18 Most Valuable Mercury Dimes Worth Money (Rarest List)

You can find Mercury dimes in a wide price range, depending on their grade, rarity, and minting year. While some of these coins are worth only a few dollars, you need to set aside hundreds of thousands of dollars for the most valuable Mercury dimes.

Collectors appreciate the most coins with Full Bands in the mint state, but some errors, key dates, and semi-keys also come with premium prices. Besides the 1938 S Mercury dime sold at auction for an incredible $364,250, you can find some other pricey pieces. Let’s see.

Most Valuable Mercury Dimes

Adolph Alexander Weinman designed Winged Liberty head popularly named Mercury dimes, and the US Mint produced these coins from 1916 to 1945.

They weigh 0.08038 troy ounces (2.50 g) and have a diameter of 0.7 inches (17.90 mm). Each piece is made of 90% silver and 10% copper and contains 0.07234 troy ounces (2.25 g) of silver.

The most valuable Mercury dimes
Lots found	Year	Auction record
987	1938 S MS 68+	$364,250
588	1931 S MS 67 FB	$270,250
5123	1916 D MS 67	$207,000
552	1919 D MS 66 FB	$156,000
546	1918 S MS 67 FB	$144,000
2587	1942/1 MS 66 FB	$120,000
501	1923 S MS 66 FB	$105,750
462	1919 S MS 66	$103,500
2031	1945 MS 67+ FB	$96,000
794	1935 S MS 68 FB	$90,000
487	1925 S MS 67 FB	$74,750
1106	1942/1 D MS 66+ FB	$73,437.50
493	1920 S MS 67 FB	$72,000
384	1927 S MS 67 FB	$63,250
528	1926 D MS 67 FB	$60,000
571	1920 D MS 67 FB	$52,875
2140	1921 D MS 66 FB	$50,400
535	1928 S MS 67 FB	$49,937.50

Interestingly, only a few coins from the 77-dime basic set are worth more than a few bucks. Even the most expensive pieces are not excessively expensive. However, you can always find exceptions that fetch incredibly high prices at auctions, primarily those in high grades with Full Bands.

You should also remember that scarce errors, rare varieties, and key and semi-key dates are almost always valuable. Finally, coins struck in San Francisco are more expensive than those from the other two mints because of the lower mintage.

1. 1938 S MS 68 FB Mercury dime

When Adolph Alexander Weinman designed this attractive coin, he probably couldn’t dream that one of his creations would reach $364,250 per piece!

Most of these coins produced in the San Francisco mint are worth $1.78 to $45. However, this stunning, well-preserved, colorfully toned specimen was sold for an astonishing $364,250 at an auction in 2019 in Las Vegas.

2. 1931 S MS 67+ FB Mercury dime

Unlike regular Mercury dimes produced in 1931 in San Francisco that are typically worth $3.94 to $343, this rare, impressively struck Full Bands specimen is more expensive. One collector paid $270,250 for it at an auction in 2019.

The silky smooth surface and attractive reddish-gold iridescence along the rims stand this coin out from the crowd of those produced in the same year and at the same mint. It is estimated that only this one exists in MS 67 category.

3. 1916 D MS 67 FB Mercury dime

Because of low mintage, Mercury dimes produced in the Denver mint in 1916 are typically more expensive than coins minted in other years. The average price range for each well-preserved coin of 264,000 struck is $1,134 to $31,775.

However, only one specimen is worth an unbelievable $207,000 paid at an auction in 2010. The fantastic beauty of this piece produced in the first minting year makes it one of the most popular pieces in the Mercury dime series.

4. 1919 D MS 66 FB Mercury dime

Among 9,939,000 minted Mercury dimes in 1919, only one was sold for an impressively high price of $156,000 in 2019.

Most other pieces produced that year are poorly struck and are worth $3.94 to $1,926, depending on the condition. This beautiful specimen with Full Band and a green Certified sticker is the best one the Denver mint offered this particular year.

5. 1918 S MS 67 FB Mercury dime

During 1918, the year when WWI was finished, the San Francisco mint struck 19,300,000 Mercury dimes. Even though those coins are the rarest in the series nowadays, most are worth only $2.89 to $816.

The reason is their condition since only seven of a few million coins produced are ranked as MS67 or MS68, including twins designated Full Bands.

This frost-like lustered specimen with a sharp center and clear, well-struck fasces bands is considered nearly perfect. That was a reason for one collector to pay $144,000 for it in 2019.

6. 1942/1 MS 66 FB Mercury dime

The Philadelphia mint struck 205,432,329 silver Mercury dimes in 1942, but only a few are error coins. For now, it is known that there are only nine existing PCGS graded 1942/1 pieces with Full Bands.

Regular coins are typically worth $314 to $17,056. However, one 1942/1 error coin with a 1 struck over the 2 in the year was sold for $120,000 at auction in 2018. In other words, it is one of the dimes produced in 1941 but re-struck in 1942 for some reason.

7. 1923 S MS 66 FB Mercury dime

Besides 6,440,000 Mercury dimes produced in San Francisco in 1923 that are worth only $2.89 to $1,389, depending on their conditions, you can still find a few expensive gems. One of them is a 1923 S MS 66 FB Mercury dime sold for $105,750 in 2018 at an auction.

This specimen with a smooth surface, olive-russet patina, and billowy mint frost is undoubtedly the best you can find among coins minted this year. In fact, it is the only one in the MS 66 category.

