The so-called Mercury dime isn't.

[delta]

Below is a link to a very well-researched and wonderfully entertaining essay about the background and history of the so-called Mercury dime:

 

please read this

 

 

One thing missing from this terrific piece is that the same design is planned for the possibly forthcoming American Palladium Eagle, if its production is recommended by a market study group, a study group about which nothing has been made public, as far as I know.

[123cents]

Great article. Thanks!

[KeyMan64]

I have read bits of that before but that was very thorough, a good read.

[RWB]

Sorry - but the article is full of mistakes.

 

If members will buy or borrow a copy of Renaissance of American Coinage 1916-1921 you will be able to identify: 1) the numerous errors in the article, and 2) the full story of what happened as researched from original documents.

[KeyMan64]

Sorry - but the article is full of mistakes.

 

If members will buy or borrow a copy of Renaissance of American Coinage 1916-1921 you will be able to identify: 1) the numerous errors in the article, and 2) the full story of what happened as researched from original documents.

Sad that a Krause publication would publish such an article with that many errors.

[RWB]

PS: The Roman fasces on the dime's reverse had nothing to do with Mussolini’s Fascists, and no influence whatever on the change in design in 1946.

 

The truth is that director Ross had hoped to replace the half and the dime with new designs in 1941 but could not due to the war. One of the coins (not specified in her personal papers) was to have Ben Franklin on it based on Sinnock’s Franklin medal.

 

Many of the article’s newspaper source “facts” are accurate quotes and factual errors, and simply spread ignorance and misinformation to collectors.

 

[Buffalo Head]

To me, they'll always be Mercury dimes. It's just the way it is....Joe

[RWB]

The "Mercury" dime nickname was given to the coin early and stuck...it's certainly more mouth-friendly than "Winged Liberty Head" dime. One newspaper tried to tag it the "Golfer" dime because the fasces resembled a golf bag and clubs.

 

I found nothing in Weinman's personal papers stating he objected or endorsed "Mercury" dime. Coin designs were far down the list of sculptor's interests.

[WoodenJefferson]

 

 

WOW...I did this way back in 2007 http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=102444&Number=1825454#Post1825454