1941 Mercury Dime Value Guide

The 1941 Mercury Dime Value

Regular circulation-strike 1941 Mercury dimes from the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints all have consistent values across the grades up to the high mint-state range. 

The higher mint-state grades from San Francisco are the most valuable, followed by Philadelphia, and then Denver being the least valuable. 

Full bands and full-bands prooflike versions are more valuable than regular circulation strikes. They range from $11 to $5,700. 

As with many coins, the proof strikes are the most valuable version. This is because the Mint produces a much smaller amount when compared to circulation-strike coins.

An N/A for a value below indicates no publicly known examples of that version of the 1941 Mercury dime with that grade, or no value information (or not enough) exists for it yet.

Additionally, all values are conservative estimates based on research. Please note all values are subject to change due to the market or circumstances unaccounted for during research and publication. We always recommend doing further research or consulting with a professional.

Melt Value

The 1941 Mercury dime’s melt value is approximately $1. The melt value will fluctuate with the market.

Circulation Strike Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1941 Mercury Dime	1941-D Mercury Dime	1941-S Mercury Dime
Good – G	$3	$3	$3
Very Good – VG	$3	$3	$3
Fine – F	$3	$3	$3
Very Fine – VF	$3	$3	$3
Extra Fine – XF	$3	$3	$3
About Uncirculated – AU	$4-$7	$4-$7	$4-$7
Mint State – MS	$9-$595 (68)	$8-$512 (68)	$9-$850 (68)

Circulation Strike Full Bands (FB) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1941 Full Bands Mercury Dime	1941-D Full Bands Mercury Dime	1941-S Full Bands Mercury Dime
MS 60 FB	$11	$12	$14
MS 61 FB	$15	$16	$18
MS 62 FB	$19	$20	$21
MS 63 FB	$24	$25	$25
MS 64 FB	$35	$35	$38
MS 65 FB	$51	$53	$61
MS 66 FB	$80	$66	$101
MS 67 FB	$450	$172	$245
MS 68 FB	$3,800	$1,400	$4,200
MS 69 FB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 FB	N/A	N/A	N/A

Circulation Strike Full Bands Prooflike (FBPL) Value Chart

1941-S Full Bands Prooflike Mercury Dime
Grade Names	Coin Values
MS 60 FB PL	N/A
MS 61 FB PL	N/A
MS 62 FB PL	N/A
MS 63 FB PL	N/A
MS 64 FB PL	$425
MS 65 FB PL	$455
MS 66 FB PL	$628
MS 67 FB PL	$1,200
MS 68 FB PL	$5,700
MS 69 FB PL	N/A
MS 70 FB PL	N/A

Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

1941 Proof Mercury Dime
Grade Names	Coin Values
PR 60	$117
PR 61	$130
PR 62	$140
PR 63	$152
PR 64	$180
PR 65	$207
PR 66	$267
PR 67	$400
PR 68	$3,500
PR 69	$31,000
PR 70	N/A

Cameo (CA/CAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

1941 Cameo Proof Mercury Dime
Grade Names	Coin Values
PR 60 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 61 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 62 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 63 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 64 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 65 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 66 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 67 CA/CAM	$8,000
PR 68 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 69 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 70 CA/CAM	N/A

What Makes A 1941 Mercury Dime Valuable?

Different things, such as grading, rarity, strike types, special designations, and die varieties, work to make a 1941 Mercury dime more valuable. 

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

Higher grades of the 1941 Mercury dime are more valuable. 

The mint-state grades range from approximately $8 to $850. These show good details and have few flaws.

The lower grades are worth less because they are more readily available, and their overall quality is poorer. However, even the lowest “good” grade coin is worth $3. The lower grades will show more signs of wear and imperfections. 

Rarity

The Mint minted 1941 Mercury dimes approximately 264,830,557 times across all of its versions. Please see the following list for the breakdown for each version:

• 1941: 175,090,000 minted in Philadelphia^1-2
• 1941-D: 46,634,000 minted in Denver^3-4
• 1941-S: 43,090,000 minted in San Francisco^5-6
• 1941 Proof: 16,557 minted in Philadelphia^11-12

Circulation strikes of the 1941 Mercury dime are not rare. They do become more scarce in the higher grades.

Full bands are more rare, and their value reflects this. 

Full-bands prooflike coins only come from the 1941-S Mercury dimes. Full-bands prooflike coins are the rarest and most valuable of the special designations. 

Even though the majority of the proof-strike 1941 Mercury dimes survived, they still hold a consistently high value. 

Mint Marks

The 1941 Mercury dime has 2 mint marks:

• “D” mint mark for coins minted in Denver^3-4
• “S” mint mark for coins minted in San Francisco^5-6

If the coin has no mint mark, it was minted in Philadelphia.^1-2 All 1941 proof Mercury dimes come from Philadelphia and, therefore, have no mint mark.^11-12

They have comparable values across the 3 Mints. However, San Francisco is most valuable at the top end of the mint-state grades and the full-bands versions. This is followed by Philadelphia and then Denver. 