8. 1919 S MS 66 Mercury dime

At an auction in 2006, one collector paid $103,500 for one of Mercury dimes produced in San Francisco in 1919. That made this particular coin the most expensive of 8,850,000 struck in this mint.

It was a miracle if you know that most are worth $3.94 to $1,388. However, this perfectly preserved coin is everything but not ordinary. It combines champagne-gold obverse with a speckled olive russet and brilliant reverse worth such an impressive price.

9. 1945 MS 67 FB Mercury dime

This year was the last for Mercury dime production, but the Philadelphia mintage of 159,130,000 was high. Most of these coins are inexpensive, and you should set aside only $1.78 to $31 for a piece.

However, this high-grade coin with Full Bands reached an impressive $96,000 in 2018 and won the auction record. The reason was the high grade and separated bands on the reverse.

10. 1935 S MS 68 FB Mercury dime

The San Francisco mint produced 15,840,000 silver Mercury dimes in 1935, but only several coins came with Full Bands. Depending on a coin’s preservation level, you can purchase most regular pieces for $1.78 to $45.

This rare specimen with beautiful blue and pink toning was sold at an auction for $19,000 in 2011. However, its price skyrocketed after eight years when one collector paid $90,000 for it. Nowadays, this coin is proven as the finest known worldwide.

11. 1925 S MS 67 FB Mercury dime

This beautiful silver coin is a real gem struck in the San Francisco mint this year among 5,850,000 others. Even though this date is considered the worst made in the entire series, regular dimes produced in 1925 are typically worth approximately $3.15 to $1,593.

However, this specimen, with a glistening luster and light gold toning and separated Full Bands, was paid a fantastic $74,750 in 2000. You can recognize traces of sharp strikes and perfect texture, making it appealing and worth each cent spent.

For now, only four known 1925 S MS 67 Mercury dimes are graded so high. Besides this one that won the auction record, the other two also reached high prices at auctions. One was paid $23,000 in 2014, while one collector paid $66,000 in 2019 for another.

12. 1942/1 D MS 66 FB Mercury dime

The Denver mint produced 60,740,000 silver Mercury dimes in 1942, but only a few coins came with a 1942/1 error. Their obverse was struck twice, once with a 1941-dated hub, while the other came from a 1942-dated hub.

At least two coins with this error type exist nowadays, but the other was struck in Philadelphia. The one with the D mint mark was sold at an auction in 2019 for $73,437.50. The reason for such a high bid was its perfect condition, Full Bands, and smooth appearance with frosty texture.

13. 1920 S MS 67 FB Mercury dime

Silver Mercury dimes produced in the San Francisco mint in 1920 are typically worth $3.15 to $1,655 on the current market, depending on their rarity and condition. Since most of the 13,820,000 struck coins have been lost, melted, or in poor condition, you can find only a few beautiful pieces in the mint state on the current market.

As expected, these coins, particularly the only three existing with Full Bands, are pricey. One of them with frosty mint luster and lovely gold and lilac toning appeared at an auction in 2019. Since it is the only one with a clearly defined final digit, it is not surprising that it won the auction record. One collector paid $72,000 for it.

14. 1927 S MS 67 FB Mercury dime

One collector paid an unbelievably high price for the 1927 S MS 67 Mercury dime in 2008. It is a rare, well-preserved coin among 4,770,000 struck in the San Francisco mint that year that are typically worth $3.15 to $1,593, on average.

This specimen with Full Bands and an astonishing mint-fresh appearance over brilliant surfaces is fully struck. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised after discovering that it reached $63,250 at an auction.

15. 1926 D MS 67 FB Mercury dime

The Denver mint had a high coin production in 1926, and only a few of the 6,828,000 struck Mercury dimes survived in the mint state. Those with Full Bands are rare, particularly in grades above 65, making these well-preserved pieces pricey.

This one in gold, lilac, and green toning with sharp definition, shiny mint luster, and elegant amber borders is definitely the most beautiful of all others. That was a reason for its high price of $60,000 paid at an auction in 2019.

16. 1920 D MS 67 FB Mercury dime

The Denver mint struck 19,171,000 silver Mercury dimes in 1920, making them common on the current market. You can expect to get $2.89 for a coin in good condition, while the ones in the mint state are typically worth $879.

However, a few highly graded specimens can reach astonishing prices at auctions. One of these is a rare, MS 67-graded Mercury dime with Full Bends that was paid an incredible $52,875 at an auction in 2019.

17. 1921 D MS 66 FB Mercury dime

You can find most Mercury dimes produced in Denver in 1921 for $92 to $3,984, depending primarily on their condition. However, this highly graded silver specimen that combines warm golden toning with a cold mint luster is extra rare.

It is estimated that this coin is nearly the finest known on the market, justifying the price of $50,400 achieved at the auction organized in 2019. In fact, experts believe that only five more existing pieces are at this quality level.

18. 1928 S MS 67 FB Mercury dime

Most of the 7,400,000 silver dimes struck in San Francisco in 1928 are worth $2.89 to $454. However, this one stands out for its beauty, level of preservation, and beautiful toning.

One collector paid $49,937.50 for this specimen with Fully Bands at an auction organized in 2018. It is estimated that only 44 Mercury dimes in this grade still exist worldwide, including five graded MS-67+.

Summary

The US Mint produced Winged Liberty head (Mercury) dimes from 1916 to 1945. Nowadays, it is a valuable series, and many collectors want it in their collections.

However, only a few can afford some of the most expensive pieces, worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Be aware that the price primarily depends on each piece’s condition and rarity.