The price for a circulated 1944 dime is around $ 1.50, close to the price of the silver it is made from. The value of the coins, of course, can significantly differ as there is collector interest in these particular coins.
The 1944 dime can reach a far higher value at an auction due to the interest mentioned above from collectors. There are certain things you need to consider if you want to sell a 1944 dime.
For instance, there are three locations in which the coins were minted. Depending on which mint the coin came from, the price might vary. The minting locations are Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.
One of the reasons you might want to consider the location of the mint is that the number of coins produced in each location is different. This can have an impact on the value of the coin.
The main factor determining a coin’s value is how well preserved it is. So uncirculated coins are usually valued higher than those that have been in circulation for years.
Furthermore, uncirculated coins are graded into different categories depending on their condition. Although these coins have not been in circulation, they can still have marks and scratches that can lower their value.
The lack of marks and abrasions is significant for coins considered for the “Full Bands” designation. Further information about what the designation means and how the evaluation process of the coins occurs is described below.
The value of a 1944 dime can vary between $1.50 and $25,300 . This is the price range you can expect for the 1944 Mercury dime. There are exceptions, and the value can be higher for well-preserved coins.
There are also cases in which the price of the 1944 dime can vastly exceed these parameters, depending on the coin and its demand. This article discusses a couple of occasions where the value has been far higher than the range mentioned.
The History of a 1944 Dime
There are more than 340 million 1944 dimes minted in three locations. The majority of coins were minted in Philadelphia, a large part of the dimes were minted in Denver, and 49 million were minted in San Francisco.
Unlike Denver and San Francisco, the Philadelphia mint does not have a mint mark. The San Francisco mint has a small “s”, whereas Denver has a small “d” in the design, signifying the location of the mint.
The beautiful 1944 dime, designed by Adolph Weinman, was set to replace the long-running Barber design. The Mercury dime features Lady Liberty wearing a winged cap on the obverse.
Right next to the year of minting, there is a little “a,w”, the initial of Adolph Weinman. The large quantity of Mercury dimes minted in 1944 and the presence of small details in the coin’s design makes it harder to mint.
There was a decrease in the strike quality of dimes in 1944, and coins with well-carved details are very rare. It is common for the Mercury dime to be 90% silver and 10% copper, and the 1944 coin is no exception.
The 1944 Mercury dime’s large number of mints is related to the wartime economy. The coins minted in this period were in more significant quantity to inject money into the economy.
This can be one of the reasons for the lower quality of the strike. As the quantity of coins produced is large, and if the production was rushed, mistakes and problems with the minting are inevitable.
There are various minting issues, from a missing year of minting to minting letters being inverted. Usually, these types of mistakes make coins more valuable; however, due to a large number of errors with these coins, this might not be the case.
Also Read: Barber Dime Value Chart (Most Valuable Sold For $1,997,500!)
1944 Mercury Dime Quality
As mentioned, there are a few factors that are important to the quality of the coins produced. The minting of these coins is of lower strike quality compared to other coins from that period.
Considering the problems in the minting, there might be more coins that have errors. Furthermore, coins that have been in circulation are more likely to lack design definition.
There are, of course, coins that have been preserved in mint state, meaning that they have never been in circulation. Even more importantly, for this collection, there are rare coins that have all the design details.
The uncirculated coins with no significant marks or scratches from storage can be considered for a “ Full Bands” designation.
Full Bands on 1944 Dime
The coins from the 1944 dime collection are a weaker quality strike, which means that there are not as many coins that have a full separation of the bands holding the wooden rods in the fasces. The coins that have this quality are considered Full band.
For a coin from this collection to receive a “Full Band” designation, the coin can not have any abrasions or nicks that disrupt the bands. This designation can only be given by third-party grading companies, and only uncirculated coins can be considered.
As the designation for “Full Bands” is given by third-party companies, collectors have to send in their coins for evaluation. The evaluation, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the coin submitted will be awarded this designation.
Only uncirculated coins can be considered for this designation because this is one of the first details of the coin that loses its characteristics in circulation. These details are tiny in the circulation process, so they are easily damaged.
Coins that have the “Full Bands” designation can make a 1944 dime far more valuable, considering the fact that the strike quality of this collection is lower. Therefore, coins with such designation would be quite rare and potentially expensive depending on collectors’ interests.
Value of the 1944 Mercury Silver Dime
The value of the coins mostly depends on their quality and rarity. As this collection is quite large, the value of circulated coins is lower. Uncirculated coins usually get a higher price mark, and coins with rare features like the “Full Band” designation mentioned earlier are most sought after by collectors.
