Semi-Numismatic

1920-S Mercury Dime VF

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The 1920-S Mercury Dime represents a fascinating moment in United States coinage, struck at the San Francisco Mint during the early decades of the twentieth century. Composed of 90 percent silver with a precious metal weight of 0.0715 troy ounces, this ten-cent piece carries the distinctive characteristics of a circulating coin preserved in Very Fine condition. On the obverse, the design features a youthful representation of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, an image that historically led to the popular, though inaccurate, nickname of the Roman messenger god Mercury. The legend "IN GOD WE TRUST" is inscribed alongside the 1920 date. The reverse displays a fasces, a bundle of rods bound around an ax, paired with an olive branch. This side is inscribed with the national motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and the denomination "ONE DIME", alongside the "S" mint mark indicating its origin in San Francisco. Created by the artist Adolph Weinman, this series is celebrated for its intricate details and symbolic imagery. In Very Fine condition, the coin shows moderate wear on the high points of Liberty's hair and the leaves of the olive branch, yet it retains clear legends and a strong overall presentation that invites close inspection.