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A so-called mercury dime of the USA, showing winged Liberty and a fasces. Coin Type: USA Winged Liberty Dime, issued 1916-1945. 90% Silver, 10% Copper.
Mint and Date: 1939
Size and Weight: 17.91mm, 2.250g
Obverse: Liberty wearing a winged pileum (symbolizing freedom of thought). Monogram in low right field. IN•GOD / WE•TRUST in low left field. 1939 in very low right field.
LIBERTY
Reverse: Fascis entwined by olive branch. E•PLURIBUS / UNUM in right field.
*UNITED•STATES•OF•AMERICA* ONE DIME
Provenance: smallcents2 (eBay), December 2004.
Condition: BU, hairline scratch on back of cap on obverse, damage to top band of fascis on reverse.
BW Ref: 001 029 000
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin
Note: This coin is often called a "Mercury dime" even though the image is not actually of the Roman god Mercury. The confusion arose because Mercury was traditionally shown with a winged hat, though of a somewhat different type, called a petasos. Also, this image appeared to be in a classical style; though from today's perspective we can see it is stylistically of the last century.
The content of this page was last updated on 5 February 2007