Hello Folks:
This is the First Time I have Done this so here Goes.
The First Person to Answer the Questions I have will get a Assortment of Coins that I have just Laying Around. If you Do Not know Me All I collect is Mercury Dimes so the Questions are all Merc Related.
1- The Designer was Who ?
2- Two Design Modifacations were made in what Years after the Series went into Production ? Different Years for the Modifacations.
3- Beginning in what Year was Part of the Original Design Missing ? From this year on through the End of the Series this is Present.
4- This is Extra Credit. What Caused the Missing Part of the Design Mentioned in Question #3?
The First Person to Answer the First Three Questions will Get the Coins. If He/She does Not get the Extra Credit question then the First to Answer After will Receive a ANACS MS64 1945 Micro S Merc.
Have FUN and Thank You.
Ken
PS: Please Answer Here.
Fairlaneman
Posts: 10,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
In 1916, sculptor Adolph A. Weinman produced a new design for the dime. Called the Liberty Head type at the time, the motif features Miss Liberty facing left, wearing a Phrygian cap with wings, LIBERTY encircling her head, and with IN GOD WE TRUST and the date below. The wings on the cap gave rise to the popular term "Mercury dime" for the winged messenger. However, Mercury was a male in mythology and had wings on his feet. Nevertheless, the name has stuck, and Mercury dimes are what collectors know them as today.
The reverse depicts a fasces or bundle of sticks with a blade at the top, against a branch in the background, and with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DIME around the border. E PLURIBUS UNUM appears at the lower right.
The design was continued without change through 1945. Coinage was accomplished at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. Proofs were made at the Philadelphia Mint from 1936 through 1942.
This is all the info I can find on the Merc.......nothing mentions changes until the Roosie came out, when the obverse was changed(of course) and the fasces were removed because of feelings towards the fascists in Europe during WW2
-Jarrett Roberts
If No One Can Give Me Answers on these I will Give Some Hints Later. Also I will Show Examples at the End.
Ken
1. 1942 "2 over 1" Die Variety
In 1942, a few dies used in the prior year to strike 1941 dimes were re-punched with the date 1942. However, the number "1" in the date is still visible on coins struck from these dies and the number "4" in the date is doubled. This so-called 1942 "2 over 1" die dime variety is in great demand by collectors and has a relatively high numismatic value.
2. 1945-S Dime Variety
There are two sizes of "S" mint marks on the 1945-S Mercury dimes. There is a normal size mint mark and a smaller size mint mark that collectors refer to as a "micro S". The smaller mint mark is less common and has a greater numismatic value than the normal size mint mark.
This isn't it is it?
-Jarrett Roberts
No Those are Not them but You are on the Way To Giving Collectors a Lesson on Merc Dimes.
Keep Trying. If No One Comes up with Something I Will Give a Clue Tomorrow.
Ken
2) 1917,1918
3) 1918
4) Cut mark at upper front of wing, Relief revised, Working Die Hubbing
You have 2 out of the 3 Correct.
The #3 Question is a Little more Obscure and Tougher to Answer.
I will Give this a Few more Hours and then Post a Clue.
Ken
Hope the Picture is Big enough for You to See.
Ken
The Far Right row of Feathers (The Big Ones) on the 16 Dime Look at the Bottom 3 and see how they Protrude Straight Back. Now Look at the 17 and 18 Dimes and See how they Come back and Sweep slightly Upward. That Upward Sweep is what was Changed in 1917. Minor But quite Visiable if You are Looking for it. In 1917 You Can Find Both the Style of 1916 and 1917.
Now Compare the 1917 and 1918 Dimes. What you want to look at is the Second Row of Feathers in from the Right Hand Side. See on the 17 how the Feathers have the Up Sweep and Not real Good Definition between them. Look at the 18 and the Same Feathers Come Straight Back and with Much Better Definition. From 1918 on that is how the Feathers will look on a Merc if the Strike is Strong.
These are VERY minor Changes but the Mint Deemed them Necessary. Sure Hope You Can See them now. I will see if I can Find a Better Example in My Stuff.
Ken
Bill
From the Way I worded the #3 Question all You Have to Do is Give Me the First Two Answers and a Correct Guess on the Thrid Question. This Person Will Get the Coins !!!
Whoever Gives Me the Reason for Question #3 Gets the Slabbed Merc.
GUESS AWAY and Remember Your Post Must Have All 3 Correct Answers.
One of the Coins will be a 1864 2 Cent Piece with about 90 Degree Rotation on the Reverse.
Ken
ugh the others im lost :-/ ill keep lookin tho
You are on the Right Track. The Date You Gave is Wrong But the Change has Something to do with the Master Hub.
It Cannot Be the Date as they are Punched in Each Year.
Ken
You Are Going to Know this Series Inside Out Before You are Done with this !!!
OK. Big Clue Here. What I am Looking for Happened to the Reverse of the Coin. Its Hard to Spot if You Are Not Looking for It or if You Do Not Know What is Missing.
Keep Trying the Coins will Be Worth Your Time I Believe.
Ken
You WIN the Assortment of Coins But Not the Slabbed One. Your Persitance has Amazed Me and Obviously You Have Been Researching the Mercury Series. My hope is that You Might Start Collecting them as they are a Beautiful Coin.
Attached is a Picture of the Reverse of a 1920 and 1937 Merc Dime. Notice Directly to the Right of the Middle Band where the Branches come under the Faces. On the 1920 there is Much More Detail and the Branches are Connected to the Faces. On the 1937 Dime the Branches are Lacking Detail and Are Not Connected. Beginning in 1926 the Detail of the Branches was Missing due to Some Damage to the Master Hub.
The Answer to Question #3 is 1926 and the Answer to the Extra Credit Question is "Damage to the Master Hub"
I will Give You One More Chance at the Slabbed Dime. Here's the Question. Is there any Such thing as a Rotated Reverse in the Mercury Series. If so Why ? If not Why ?
Think About this and Get Back to Me Tomorrow with Your Answer and Address so I may send Your Coins to You. Thanks for Playing.
Ken
I Tricked You Again !! For Most Coins You are Correct but in the Mercury Dimes the Bottom Die is the Obverse with the Reverse being the Hammer Die. So this Actually Makes a Rotated Reverse Impossible. What Rotates on the Merc's is the Obverse. You Will Get the Slabbed Dime.
All of these Obscure Facts Can Be found in The Complete Guide To Mercury Dimes authored by David Lange which is a Must Have Book for Mercury Dime Collectors.
Thanks for Playing. PM Me with Your Address and I Will Ship the Stuff to You.
Thanks Much: Ken
Wow...Thanks alot for the coins. I received them today.
It was a great giveaway.
Bill
-Blackhawk
You Are Welcome. Glad You Enjoyed the Give Away and the Coins You received.
Will do it Again at a Later Date.
Take Care: Ken