Strike Types

The 1941 Mercury dime has 2 strike types: circulation and proof.^14-15 

Proof coins are minted using special dies, polished planchets, special handling, and struck several times. 

Due to this different process, the quality of a proof coin is far greater than that of a circulation strike.

There are also cameo versions of proof strikes. These coins exhibit mirroring on the fields and frosting on the devices (such as Lady Liberty). They are worth more than regular proof dimes. 

There are currently no ultra/deep cameo proof versions authenticated for the 1941 Mercury dime.

Design Variations

The 1941 Mercury dime has no design variations.

Special Designations

There are 2 special designations for the circulation-strike 1941 Mercury dimes: full bands and full-bands prooflike.^2,4,6,7-9

These designations are only given to coins graded MS 60 to MS 70. 

The “full bands” refer to the bands securing the fasces (an ax surrounded by a bundle of wooden sticks and secured with 3 sets of bands)  on the dime’s reverse side.¹⁸

To achieve this designation, the central set of bands on the fasces must show a complete split between the 2 bands.^6,10   

For a full-bands prooflike designation, a coin must have the full bands on the fasces and exhibit some qualities of a proof strike. Reflectivity is key to this designation. A coin must show a mirrored-like look on the fields of both of its sides.   

Error Coins 

An error (or mint error) can increase a coin’s value. This is because they are one-offs and more desirable to collectors. 

Several errors of the 1941 Mercury dime are known to increase the coin’s value. Some examples are:

• Struck Off-Center: due to a misalignment during striking¹⁶
• Partial Collar: when the planchet is not fully contained by the collar¹⁶
• Clipped Planchet: when part of the coin is clipped off during striking¹⁶

Die Varieties

There are not many notable die varieties of the 1941 Mercury dime. The “Trumpet” variety from the San Francisco Mint is possibly the most notable as it is quite rare. Below are a few variety examples:¹⁷ 

• 1941 Double Die Obverse: shows clear doubling on the letters in “Trust” on coin’s obverse side
• 1941-D Repunched Mint Mark: you can see a repunched “D” mint mark above and to the left of the original
• 1941-S Trumpet Tail: 1941 sees the debut of the new large “S” mint mark, known as the “trumpet tail” because the bottom serif of the “S” flares out and looks like the bell of a trumpet. 

Composition

Made of 90% silver, the 1941 Mercury dime is always worth at least its silver melt value. However, the value depends on the fluctuating market price.

Your coin will usually be more valuable when selling it rather than melting it, though. Therefore, we advise against melting it. 

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1941 Mercury Dime?

The best way to know if you have a valuable 1941 Mercury dime (or any coin) and to get that value out of it is to have it professionally certified.

However, you can look for many elements to get you started in determining what coin you have.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

1941 Mercury dimes are readily available up to high mint-state grades. So, be selective when choosing a coin. 

1941 Mercury dimes are plagued with weak strikes from overused dies due to their high mintage.^1-6 

Therefore, look for coins graded MS 67 and up. They will be better struck, have clear details, and few scratches and marks, making them more valuable.

Mint Marks

The mint mark is on the reverse side of your 1941 Mercury dime. It is positioned between the “E” in “One” and the left of the olive branch’s stem. 

You will find a “D” mint mark if your coin came from Denver and an “S” mint mark if your coin came from San Francisco.

If there is no mint mark on your coin, it was minted in Philadelphia.

Strike Types

A 1941 proof-strike Mercury dime will be of a noticeably higher quality compared to a circulation-strike coin.

Look for sharp edges, clear details, and good luster. It should have very few imperfections. 

For a cameo version, you want to see nice frosting on the devices on both sides of your coin. The frosting should contrast well with the mirrored fields. 

Design Variations

The 1941 Mercury dime has no design variations. 

Special Designations

The full-bands designation is only given to coins graded MS 60 and higher. So first, make sure your coin is within the mint-state range. 

Then you want to look at the reverse side of your 1941 Mercury dime to examine the fasces. 

You may want a loupe or some form of magnification to aid with this. 

There can’t be any marks or scratches on the fasces and bands which obscure the details.

The central bands, which secure the wooden rods of the fasces, need to show a clear separation between the 2 bands. This is the key identifier of a full-bands designation. 

You will also want to look for this separation on the top and the bottom set of bands.

Error Coins

Here are some tips on identifying if you have a known 1941 Mercury dime error coin.

Off-Center Errors

This error increases your coin’s value, and luckily, it is quite easy to determine. 

The design on your coin will be shifted in a certain direction. The remaining space will be plain metal. 

Some of the coin’s design may be missing as well.

The amount the design is struck off-center is usually referred to as a percentage. For example, this could be 25% off-center or 40% off-center. 

