Is a 1925 Dime worth more than its face value of 10 cents? Read on to get answers to this mind-boggling question and any other questions regarding the value of the 1925 dime. Here, we’ll reveal details that set the 1925 dime apart from the rest and address the various mint marks you’ll find on the different varieties of this coin.
1925 Dime Details
We first examine the obverse of this coin designed by Adolph Weinman. Here, you’ll find a bust of Lady Liberty with her face facing the left. Here she wears an antique cap that symbolizes the liberty of thought. As expected, America’s favorite word, “Liberty,” is written in a curved pattern above her head.
Still on the obverse of the 1925 dime is the designer’s initials A.W. and the motto of the United States, “In God We Trust ” written under her bust.
The reverse of this coin features a symbolic representation of power and strength through the Roman Fasces, along with a representation of peace through an olive branch wrapped around it.
Along the coin’s rim, you will find carved the country, THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA, along with the denomination of the dime. You will also notice the country’s slogan E PLURIBUS UNUM, which means “out of many, one,” on the right side of the fasces.
Below are some details you should be aware of regarding the 1925 Dimes.
- Category: Mercury Dimes
- Mint: Philadelphia
- Total Mintage: 36,577,000
- Obverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Reverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Composition: 90%Silver 10% copper
- Fineness: 0.9
- Weight: 2.5g
- ASW: 0.0723oz
- Diameter: 17.9mm
- Thickness: 1.45mm
- Edge: Reeded
1925 Dime Value Chart
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1925 Mercury Dime | $1.65 | $2.34 | $11 | $42 |
| 1925 Mercury Dime (D) | $1.98 | $14 | $83 | $393 |
| 1925 Mercury Dime (S) | $1.76 | $4.06 | $72 | $239 |
1925 Dime Value and Varieties Guides
You must know that the Mint a Dime originates from has a significant influence on its value, and the presence or absence of a mint mark does the same. Here we discuss the different varieties of the 1925 dime.
1925 No Mint Mark Dime Value
- Type: Mercury Dimes
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: None
- Place of Minting: Philadelphia
- Year of Minting: 1925
- Face Value: 10 cents
- Price: $1.65-$45,600
- Quantity Produced: 25,610,000
- Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
Lists centering around popular coins from 20th century America would only be complete if the mercury dime series were included. Even to this day, it remains a sought-after collectible among collectors.
The Philadelphia mint was able to churn out 25,610,000 of these coins in 1925. It is widely established that approximately 70% of the mercury dimes are from this particular mintage. Since the bulk of the coins came from this mint, 1925 dimes originating from the Philadelphia mint were less valuable than their counterparts in the coin market.
However, there is an exception; this does not apply to 1925 dimes still mint state or pieces in MS 66 or MS 67 grades; these exceptions can sell for as high as $375 to $1,140.
Depending on the state of a dime, the prices can vary, especially if a coin still has its full band and is in pristine condition. For example, a 1925 dime with an MS 68 Rating will cost as much as $25,000. Unsurprisingly, heritage auctions recorded a $45,600 payment in 2019 for one of such pieces.
1925 S Mercury Dime Value
- Type: Mercury Dimes
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: S
- Place of Minting: San Francisco
- Year of Minting: 1925
- Face Value: 10 cents
- Price: $2.5-$74,750
- Quantity Produced: 5,850,000
- Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
Like several other dime varieties, the final value of the San Francisco minted dimes depends on the coin’s condition at the time of valuation. For 1925 dimes from this region, the chances that it would be valued at $2.5 – $3.5 per dime is high.
As a result, there is a saturation of these Mercury dimes in the coin market because it is easy to come across one. It will take a mercury coin in a pristine and excellent collection like the uncirculated coin to fetch a higher price in the market.
The reason for the relatively lower Price of the average S mercury dime is that in 1925, about 5,850,000 got produced, making it one of the most widely circulated coins.
Identifying the S mercury dime requires observing the reverse feature in particular. This Adolph A. Weinman design is the same as the Philadelphia mintage, with the lady liberty on the obverse and the Roman Fasces on the reverse.
The only difference would be the S mint located at the reverse below the olive branch, which surrounds the fasces and is closer to the rim. This helps to identify this piece as a San Francisco-minted mercury dime.
The best prices for this variety range between $1,900 to $2,280; usually, this goes to the preserved MS 66 specimens. The MS 65 grade is around $1,250, especially the uncirculated coin, while the MS 60 grade costs lower, around $250. The highest grade, the MS 67, has the highest Price of $23,000-$27,000 in the market.
In 2000, the highest recorded Price for the S Mercury Dime was a whopping $74,750 during an auction, which remains the highest price available for this variety.
1925 D Mercury Dime Value
- Type: Mercury Dimes
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: D
- Place of Minting: Denver
- Year of Minting: 1925
- Face Value: 10 cents
- $ Price: $2-$40,800
- Quantity Produced: 5,117,000
- Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
The 1925 D mercury dimes and the other varieties possess the same features. However, a Denver mint mercury dime will have a D mint at the bottom of the olive branch, where you will find the San Francisco mintage mark.