Generally, the price of a circulated coin from the 1944 dime collection goes for roughly the price of the silver it is made from, which is around $1.50.
| Quality | 1944 | 1944 S | 1944 D |
| Good | $2.3 | $2.3 | $2.3 |
| Very good | $2.3 to 2.4 | $2.3 to $2.4 | $2.3 to 2.40 |
| Fine | $2.8 | $2.8 | $2.8 |
| Very fine | $3.4 to $3.8 | $3.8 to $3.4 | $3.4 to $3.8 |
| Extra fine | $4.3 | $4.3 | $4.3 |
| About uncirculated | $4.5 to $6.5 | $4.5 to $6.5 | $4.5 to $6.5 |
| MS 60 | $8 to $10 | $8 to $10 | $8 to $10 |
| MS 61 | $8 to $10 | $8 to $10 | $8 to $10 |
| MS 62 | $8 to $11 | $8 to $11 | $8 to $11 |
| MS 63 | $9.5 to $12 | $13.5 to $16.2 | $12 to $15 |
| MS 64 | $17.5 to $21 | $21.6 to $25 | $17.5 to $21 |
| MS 65 | $23 to $30 | $27 to $33.7 | $23 to $30 |
( Information provided by Greysheet)
MS66 and MS67
Dimes from the 1944 collection in mint state 66 are valued roughly the same as the Philadelphia and Denver mints. Their value ranges between $33.75 and $40.
The San Francisco mint, in MS66 condition, is valued higher. This can be justified by the fact that the San Francisco mint is the smallest one in this collection and the price range here is between $40 and $47.
Extraordinary Cases
There are instances in which coins not in the highest grade can still be sold for a significant amount. A 1944 Mercury Dime in MS67 condition has reached between $715 and $878.
A 1944 dime in MS66 condition can also, in rare cases, reach a value of $182 to $218. There are also cases in which a dime from the collection in MS65 condition can reach a value between $81 and $101.
The coin’s value ultimately depends on the interest in the particular year and mint. One of the reasons for the price of these coins may be that the collectors that bought them wanted to complete their collections.
This would explain the difference in value between the grading system presented and the price that the dimes were sold for. These are indeed extraordinary cases, and the grading system and the prices mentioned previously are usually the norm.
Auction Records for 1944 Mercury Dime
Through the years, there have been a couple of instances in which a 1944 dime has been valued highly in an auction. In 2009, a 1944 dime in MS68 condition reached the astounding for this collection $25,300. In 2013 a coin from the same grade, San Francisco mint, reached $11,750.
Furthermore, in 2019 a 1944 Mercury dime from the Denver mint, in condition MS68+ FB, was valued at $5,040. This is a coin that is in pristine condition, something which can explain the higher value.
These, of course, are some instances in which the 1944 dime has sparked interest among collectors. The prices mentioned aren’t reflective of the grading system discussed previously but rather the desire of collectors to own a particular coin.
1944 Mercury Dime Errors
The most common error is a double die on the obverse side of the 1944 dime. This error can be spotted on the mint location letter, most commonly on the Denver mint.
Double die can also be seen on the inscription “in god we trust”. The doubling can be seen as the writing looks larger than the rest of the details on the coin. There are also instances in which the Denver mark is not well defined due to the double die.
Editor’s Note: the values of the 1944 Mercury dime discussed are provided from various sources. This article provides general information about the coins and may not be representative of the value you are offered.
FAQs
What is the 1944 Mercury Dime Made From?
The 1944 dime is made from 90% silver and 10% copper. The silver in the coin is 2.29 grams (0.07234 troy ounces). The coin’s weight is 2.50 grams, with a diameter of 0.7 inches.
How Much Does a 1944 Mercury Dime Go For?
The value of the 1944 dime depends on the quality of the mint and the condition it is in. All dimes exceed their face value due to the fact that they are made from silver, which means that the lowest value of the coin is equivalent to the price of the silver.
What Does “W” on the 1944 Mercury Dime Mean?
The “w” on the is part of the monogram of Adolph A. Weinman (AW). All of the coins from this collection have this monogram as it is part of the coin’s design. The coins that only have the “w” visible do not make them more valuable.
Also Read:
- 1944 Quarter Value Chart (Worth As Much As $16,800)
- 1944 Half Dollar Value Chart (Ms 68 Is Estimated To Cost Up To $42,000)
- 1944 Wheat Penny Value Chart (Identification, Valuation & Buying Guide)
- 1944 Steel Penny Value: Why Is A 1944 Steel Penny Worth So Much (Over $1.11 Million)?
- The Comprehensive Dimes Worth Money List (1894-S 10C Branch Mint PR66 Sold on Jan 7, 2016 For $1,997,500)
Summary
The value of a 1944 Mercury dime depends on a variety of factors. As discussed, the coin’s condition is one of the most critical factors determining its value. Another thing to consider is the interest a coin from this collection can generate.
The “Full Bands” coins can be considered a rarity in this collection as the minting process of the 1944 dime has a visibly lower quality strike, which means that coins with errors and defects are easier to find than ones that are in perfect condition. The “ Full Bands” designation can make a 1944 dime significantly more valuable.
In some cases, coins that are not of the highest quality according to the grading system can still vary valuable. The article mentions some of those instances, proving that one of the driving forces of the price is collector interest.
If you own a 1944 dime and you have decided to sell it, hopefully, the information provided has given you so clarity on the price range of this collection. As well as the potential of the coins from this collection to be far more valuable than the silver they are made of.
