Having been founded more than 200 years ago, the US Mint has had plenty of time to make a name for itself both at home and abroad. Nowadays, the Mint is held in high regard by most every numismatist thanks to the many beautiful pieces it has and continues to produce. The Mercury Dime is just one of many attractive pieces put forth by the US Mint, and though it was produced many years ago, the Dime is still a prize for most every collector.
The problem is, as more collectors attempt to get their hands on these coins, fewer of them remain for the taking. On top of that, those coins that are available for purchase are often in poor condition. Being that no one wants to add a poorly-preserved piece to their collection, collectors will search high and low for the coin that is suitable to their liking.
Collectors come in many shapes and sizes, but a universal fact is that all of them prefer their coins to be in the best possible condition. You will find that collectors, before buying a particular coin, will carefully analyze every aspect of it to ensure that they are getting their hands on an excellent piece.
Normally, someone who would like to have the condition of a coin judged would send the piece away for grading. Realistically, however, not everyone has the funds and time to send their coins away for grading, so we have provided below a bit of an outline that will hopefully better describe what kind of characteristics coins of specific grades will have.
Uncirculated: A Mercury Dime that is graded as being Uncirculated is one that never saw any time exchanging hands. These coins appear to be in perfect condition because they were put into safekeeping shortly after the time they were minted. These coins are the most desirable because of their excellent condition, but are also some of the most expensive for that same exact reason.
Extremely Fine: A coin that is given this grade is one that was circulated for only a very short period of time. Though some light wear and tear may be able to be noticed under close inspection, these coins appear to have been well-preserved. All of the notable imagery and raised aspects of the coin are intact, giving the coin particular appeal to collectors.
Fine: A coin that is graded to be Fine has been through plenty of circulation, but did not incur an exorbitant amount of damage during that time. These coins will show some light wear and tear around the raised aspects of the coin, but that wear will be light in nature. Scratching is also common on these coins, but it will also be light more often than not.
Good: This is the grade given to those coins that have been circulated more than any other. These coins will be complete with heavy wear and visible signs of damage. The damage found on the faces of these coins can vary dramatically, but includes anything from scratching, to chipping, and, on occasion, actual bending of the coin.
When it comes to giving the Mercury Dime a price, there are a few things you have to look at. First, the condition of the coin means everything. Naturally, those coins that have been well-preserved over the years will carry a higher price tag than those that have been beaten up. Secondly, because there were 2 to 3 types of Mercury Dimes minted annually, the specific type will also play a major role in determining price. The chart below is aimed at giving you a better idea of what you can expect to pay for a 1937 Mercury Dime given its condition and type.
Mercury Dimes
| DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 Mercury Dime | $2.25 | $3 | $3.525td> | $7 |
| 1937 Mercury Dime (D) | $2.25 | $3 | $4 | $12 |
| 1937 Mercury Dime (S) | $2.25 | $3 | $3.50 | $12 |
| Source: Red Book | ||||