In 1925, about 5,117,000 1925 D mercury dimes were produced. This is responsible for the many low-grade series available today. This average grade value ranges from $2-$4, pending the quality of the coin at the time of valuation.
Additionally, higher quality D mercury dimes can go as high as $1,400-$2,550 once the quality is verified. These higher-quality coins consist of dimes in an extremely fine quality state and even more so if the coins are uncirculated dimes.
You can expect a significant increase in the value of your dimes once they are confirmed to be in the uncirculated grade. Also, if your dime has a full band, you can look at an average of $14,000-$19,000 during valuation.
The highest recorded value ever on the 1925 D mercury dimes is the 1925 D MS67+ FB Mercury dime sold in 2019 during a heritage auction for a record-breaking sum of $40,800.
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money
The 1925 Dimes History
Between 1912 and 1925, 36,577,000 dimes were in circulation, coming in three different series. The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco series are the mintage produced.
Philadelphia, the place of origin had the highest of this mintage with a whooping 25,610,000 from the total mintage. The second chunk comes from San Francisco, with 5,850,000, and the last 5,117,000 from Denver.
These dimes were quite famous due to their aesthetic value and the favorable law that states that coins can be minted even after 25 years as long as people still appreciate the coin. However, the coin’s design had to undergo specific changes because some factories found it hard to mint due to its unique design.
In 2016, the dimes meeting continued as a way to celebrate its centenary; however, as opposed to the silver composition, these new sets were golden. The 1925 Mercury Dimes have a silver composition of 90% copper and 10% copper with a 2.5 grams mass.
Dimes dimmed to be in extremely fine condition are now scarce because these coins rarely hold well over time. This leads to scarcity in the coin market for coin collectors and prices that are higher than usual.
While the dimes are only 10 cents at face value, they have more value as a collectible than the prices. It is only natural that these scarce dimes cost more because, as the law of economics states, lesser supply will lead to higher demand.
The 1925 Dimes Grading
The condition of a coin determines its value, making the grading process critical for coin collectors. Here are four positions to assess a dime’s quality.
First, we have the good(grade with the most imperfections and possibly damaged). Next are those tagged “Fine” (not heavily depreciated like good coins and still have readable letters). There are also those known as the “Extremely fine” (did not spend much time in circulation, making them look almost new).
Last on the list is the “Uncirculated: (texture and original mint luster usually still visible on the dime)
List of 1925 Dimes Error
There are possibilities of errors in the 1925 dimes which may have direct implications on the value. These errors can make these dimes one-of-a-kind pieces, allowing many coin collectors to covet this dime and triggering an upward push in the Price for this particular coin due to higher demand.
1. 1925 Double Date Mercury Dime Error
An error like this adds to the value of a dime. It identifies the dime as a distinct piece, allowing many coin collectors to lust after this coin. This will, in turn, create a great demand for the coin, thereby increasing its Price.
This double date piece does not only feature the date appearing twice but also the “In God We Trust” inscription might appear twice, which makes this dime undeniably a great find. Little wonder it lists on Etsy for as much as $50 apiece.
A collector looking to build should look to this mercury dime to add to their already growing collection. This piece also qualifies as an uncirculated grade because you will need help finding two error coins of this type.
2. 1925 P Mercury Dime Large Lamination Error
When you observe an error like this, you will notice that on the obverse by the left lower quadrant, there is a huge lamination running from a 9:00 position to a 6:00 position. N.B: This does not mean that the motto written is not visible.
The other parts of this dime are fairly visible, but more visible is the broad lamination line that cuts across the lower part of the dime. For $29 on eBay, you can add this error coin to your growing list of collectibles.
Minted in the origin of the 1925 dimes in Philadelphia, you would be surprised how many of them got circulated. However, not many of them survived wear and tear. Furthermore, you can expect a different price which may be higher or lower since the coin is currently ungraded.
3. Liberty Mercury Dime No Date
What is quite fascinating about this particular error coin is that due to the lack of date, it can be from any year. You will agree that this counts as an intriguing story coin collectors would love to tell, making them dream of acquiring this piece.
This AG-grade error coin has all the other features of a mercury dime aside from the year of mintage on the surface. This makes tracking hard but increases the error coin’s demand.
For $270, you can be a collector of this item. View below for more special features on a mercury dime that will allow you to make more money off the coin.
FAQs
How can you identify a Mercury Dime?
Identifying a mercury dime means you have to be familiar with the work of Adolph A. Weinman, who designed the famous mercury dimes, also known as the winged liberty dime.
His initials ‘A.W.’ are engraved on the obverse of the dime at the right of lady liberty’s neck. The mint mark on the reverse, either S or D at the bottom, shows the place of mintage.
Why is it called a Mercury Dime?
This Winged Liberty Head dime got its famous nickname from misinterpreting the winged Phrygian cap worn by lady liberty.
Many thought they were looking at the Roman god Mercury, and this marked the beginning of the famous Mercury dime name.