All collectors love collecting coins, and in their large collections, you’re often quite likely to find at least one dime known as the Mercury Dime. Depending on the condition and origin it was in, these coins can be quite valuable and are frequently sought after by different collectors. The 1945 year is the important year when it comes to Mercury Dime as it was the last year when these coins were produced. That, besides the end of the WWII gives it a great value if you find it in fine condition.
If you recently discovered one or a smaller collection of the 1945 dimes, you probably want to evaluate them, rather than throw them away. Many people struggle with understanding different grading systems and the values that different coins may have, which can make evaluating difficult.
The current minimal value for good Mercury dime starts at $1.45 and goes up with the value of other types of the coin. You may get as much as $4-$5 for extremely fine and uncirculated 1945 dime, but if it has some extra perks you may be able to earn even more.
If you’re not near any antique stores or an antique appraiser that can help you identify your 1945 dime and get the right value out of it, rest assured that you can do it on your own. Continue reading this article to learn more about the 1945 dime, its types, states, and everything else that will help you evaluate it.
About the 1945 Dime
As mentioned earlier, the 1945 Dime marked the year when World War II ended, which also finalized its production in the Mercury coin series. It’s worth mentioning that the 1945 dimes were made out of 90% silver alloy, while the remaining 10% of the coin was made out of copper.
People who don’t regularly see or collect coins may struggle to understand the real value of the coins and may be taken by surprise when they see the 1945 dime sitting around because it has an unusual look compared to other coins you may come across.
Nevertheless, a good collector will know how to differentiate between different types of coins and recognize this one’s unique design without a mistake. Many collectors consider the 1945 dime the most beautiful dime made in the history of the United States, or at least one of the most beautiful ones.
It has beautiful front and back designs and plans made by Adolph Weinman in 1915. He was the one chosen to make the coin unique looking and he came out with a great design that was used for decades. The working name of the mercury dime was the Winged Liberty head dime.
The reason the dime is called Mercury dime is not that the metals used in the coins included Mercury, but because the head design’s front bust showed what many believed to be the ancient Roman God, Mercury. Nevertheless, the sculpture on the head of the coin is dedicated to Lady Liberty. Still, the name persisted and is even popular now among collectors.
The obverse side of the coin holds a bust of Lady Liberty. Alongside the design, you’ll find all the necessary information about the coin such as the lettering “In God we trust,” and other manufacturing information.
The reverse of the coin is as stunning as its obverse thanks to Weinman. Weinman designed the reverse with a fasces design that is decorated by the olive branches that surround the background. In addition to that, there are other important details such as the lettering “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and the “United States of America” along with the “One Dime” lettering that follows the rim of the coin.
As mentioned above, 1945 year was the last year during which the Mercury coin was struck. It had quite a long production era which equaled 30 years, which is quite successful for a coin. It was replaced soon after, as in 1946 the Roosevelt dime got completely redesigned and evaluated enough to replace the Mercury dime.
Just in 1945, the Philadelphia mint struck nearly 160 million Mercury dimes. It’s also worth mentioning that three mints produced the 1945 dime, with Philadelphia mint accounting for 62% of the total production of 240, 665 000 pieces.
Is the 1945 Dime Valuable?
The 1945 dime is valuable. According to experts, there is a clear estimation of the 1945 Mercury Dime. If you discover a dime that has an average condition, which is neither perfect nor bad, you’re likely to get $3 a piece. However, if you find an option that is in the mint state, you can get $35 on average.
It’s important to note that some of the coins are found in an exceptionally good state and may have a collector evaluate them for $80 or anywhere around that value.
One of the more important things to consider when being on the hunt for dimes is to consider the full bands when you make a purchase, as well as where they are made as this information alone could improve or decrease the value of the dime.
1945 Dime Value With Value Chart: How Much is a 1945 Mercury Dime Worth?
If you’re looking to sell or collect a 1945 dime, the minimum value that you can find it at is $1.49, which can be quite worthy if you have quite some to sell. Depending on the condition and other factors that make up for its value, the price may go up.
It’s no secret that the mercury dimes are quite frequently collected, so there’s always additional room for bargaining and discussion of higher prices and values. But, don’t forget that the silver is a metal that is prone to tone as is copper, so with time, these coins will start to show some signs of wear and corrosion.
If your coin has suffered from the cruel tooth of time, you can expect to sell it at the minimum value, but you can always hope that you will make more based on other traits that make your coin.