Partial Collar Errors

This error occurs when a coin is not fully contained in the collar when it is being struck. 

You can see evidence of this error on your coin’s edge and rim. 

There are 3 types of partial collar errors:

• Straight Partial Collars On Reeded Edges: there will be 2 lines around the coin’s edge (these are known as “railroad rims”) 
• Tilted Partial Collars: there will be an uneven level around the rim of your coin (these are known as “steps”)
• Partial Collars On Non-Reeded Edge: you will see a circle of plain metal without any design features around the edge of your coin (also known as “wagon wheel” coins) 

Clipped Planchet Errors

This error happens when part of a mispositioned planchet is clipped off during the strike. 

This is another easy error to spot because part of your coin’s rim will be missing. 

The amount of the coin that is missing can vary. It is referred to in percentages, such as 10%. 

The edge of a clipped planchet error is referred to as either a straight clip, a curved clip, or a ragged clip.  

Die Varieties

For the 1941 double-die obverse (DDO) variety, look at the obverse side of your coin.¹⁷ 

Look at “In God We Trust” just below Liberty’s chin. The letters in “Trust” should all show clear doubling. 

For the 1941-D repunched mint mark, look at the reverse side of your coin.¹⁷ 

Nestled between the “E” of “One” and the bottom of the olive branch is the “D” mint mark. 

This repunched variety shows the second punched “D” to the left-hand side of the first mint mark.

For the 1941-S trumpet tail variety, knowing the other sizes and styles of the San Francisco mint marks might be helpful.¹⁷ This will help you to compare. 

This mint mark will be much larger than those on the previous years of San Francisco Mercury dimes. 

Look at the bottom serif of the “S”. It should curve out wide at the edges and resemble a trumpet bell. 

Because this variety makes up a small percentage of the 1941 San Francisco mintage, it is a valuable variety.

How To Spot A Fake 1941 Mercury Dime

The 1941 Mercury dime has several forgeries. 

We recommend having the authenticity of any coin checked. You can either get it certified yourself or you could ask the seller to get the coin professionally authenticated.

Forged Full Bands

Unfortunately, full-bands Mercury dimes are apt for forgery.²¹ 

Forgers take a regular (less expensive) circulation-strike coin and use a sharp object to score between the bands on the fasces.

This gives the coin the look of a full-bands designation coin and increases the coin’s worth. 

1941 Counterfeit Proofs

There haven’t been any certified ultra/deep cameo versions of the 1941 Mercury dime. So, be wary of any coin claiming to be such. 

In fact, there haven’t been many cameo versions certified. So, it is best to make sure that all versions come with a professional certification.

Additional Information About The 1941 Mercury Dime

History

German-born American sculptor Adolph Alexander Weinman won the U.S. Mint’s competition for designing the new dime, which would replace the Barber dime in 1916.  

His design, which uses Roman and Greek imagery, highlights America’s strength and desire for peace. It was a popular and welcome change from the Barber dime.

The profile on the coin is actually of Lady Liberty, but her winged Phrygian cap reminded people of the Roman god Mercury, so the Mercury dime was named.

The Mercury dime series ran from 1916 to 1945. To date, it is a very popular American coin.  

1941 saw a massive rise in the mintage of Mercury dimes. World War II boosted America’s economy, and this is reflected in the mintages of coins.

At the end of 1941, America joined World War II (1939-1945), after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. The war had been raging for 2 years, but America was a neutral party until the end of 1941. 

Both the Denver and San Francisco Mints more than doubled their mintage that year when compared to 1940.^3-6 This increased mintage remained for the rest of the war years.

^{Sources: 14-15,24}

The Coin’s Obverse Side

The profile of Lady Liberty sits in the center of the 1941 Mercury dime’s obverse side. She is wearing a winged cap. This symbolizes liberty of thought.

Under her chin on the left side is “In God We Trust.” To the right of Liberty are Weinman’s initials, “AAW.” 

Below Liberty’s neck is the year “1941.”

Curving along the top half of the coin’s rim and going behind Liberty’s head is “Liberty.”

^{Sources: 1-2}

The Coin’s Reverse Side

Circling the rim of the reverse side of the 1941 Mercury dime is “United States of America” at the top and “One Dime” at the bottom. One star separates them on each side. 

A fasces is in the center of the coin. As before, a fasces is an ax surrounded by a bundle of wooden sticks and secured with 3 sets of bands, and it is a Roman symbol of power. 

Curving from the bottom left of the fasces up to the top right is an olive branch. This symbolizes peace.

The Latin motto “E Pluribus Unum” is to the right of the fasces. This is America’s motto and means “Out of many, one.”

If preset, the mint mark will be to the left of the bottom of the olive branch. Coins minted in Denver will have a “D” mint mark, and coins minted in San Francisco will have an “S” mint mark.

^{Sources: 1-6}

Sources

1941 Mercury Dime Value Guide Sources