Numismatic

1920-S Mercury Dime XF

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Struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1920, this silver ten-cent piece is a remarkable survivor from the early twentieth century. Composed of 90 percent silver, containing 0.0715 troy ounces of precious metal, the coin is a testament to the artistic transition of American currency during this era. This specific specimen has been preserved in Extra Fine condition, showcasing the finer details of its celebrated design. The obverse presents a youthful depiction of Lady Liberty adorned with a winged Phrygian cap, a symbol that frequently led the public to mistake her for the Roman messenger god, Mercury. Surrounding this central figure are the legible inscriptions of liberty and the national motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST," alongside the 1920 year of minting. The design was created by the renowned artist Adolph Weinman. On the reverse, Weinman placed a traditional fasces, a bundle of rods bound around an ax, entwined with an olive branch. This powerful imagery is accompanied by the Latin phrase "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and the denomination. The small "S" mint mark, located near the rim, identifies this coin as a product of the historic San Francisco minting facility.