Coin Value Finder » 1919 Dime Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

1919 Dime Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

Are you interested in the value of the 1919 Dime, also known as the 1919 Mercury Dime? If your answer is yes, you have come to the right place. Learning about coins, their value, and their origin can be fun, but for serious collectors and numismatists, it is more than a job and a hobby.

Besides the rich history and mystery, the coins can also prove to be a smart investment, depending on the type. Either way, this article will give you all the information you need to determine the value of your coin in accordance with its condition and grading system.

1919 Dime Details

1919 Dime Details

  • Category: Mercury Dimes (1916-1945)
  • Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco,
  • Total Mintage:54,531,000
  • Obverse Designer:Adolph A. Weinman
  • Reverse Designer:Adolph A. Weinman
  • Composition: Silver and Copper
  • Fineness:9
  • ASW:0723oz
  • Melt Value: $1.60
  • Weight: 0.08038 ounces (2.5g)
  • Thickness: 0.5315 inches (1.35mm)
  • Diameter: 704 inches (17.8mm)

The 1919 Mercury Dime was minted at three different Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Interestingly, this coin has one of the largest total mintages – 54,531,000.

Talking of the exciting design done by Adolph Weinman, the obverse or the head’s side depicts a young Liberty that can be identified by her winged Phrygian cap.

The Liberty is the Roman goddess of Liberty and freedom, concepts and ideas closely connected with the profound U.S. principles on which the country was built.

Alongside the upper side of the coin’s rim is the inscription “LIBERTY,” and right above the Liberty’s chin is the American motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Underneath the profile of Liberty, you can see the year of the production, 1919, and right above it is the initial of the designer “W.”

The reverse of the 1919 Mercury Dime has one of the most complex and intricate designs, which leaves no negative space on the coin’s reverse. The coin’s reverse shows a fasces, a Roman bundle of wooden rods with an axe in the center of the coin, which symbolizes power and strength.

The fasces is surrounded by the inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the denomination of the coin, “ONE DIME.” The American motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is on the right side of the fasces. There is also an olive branch around the fasces, a world-known sign of peace.

If you are unsure where to look for the mint mark- it is located on the reverse- on the left bottom right under the letter “E” of the “ONE.” If there is no mint mark, the coin was minted in Philadelphia.

1919 Dime Value Chart

Mint Mark Good

(G4)

 

Extra Fine (EF 40) MS 60

Uncirculated

MINT State 65
1919 No Mint Mark Mercury Dime $1.60-$2.00 $12 $40.00-$52.00 $350.00-$450.00
1919 D Mercury Dime $3.00-4.40 $35.00-$45.00 $150.00-$230.00 $1,600-$1,900
1919 S Mercury Dime $3.00 -$4.40 $35.00-$45.00 $150.00-$230.00 $1,200-$1,400

1919 Dime Value and Variety Guides

Although many believe this coin is not worth much, these rare specimens have been sold for an astonishing $150,000. However, not every 1919 Mercury Dime coin is worth this money. So what affects the value of this particular coin?

One of the significant issues is the year and the mint mark, which will give you additional information such as total mintage. In such a case, 1919 No Mint Mark Mercury Dime can have a value, depending on the collector’s determination to have the complete set

Depending on which grading scale or system you use, these coins are generally worth from $1.65 to $2.00 in a good state. Interestingly, collectors often seek coins with all the mint marks in a given year to complete the series.

1919 No Mint Mark Mercury Dime Value

1919 No Mint Mark Mercury Dime Value

 

  • Type: Mercury Dime
  • Edge: Round
  • Place of Minting: Philadelphia
  • Mint Mark: No mint mark
  • Year of minting: 1919
  • Face Value: One dollar ($1)
  • Price:  $3.00 -$500.00 and more
  • Quantity produced:35,740,000
  • Designer:Adolph A. Weinman
  • Thickness: 0.5315 inches (1.35mm)
  • Weight: 0.08038 ounces (2.5g)
  • Diameter: 704 inches (17.8mm)

The Philadelphia Mint had the highest mintage of this coin in 1919, which was 35,740,000, a total amount of 54,531,000.

Due to this high mintage, 1919 No Mint Mark Coins have the smallest value compared to those Mercury Dimes with “S” or “D” mint marks. 1919 No Mint Mark Mercury Dime generally costs between $3 and $30, depending on the condition.

The rare specimens have a higher value; for example, the 1919 No Mint Mark Mercury Dime in an uncirculated condition in an MS 65 can cost around $500.There were no proof coins made at the Philadelphia Mark during 1919.

1919 “D” Mercury Dime Value

1919 D Mercury Dime Value

  • Type: Mercury Dime
  • Edge: Round
  • Mint Mark: D
  • Place of Minting: Denver
  • Year of minting: 1919
  • Face Value: One dollar ($1)
  • Price:  $3.00 -$3,000 and more
  • Quantity produced:9,939,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Thickness: 0.5315 inches (1.35mm)
  • Weight: 0.08038 ounces (2.5g)
  • Diameter: 704 (17.8mm)

The Denver Mint also had a high mintage in 1919, which immediately tells about the price of these coins. Despite the large mintage, this coin has a slightly higher value than the 1919 No Mint Mark Mercury Dime.

However, these coins are not that rare except for those with full bands and in mint state, so you can expect to buy one for approximately $3. Those specimens with an MS 60 grade can cost between $160 and $220. The 1919 Mercury with the highest degree, MS 66, can quickly be sold for $3,000.

The highest amount paid for 1919 D Mercury Dime graded PCGS MS-66 with full bands is $156,000. The coin was sold in 2019 at a Heritage auction.

If you are wondering why this coin is worth so much, the answer is that most of these coins were poorly struck, and specimens with this grade are an exception.

