Gary's 20th Century Type Set
10c MERCURY (1916-45)

Owner Comments:

Recently, I completed a date/mint set of Mercury dimes grading mostly from AG to VG housed in an intercept folder. With a complete set of low-grade coins, I wanted to purchase a high-grade “full split band” example to represent the entire collection and this beautiful 1940 MS-66 FSB Mercury Dime fits that bill. The term FSB describes a condition whereby the bands holding the fasces together on the reverse of the coin are clearly defined and separate. The image on the coin's obverse is that of “Lady Liberty” wearing a winged headdress. Consequently, the American public confused this image with that of the Roman deity Mercury and hence the coins’ name “Mercury Dime”. Therefore, the term “Mercury Dime” is a bit of a misnomer and “Winged Liberty Head” is a more accurate description, as the wings on Liberty’s headdress represent freedom of thought. A direct quote from designer, Adolph A. Weinman describes the reverse of the Mercury Dime: “I selected the fasces and olive branch to symbolize the strength which lies in unity, while the battle-ax stands for preparedness to defend the Union. The branch of olive is symbolical of our love of Peace.”