The US Mint has produced many coins throughout the years, and many of them have gone on to become popular collector’s items. One of those pieces was the Mercury Dime series of ten-cent coins that was first produced all the way back in the beginning of the 20th century. These coins were not only incredibly useful, they were beautiful in their design.
Nowadays, collectors are constantly trying to get their hands on these coins because they would like to make complete collections. Being one of the earlier releases, the 1924 Mercury Dime is especially popular. Of course, for collectors it is all about the overall condition of the coin.
When it comes to collectors purchasing coins as old as the 1924 Mercury Dime, the first thing that is always looked at is the coin’s condition. Overall, collectors will closely examine the coins looking for any major blemishes, but will be paying close attention to minor imperfections as well.
Normally, having a coin’s condition judged is something reserved for grading companies, of which many exist. Knowing that not everyone has the time and money to send their coins away for grading, we have listed below some of the characteristics that are tied to Mercury Dimes of specific grades.
Uncirculated: In Uncirculated condition, Mercury Dimes are in the best possible shape, especially for how old they are. These coins were taken directly from the production line and kept in safekeeping as to avoid any damage. As you might have guessed, these coins and their perfect condition are exactly what most every collector is looking for.
Extremely Fine: A coin graded to be Extremely Fine is one that only saw a limited amount of time in circulation. These coins will show some signs of their being exchanged over the years, but these blemishes will be few and far between and only visible under very close inspection. All in all, these coins are close to being in pristine condition.
Fine: To receive this grade, the coin in question will have definitely spent some time in circulation, but not a very large amount of time. Showing a good amount of damage, the poor condition of these coins as a result of circulation is apparent almost immediately. The most common type of imperfection found on these coins is the smoothing of the images and inscriptions.
Good: Good is the grade given to Mercury Dimes that are in absolutely horrid condition. Thanks to decade upon decade of circulation, these coins have suffered a lot of damage and may even be bent and heavily chipped. Though collectors do look for these coins, they are not the most sought after of the 1924 Mercury Dimes.
When it comes to giving coins that are nearly a century old a price, you have to take into consideration a few different factors. For the 1924 Mercury Dime, the first factor is the type of coin it is. Because multiple types of Dimes were produced most years, this is the first factor that will affect price. Secondly, the overall condition of the coin will heavily impact the price. Collectors want the coins that have been well-preserved, so those are the ones that will sell for high prices. The chart below should give you a good idea of what the cost of a graded 1924 Mercury Dime will be if you are given the coin’s type.
Mercury Dimes
DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|---|---|
1924 Mercury Dime | $3 | $4 | $15 | $30 |
1924 Mercury Dime (D) | $3.50 | $8 | $70 | $110 |
1924 Mercury Dime (S) | $3.50 | $6 | $60 | $110 | Source: Red Book |