Semi-Numismatic

1941-S Mercury Dime XF

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Struck in the momentous year of 1941, this ten-cent piece from the San Francisco Mint represents a classic era of American coinage. Composed of 90 percent silver, containing 0.0715 troy ounces of the precious metal, the coin is a beautifully preserved example of the Mercury Dime series, displaying the crisp details characteristic of an Extra Fine grade. The obverse of the coin features a youthful depiction of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, a design element originally intended to symbolize freedom of thought. This striking image, created by sculptor Adolph Weinman, led to the popular but incorrect nickname of the Roman messenger god Mercury. Legible on this face is the national motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, alongside the 1941 date. On the reverse, the design presents a fasces, a bundle of rods bound around an ax, symbolizing strength and unity. This central image is juxtaposed with an olive branch, representing peace. The inscriptions include the country of origin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the denomination ONE DIME, the traditional motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the distinct S mint mark, indicating its origin from the San Francisco facility.