One of the reasons that mercury dimes, which are better known as mercury head dimes, are so sought after and well known is because they are known to be one of the most beautiful coins in the history of the United States of America. The reasoning for the name is because the face that graces one side of this dime looks as though it where a portrait of Mercury, the Roman mythological god. However, in all actuality the portrait was of Lady Liberty wearing a winged cap so that it could stand for freedom of thought. This is why the name that used to be more commonly used for this coin was, winged head liberty dime.
This coin was made and used from years 1916-1945 and it is the design hat replaced the well known barber design that has been used from 1892-1915 or so. The side of the coin that is not graced with the image of Lady Liberty in a winged hat has an olive branch that is curling up a Roman fasces. A fasces is a tied bundle of sticks with an axe at its center.
This dime caught the eyes of many and many even found it to be very entrancing. There are some of the mercury head dimes that are rarer then others but this is mostly because of small changes in the image. These are very rare when found and are able to sell for a great deal depending on the mistake made in the coin or the change of the image. While most think of this dine as one that stands for the roman god mercury the true meaning has a great deal more to do with the freedom of knowledge throughout the United States of America and Lady Liberty being able to provide such.