Roosevelt Vs. Mercury Dimes
The two most abundant versions of the dime available in the United States are the Mercury dime and the Roosevelt dime. Both are distinctly different in their image, however the size and shape remain the same. Worth one-tenth the value of a U.S. dollar, these coins are popular with collectors due to the composition of the metals in older versions and the fact that they can be collected for a reasonable price.
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Time Frame
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The Mercury dime came into use in 1916, following a movement to change all American coinage. It lasted until 1946, when the death of President Franklin Roosevelt prompted the U.S. Congress to issue a new coin to honor his "March of Dimes" campaign. The coin was still in production as of 2009.
Identification
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Like all dimes predating it, the Mercury dime featured an image of Lady Liberty on the front. The reverse side featured a bundle of sticks with an ax and olive branch. The Roosevelt dime features an image of President Roosevelt on the obverse with a torch, oak branch and olive branch on the back.
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History
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The Mercury dime was designed through a contest launched in 1915 by the US Mint. Three contestants took part, with sculptor Adolph A. Weinman winning with his design. The Roosevelt dime, on the other hand, was needed quickly to celebrate the birthday of the deceased president, so the U.S. Mint's chief engraver, John R. Sinnock, was chosen to handle the sculpting.
Features
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Both the Mercury dime and early Roosevelt dimes were comprised of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. However, in 1964, Congress moved to change the composition of all coinage in the US, prompting all Roosevelts to be made from an alloy of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel.
Considerations
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According to numismatic websites, the Mercury dime can vary in value between under $1 to over $10. Some very rare versions go for large sums. Pre-1964 Roosevelt dimes generally fetch $1.50 or more as of 2009. Since the change in coinage, however, most coins after this date value little more than 10 cents.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Kevin Dooley
