Numismatic

1936-S Mercury Dime BU

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The 1936-S Mercury Dime stands as a stunning example of early twentieth-century American coinage. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this ten-cent piece is composed of 90 percent silver, containing 0.0715 troy ounces of the precious metal. Kept in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, the coin retains its original luster, allowing the intricate details of its artistic design to shine just as they did when it first left the coining press. On the obverse, the design features a youthful representation of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with wings. This distinctive headgear, which often led observers to mistake the figure for the Roman messenger god Mercury, was intended to symbolize freedom of thought. The front of the coin also bears the inscription of the year 1936 alongside the traditional motto, IN GOD WE TRUST. The reverse of the coin presents a powerful combination of symbols, featuring a fasces wrapped with an olive branch to represent both strength and a desire for peace. Surrounding this central image are the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DIME, and the Latin phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM, completing a design that remains one of the most celebrated in the history of United States coinage.