1919 “S” Mercury Dime Value

1919 S Mercury Dime Value

 

  • Type: Mercury Dime
  • Edge: Round
  • Mint Mark: S
  • Place of Minting: San Francisco
  • Year of minting: 1919
  • Face Value: One dollar ($1)
  • Price:  $3.50 -$1.300 and more
  • Quantity produced:8,852,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Thickness: 0.5315 inches (1.35mm)
  • Weight:08038 ounces (2.5g)
  • Diameter: 8mm

For the year 1919, the San Francisco Mint had the lowest mintage in the series, which is 8,852,000 specimens. These coins are easy to find in a circulated condition, usually costing around $3, while those in better shape can reach the price of $140.

The specimens in mint condition (MS 60) are worth $200 and more, but prices can vary because certain collectors are willing to pay more for a particular coin, thus boosting its price.

Talking of the highest amount paid for this coin, in 2006, the 1919 S Mercury Dime was sold for $103,500. If you are shocked, do not worry, that was the general feeling at the auction because they usually cost between $3.00 and $1,300.

1919 Full Bands Mercury Dime

1919 Full Bands Mercury Dime

Regarding the 1919 Dime varieties, there is a 1919 Full Bands Mercury Dime, with complete lines struck at the obverse, where the fasces is located. If you are new to collecting coins or have never come across this term, it refers to the special grade-related designation, which is sometimes used for certain coins.

Besides the 1919 Mercury Dime, these full bands can also be found on the Roosevelt Dime. So, what is the story with these full bands on coins, and does that pump the value of a coin?

During the hubbing process, these dimes were often struck softly in the center, meaning that the design was not perfectly laid. This is particularly prominent on the reverse, and due to this hubbing process, many of the 1919 Mercury Dimes have an incomplete separating line, or it is missing.

Those specimens with a fully struck line separating the center bands are scarce and collectible.

Talking of the value, a very rare specimen with this particular feature was sold at the David Lawrence Rare Coin Auction for $632, which is a hefty amount, considering that this dime in fine condition is worth a couple of bucks.

Those with the highest grade and full bands can cost you from $5,000 to $45,000.The quality of the strike changes the value of the coin significantly, and those circulated do not have full bands due to wear and tear.

Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money

History of 1919 Mercury Dime

Being over a hundred years old, the 1919 Dime is one of the collectible coins with an astonishing and intricate design both on the obverse and reverse. The 1919 Dime is a ten-cent coin whose production began in 1916 and lasted until 1945.

In 1916 the Treasury chose to replace the Barber coinage designed by Charles E. Barber, which had been in use since 1892.

At the time, the Barber coins had been struck for 25 years, and mint officials believed the new dime should have a completely new design. After the Committee disliked the sketch Barber submitted, they held a competition between three coin sculptors and designers.

Three designers were: Adolph Weinman, Hermon MacNeil, and  Albin Polasek. Ultimately, the Committee chose Weinman’s design.

This coin is also referred to as the Winged Liberty Head dime or the 1919 Mercury Dime because the young Liberty was confused for the Roman god Mercury, hence the 1919 Mercury Dity.

Elsie Stevens was the wife of Wallace Stevens, the modernist poet known for his best works “The Auroras of Autumn” and “The Snow MaIt is believed that the designer of the coin, Weinman, used Elsie Stevens as a model for the depiction of Liberty. However, this story was never confirmed.

Allegedly, Robert Woolley, who became the new Mint director in 1915, wrote in his unpublished autobiography that Weinman refused to reveal the model’s name but said that it was a wife of a lawyer friend. The coin was put into circulation in October 1916

Even though the coin was initially praised for its beautiful and intricate design, it proved faulty as there were reports of difficulties using the dime in various vending machines.

Therefore, the Mint changed the coin, and it continued being produced until 1945 when it was halted.

1919 Mercury Dime Grading

If you are unfamiliar with the grading system, determining the value of your coin can be a challenging task. So, here is a simple video to help you determine the coin’s value and condition.

Some general factors you need to consider are condition, mint mark, year, luster, preservation, color, color, and attractiveness.

1919 Mercury Dime Errors

1919 Mercury Dime double die error

1919 Mercury Dime double die error

 

The 1919 Mercury Dime does not have many errors, just one, a double die error on the reverse.

If you are confused with the term double die, here is a simple explanation- to produce a double die coin, it must be struck at least twice, creating a double image of an inscription or the image on the coin.

The double die appears as if the ‘printer’ accidentally struck twice, creating a double inscription. This happens when the hubbing process is faulty- the hubbed die is struck with an incomplete design, which calls for the second strike, ultimately creating the double die.

Regarding the 1919 Mercury Dine, the doubling usually is confined to the upper inscriptions or images such as “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Interestingly, there is no double die on the capital letters such as “LIBERTY.”

1919 Mercury Dime FAQ

How much is a 1919 dime worth today?

The 1919 Dime was made of 90% silver and 10% copper; therefore, these coins always have at least the value of their weight in silver.

According to the price guide on the NGC site, the 1919 Dime in the circulated condition is worth between $2 to $40, depending on the mint mark, shape, and degree of wear. Those in uncirculated condition can be worth between $45 and $400.

What is the 1919 dime made of?

The coin is made of 0.900 silver and 0.100 copper.

What dime years are rare?

One of the rarest year dimes is the 1964 Copper-Nickel Clad Roosevelt Dime because not many of these were produced and even lesser managed to survive, which explains why these coins are worth over four figures.

What dime is worth a million dollars?

Although many disregard dimes and other coins as invaluable, there are still coins in existence that have extraordinary value such as the 1894-S Barber Dime, which is believed to be worth millions.

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