Numismatic

1945 Mercury Dime MS-66 NGC

---

Struck during the final year of its series, this ten-cent United States coin represents a classic era of American coinage. Minted in Philadelphia, the coin is composed of 90 percent silver, containing 0.0715 troy ounces of the precious metal. It has been certified by a third-party grading service as Mint State 66 (MS-66), indicating a highly preserved specimen with original luster and minimal imperfections from the minting process. The obverse of the coin features a portrait of a youthful Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, a design element that historically led to the popular, though technically incorrect, nickname of the Mercury Dime. Accompanying this portrait are the inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the date of 1945. On the reverse, the design showcases a fasces entwined with an olive branch, symbolizing strength and peace, surrounded by the legends "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE DIME", along with the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM". Designed by Adolph Weinman, this coin serves as a beautiful example of early twentieth-century American engraving. The combination of its high-grade preservation and its place as the concluding year of the design makes it a fascinating subject for study and appreciation.