On the fasces, or bundle of rods, on the reverse of the coin, you’ll notice some bands tying all the sticks together.

But aside from its silver content and beautiful design, there’s another factor that makes this dime more valuable-a Full Bands designation. On the right side of the fasces is the American creed “E pluribus unum.” On the rim of the reverse are the words “United States of America” and “One Dime.” Full Bands Designationġ940 Mercury dimes are already of great value today. What’s interesting is that this design shows power and firmness, but also alludes to America’s ideals of liberty and peace. You’ll see a couple of olive branches around it. Meanwhile, on the reverse, you’ll notice a “fasces,” aka a bundle of rods with a sharp axe tied to its upper area. At around five o’clock, the designer’s initials, “AW” are written. It’s the perfect cap for what Lady Liberty and America stand for.Īll around the rim of the coin are the letters that spell “LIBERTY.” Right below Lady Liberty’s chin is the words “In God We Trust,” and right below her truncated neck, the year 1940. In Ancient Rome, slaves that were finally freed from their oppressors would wear such a cap to indicate their liberty. The Phrygian cap-also known as a liberty cap-is a symbol of freedom. She’s wearing a Phrygian cap with little wings on them.

On the obverse of the coin is the side profile of Lady Liberty facing left. It was made of silver, making them quite valuable given their modern melt value alone.īut what makes a 1940 dime special? Let’s take a look at the features you can find on this crowd-favorite coin. In 1940, a year before the war was set to begin, the US minted over 100 million Mercury dimes. Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.1940 Dime Value Details Image Credit: Littleton Coin Company Stick around to learn more about the 1940 dime. Despite the confusion on who is on this coin, the 1940 dime remains to be one of the most beautiful, sought-after coins in US mintage-even if they’re not as expensive as other, older coins.īut how much is the true value of a 1940 dime? Can you sell a 1940 dime regardless of its mint mark? What errors should one look out for, and how do they affect the price of the coin? Today, we’ll delve into all of that and more.

1942 mercury dime uncirculated