Semi-Numismatic

1939 Mercury Dime BU

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The 10 cent piece minted in 1939 stands as a remarkable example of American coinage, struck in 90 percent silver with a precious metal content of 0.0715 troy ounces. This specific coin is preserved in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, meaning it retains its original luster and sharp details just as it appeared when leaving the Philadelphia Mint over eight decades ago. On the obverse, the design features a youthful personification of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap. This distinct headgear often led observers to mistake the figure for the Roman messenger god, giving the series its popular nickname, the Mercury Dime. The front also displays the date 1939 and the classic motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST." The reverse side presents a powerful contrast of symbols, showing a fasces, which is a bundle of rods bound around an axe, alongside an olive branch. These elements represent a readiness for defense coupled with a desire for peace. The Latin phrase "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is also inscribed on this side, completing a design created by Adolph Weinman that remains one of the most celebrated in United States coinage history.