Numismatic

1918-S Mercury Dime AU

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Struck at the San Francisco Mint during a pivotal year in global history, this 1918 ten-cent piece is a remarkable survivor from the early twentieth century. Composed of 90 percent silver with a precious metal weight of 0.0715 troy ounces, the coin is classified in Almost Uncirculated condition, retaining much of its original detail and luster from the era before 1933. The obverse features a profile of a youthful Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, a design element that led the public to nickname the series the Mercury Dime. The inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST" is visible alongside the 1918 date. This iconic imagery was created by the artist Adolph Weinman. On the reverse, the coin displays a fasces, which is a bound bundle of wooden rods surrounding an axe with its blade extending outward. This ancient symbol is paired with an olive branch, representing both strength and peace. The inscriptions on this side include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "ONE DIME", the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM", and the "S" mint mark, indicating its origin at the San Francisco facility.