Semi-Numismatic

1918-S Mercury Dime VF

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Struck in 1918 at the San Francisco Mint, this ten-cent silver piece is a beautiful survivor from the era of the First World War. Known popularly as the Mercury Dime, the coin contains 0.0715 troy ounces of 90 percent pure silver. This particular specimen survives in a Very Fine state of preservation, displaying the clear details of its iconic artwork despite more than a century of existence. The obverse of the coin, designed by Adolph Weinman, features a youthful profile of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap. This headgear, intended to represent freedom of thought, was frequently mistaken by the public for the Roman messenger god Mercury, giving the series its famous nickname. The legend "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the date "1918" are visible alongside this classic portrait. On the reverse, Weinman placed a fasces, a traditional bundle of rods bound around an axe, which is closely wrapped with an olive branch. This juxtaposition symbolizes both strength and peace. The mint mark "S" is positioned near the bottom, indicating its origin at the San Francisco facility, alongside the Latin motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM."