Semi-Numismatic

1938-S Mercury Dime XF

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The 1938 ten-cent piece struck at the San Francisco Mint represents a beloved era in United States coinage. Crafted from 90 percent silver, this dime contains approximately 0.0715 troy ounces of precious metal. Known widely as the Mercury dime, the coin's design actually portrays a youthful personification of Liberty on the obverse. She is depicted wearing a winged Phrygian cap, a powerful symbol meant to represent freedom of thought. The front of the coin also displays the national motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST", alongside the 1938 date. On the reverse, the coin features a bundle of rods bound around an ax, known as a fasces, which is paired alongside an olive branch. These contrasting elements symbolize the strength of unity and the desire for peace. The reverse inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "ONE DIME", and the Latin phrase "E PLURIBUS UNUM". Designed by the sculptor Adolph Weinman, this particular specimen survives in Extra Fine condition, preserving the intricate details of its classic imagery.