As mentioned earlier, there are a total of three mints that were making the 1945 dime back in the United States – Philadelphia, which was the biggest, Denver, and San Francisco. There are three identifying marks that you need to be aware of when it comes to the identification of the origin of your silver coin.
- San Francisco coins had the S mark
- Denver coins had the D mark
- Philadelphia coins were without an identifying mintmark, so in case you can’t find yours, you can be 100% sure that it’s from Philadelphia mint.
The mintmarks can be found on the reverse of the coin, and usually at the bottom at the rim. Of course, if you have a Philadelphia coin, you won’t find your mintmark there.
| Mint Type | Condition: Good | Condition: Fine | Condition: Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1945 | $1.49 | $1.59 | $1.79 | $4.21 |
| 1945 D | $1.49 | $1.59 | $1.79 | $4.21 |
| 1945 S | $1.49 | $1.59 | $1.79 | $4.21 |
1945 Dime Error Value
Error coins are the coins that were struck through some fault in the mint and have shipped as such. There are different types of errors that may appear on the coins, but the most frequent error regarding the 1945 Mercury dime is the variation from the San Francisco mint that produced 1945 dimes with the small S mint mark.
It wasn’t long before that variation of the coin was named the “1945 Micro S.” The coins with this kind of error are oftentimes worth more to the collectors, who collect both faulty and the original coins. Nevertheless, the condition still matters so most collectors will look after the extremely fine variations of this coin.
The general starting price for the Micro S dime from 1945 is $3.50 for the fine coin. But, if you have a coin of better quality, you can hope to get more $6. Some of the uncirculated Micro S coins can be worth from $30 to $100.
For example this Mercury dime with the “D” lettering from the Denver mint was sold with obverse stuck through for $32. It is an uncirculated coin with MS 65, which makes it quite valuable. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that your error 1945 coin will value this amount. Some coins, despite their errors, were struck under the lucky star and thus much more valuable.
In this video, you can learn more about the error variations of the 1945 dime, which will help you understand the extent of the error your coin has if it has it. You can see that some of the coins with errors were sold for much more than the convenient auctions say they were.
The Grading System of Mercury Dime
Below are the 1945 dime value grades you should consider when getting your coin evaluated. Make sure to have someone help you, you can even consider different forums like Reddit. :
- Good – Most coins are struck in a way to have a luster and feel sharp, those are of the impeccable quality. However, the Good coin has already lost some of its value and traits that give it its impeccable quality. Due to neglect, wear, and tear, these coins have lost all their sharpness and there are scratches all over their surface.
- Fine – Fine coins have been used for a long time and circulating from hand to hand, with not much chance for preservation and proper care. Just like the good coins, they lost their luster and sharpness. Nevertheless, the fine quality is still better than good quality and those who evaluate this coin to be fine will likely be interested in buying it.
- Extremely Fine – Extremely fine, also known as extra fine are among the most popular coins among the collectors who hunt them. Perhaps, they weren’t used that much, and after they stopped producing them in 1946, those who had them wanted to preserve them.
- Uncirculated – If your dime coin is uncirculated, it means that it has the highest grade quality on the grading scale, as they have the quality of a just struck coin from the mint.
Many sites allow you to have a better understanding of how the MS (mint score works.) For example, MS 60 and higher are coins of impeccable quality with each of the diagonal bands that are completely visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you discovered a 1945 dime, you must have some questions regarding their value and grading. Below, we listed most frequently asked questions and the answers to them.
Is Mercury Dime From 1945 Worth Anything?
Yes, but it depends on the condition they are in. The mercury dime with a good grade will start around at $1.45-$1.50. However, if your coin is in extremely fine or even uncirculated state, you may get anywhere from $3 to $5. The dimes have an important value historically, so if your piece is unique in any way, it’s going to be worth more.
Is a 1945 Dime Pure Silver?
Almost pure silver. The 1945 dime is made out of 90% silver while the remaining 10% is copper. Silver alone can be a brittle material and if you want your coin to last longer in circulation, it always needs to have a bit of copper. This makes it a little more prone to toning and corrosion. Nevertheless, if you preserved your dime in mint state, in case you have an uncirculated piece, there won’t be any signs of toning or corrosion.
Where is the Mint Mark on 1945 Dime?
Mercury dimes from 1916 to 1945 have their mint mark on the lower left side of the reverse half of the coin. The reverse of the coin has a bulk of olive branches, and under them there is the lettering “ONE”. Right to that, there’s the mintmark “S” or “D.” Keep in mind that if the coin you own was struck in Philadelphia mint, it won’t have a mint mark.
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