Mercury Dimes USD
History of the Silver Mercury Dime
Many consider the silver Mercury Dime coin to be the most beautifully crafted of all the dimes coined by the US Mint Department. First issued in 1916, it was not the clearest in meaning or history, however.
The Mercury Dime got its name from the wings attached to the crown of Lady Liberty whose image had graced the 90 percent silver US dime since 1796. The addition of the crowning wings to the head of Lady Liberty was to represent freedom of thought. However, the public saw only the crowning wings of the male God, Mercury, and hence its nickname became the common name we use today.
Meaning was important for design in the early years. The fasces in the design hails from the Roman era. In those days it was a custom for any procession of senatorial scale to host "fasces bearers" which were runners carrying bundles of wood boughs through the streets. This symbolic meaning was to communicate strength, although the fact that they were later used to make light for speeches, was also symbolic in combination with the illumination from the strength of the wood boughs they carried. This was, of course immensely useful. At times these silver dimes were called Winged Liberty Head Dimes. This was also the first time the dime used designs that differed from that year's quarter or half dollar.
Beginning in 1915, change was in the wind for US coinage. The gold ten dollar eagle, the gold twenty dollar double eagle, the one cent and the nickel had now received completely new designs and the majority feeling was that it was time to do this to the silver dime, quarter and half dollars. Under the 1890 coinage law, no changes could be made to any coins without first obtaining permission from congress if they were to happen more frequently than once every 25 years. The Barber coins, i.e.; those designed by US Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber, were the dime, quarter and half dollar. By 1916 the 25 year anniversary would pass and so the US mint began its search for new designs for the dime in 1915.
Current Mint Department Director, Robert Wooley decided to open a competition, which resulted in an offer for the opportunity to make designs to three different designers, for the re-make of three silver coins. The first six coins had been rendered by Charles Barber, the Chief Engraver of the time. Barber was the first engraver, who began his job at the opening of the first US Treasury Department Mintage and had advanced to 75 years old with the reputation of being hostile to outside artists. He viewed mintage coins as "his territory."
Many outside the Mint felt having different American artists designing US coins was a way to honor the independent spirit of the American people. Wooley was nervous that the invitation to three outside artists to re-design Barber's coins would bring down the wrath of Barber onto the artists, making it impossible to work with them to get the engraving completed. History tells us Barber was able to contain himself, perhaps realizing Wooley in his wisdom. At 75, eyes are failing, among other things. Barber stepped aside, and allowed his replacement-in-training, George T. Morgan, designer of the Morgan Dollar, to do all of this related work. It is also possible Barber recognized the beauty in the work, as the designs for these coins were truly remarkable. Regardless of the reasons, Morgan took over the project and in the midst of 1917, Barber died while still in his position, leaving Morgan to become the new Chief Engraver.
Adolf A. Weinmann, Albin Polasek and Herman A. MacNeil were chosen to prepare designs for three silver coins. Adolf Weinmann won the award of two coins for his designs. He became known for his creation of the Walking Liberty, which strides across many silver Half Dollars today. The other, was for his Winged Lady Liberty, created for the new dime. Mac Neil's design landed on the quarter. Polasek, was dropped from the design group altogether. Weinman was an immigrant from Germany, coming to the US at the age of 10, in the year 1880. His teacher was well-known sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Saint-Gaudens is credited with some remarkable coin designs as well. By 1915, at the beginning of this design competition, Weinmann was commonly seen as our nation's most talented and celebrated sculptor.
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Mercury Dimes USD 10
Mercury Dimes USD 20
