since 1917, so it was a good year for collectors. But first, let’s talk about Mercury Dimes in general. They were designed by Adolph Weinman, a former student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He faced endless hassles during the process because his mentor had a … colorful history with Charles Barber.

Barber was the Chief Mint Engraver, and he had clashed with Saint-Gaudens in the past. He was also miffed because the Mercury Dime was to replace the Barber Dime he had earlier designed. It didn’t help that the rest of the Barber Coinage was also phased out in favor of coins created by Saint-Gaudens, his assistants, and now his student. This led to lots of issues.

Weinman was selected to design the Mercury Dime after he won a coin competition in 1916. His winning coins included the Mercury Dime, the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, and the heads side of the Silver Quarter. But the quarter was soon re-assigned to Hermon MacNeil since his design was chosen for the tails side, so he was eventually asked to do both sides.

To design the Mercury Dime, Weinman used Elsie Stevens as a model, asking her to pose in a stocking that vaguely resembled a Liberty Cap. He placed wings on the cap to depict freedom of thought. For the tails side, he chose a fasces and an olive branch to represent peace and justice. The coin faced multiple delays but was well-received when it finally hit circulation.

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How to Identify the 1936 Dime?

When you’re reading about a coin’s physical characteristics, certain technical terms come up, so let’s go over the most important ones. The heads side of a coin is called the obverse and the tails side is called the reverse. The slimmer sides are the edges and they sometimes have ridges called reeds. The raised outer border that shapes the coin is called the rim or collar.

The metal that is used to make a coin is called a planchet sheet, and it goes into a blanking machine to punch it into disc-shaped planchets of the right size. The words on a coin are called legends or mottos, and the images are called devices. They include portraits, eagles, flags, stars, and other visual design concepts. The background of the coin is called the field.

The Obverse of the 1936 Dime

The obverse (heads side) of the 1936 Dime shows a young iteration of Lady Liberty. She’s wearing a hat that is sometimes called a pileus, Liberty Cap, or Phrygian Cap, except that hers has wings. The legend Liberty is at the top of the coin, with E and R hidden by her cap.

This legend extends to the sides of the coin, curving all around her head from her chin to the nape of her neck. Lady Liberty is looking towards the left and the motto In God We Trust is under her chin. The date is on the right, under her neck. AW is on the upper right of the date.

The Reverse of the 1936 Dime

The reverse (tails side) of the 1936 Dime features a fasces symbol that represents strength and unity. A fasces is a bundle of sticks tied with leather straps, and it often has a battle axe behind it. This fasces has an olive branch coiled around it to symbolize peace and harmony.

The top of the coin bears the legend United States of America, with dots between the words and a star at either end of the phrase. The bottom of the coin shows the denomination One Dime with the mint mark after One. The motto E Pluribus Unum is on the right of the fasces.

Other Features of the 1936 Dime

The 1936 Dime is 90% Silver and 10% Copper. It weighs 2.5g and is 17.91mm in diameter (0.705 inches). It’s the smallest circulating coin because silver is expensive and they had to ensure its melt value stayed below its face value. But these dimensions were maintained even when the metal composition changed to remove the silver content. The edge has 118 reeds.

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FAQs About the 1936 Dime

How Much is a 1936s Dime Worth?

The 1936-S Dime – minted in San Francisco – is currently worth $ 32,500 in MS 68+ FB. That’s the highest known grade at the moment, with only one sample submitted to PCGS. Their Price Guide bases all value estimates on verified sales records and reliable averages.

How Much is a 1936 Liberty Dime?

You’re probably asking about the 1936 Philadelphia Dime since they had no mint marks. You might see them described as 1936 (P) Dimes. Some quotations will use the highest price, but that could have been years ago! PCGS estimates current prices by reviewing fact-checked sales reports from trusted sources. They place the price of an MS 68+ at $17,500 in 2023.