1939 Dime Appraisal

1939 Liberty Head 'Mercury' Dime

This is a 1939 United States ten-cent piece, commonly known as a Winged Liberty Head or 'Mercury' dime. Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, the coin is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, with a standard diameter of 17.9 millimeters and a weight of approximately 2.50 grams. The obverse features a left-facing profile of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with wings, which was intended to symbolize liberty of thought but led to the popular misidentification of the figure as the Roman god Mercury. The word 'LIBERTY' is inscribed around the upper periphery, with 'IN GOD WE TRUST' appearing to the left of the neck and the date '1939' at the bottom. The artist's monogram 'AW' is faintly visible just behind the neck. In terms of condition, the coin displays significant signs of circulation and age. There is noticeable surface oxidation and toning, casting a yellowish-brown or 'gold-colored' patina over the silver base, which is unevenly distributed across the fields and raised relief. The high points of the design, particularly the wing feathers on the cap and the hair above the ear, show moderate wear, though the facial features remain distinct. The rim appears mostly intact with some minor softening from tactile use. No major scratches or deep gouges are immediately apparent in this view, though the overall luster is dull due to the heavy toning. This specimen represents a common date in the series, minted during the late Depression era leading into World War II.