1917 Dime Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?

This old coin is everything to coin enthusiasts, and it’s quite a popular coin.

It was first minted in the early 20^th century, meaning even if you end up finding a piece, it might be damaged already.

The beauty about the 1917 mercury dimes is finding it in mint condition, as they’ll sell for a premium price.

Let’s delve deeper into the value of the 1917 mercury dime, and its error coins.

1917 Dime Details

Upon first look, you can tell a 1917 mercury dime that has been well preserved, from its appealing luster to its finely detailed strikes. This attractive coin is rare and is worth a lot when kept in a premium state.

The 1917 dime falls under the Mercury Dimes category, and it was designed by Adolph Weinman and has a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. So, regardless of its condition, it’ll always be worth more than its face value, and that’s due to its silver content – although, it’s illegal to melt it for its silver.

The 1917 dime has a total weight of 2.5 grams and a diameter of 17.9mm

1917 Dime Value Chart

Mint	Good	Fine	Very Fine	Uncirculated
1917 No Mint Mark Dime Value	$4.15	$4.75	$7.57	$36
1917 – D Dime Value	$6.60	$14	$25	$167
1917 – S Dime Value	$4.14	$5.39	$8.83	$69

1917 No Mint Mark Dime

The 1917 dime has a face value of $0.01, and in Philadelphia, a total of 55,230,000 were minted. On average, this value of this coin is valued at approximately $25. But in finer condition, you can sell it at a higher price. Due to its silver content, the least you can sell this coin for is $1.83, as that’s the current melt value of silver. So, if you have a badly damaged 1917 coin, it’s valued at more than $0.01.

The 1917 – P dime has no mint mark, as with all coins minted in Philadelphia. As with all old coins, their value is tied to their grades.

For instance, a 1917 – P dime graded MS67+ with a full band is worth $7,000, and maybe a little more. Dimes that are classified as “Full Band” have fine and vivid details; with just one glance, you can spot the middle split in the middle band that connects the fasces and olive branches. So, coins that are “Full Band” are more valuable, and even better if they are graded MS70.

In grade MS60, the value of this coin is just about $50, and in MS66+ it’s worth between $600 – $800.

1917 – D Dime

A total of 9,402,000 mercury dimes were minted in the Denver mint facility in 1917. They are all identified by their “D” mint mark on the reverse side of the coin. These variants were minted in the smallest quantity, making it the rarest version of the 1917 dime.

In mint state, the 1917 – D mercury dime is valued between $1000 to $7000. Depending on the grade of your 1917 – D mercury, you might get a much higher price for it.

A 1917 – D mercury dime graded full band MS67 is currently valued at $31,000, and this price is subject to increase.

The 1917 – D dime is 90% silver and 10% copper, but in an averagely circulated state, it’s worth just $3 – but that’s still more than ten times its face value.

However, not so many of these coins are still in circulation, because they are old coins. To get one, coin collectors spend hundreds of dollars, and that’s due to their rarity.

At an auction a 1917 – D dime graded MS67+ was sold for $30,550.

1917 – S Dime

In San Francisco, 27,330,000 mercury dimes were minted in 1917. These dimes all have the “S” mint mark, and because they were produced in over 27 million instances, it’s not a rare coin to find.  The San Francisco mint had the highest mintage of dimes before 1941, and this is why it’s still in circulation to date. But this variant is quite rare and you might spend more buying it than you would the variants minted in Philadelphia.

Depending on the condition, the worth of the 1917 – S dime is between $5 to $30. However, in premium grades like full band MS69 and above, it’s worth over $10,000.

It’s very hard to find the 1917 – S dime in the mint state because it has been widely distributed and circulated.

A 1917 – S dime-graded MS was bought at an auction for $12,075. For a full-band MS67, you can price it at $7,500 or more. But in average circulation, the 1917 – S dime is worth between $1.5 to $75.

History Of The 1917 Dime

In 1916, the Mercury dimes were designed by Adolph Weinman, and his design was used until 1945.

The story of the 1917 dime design is an interesting one, because of the confusion created by the design.

According to the public, the observe side of the Mercury Dime depicted the image of the male Roman God Mercury, and till this day, most people are still confused as to what it is, hence the name “Mercury Dime”.  However, Adolph made it clear that the image on the observe side of the Mercury Dime was a Winged Liberty head. But his explanations fell on deaf ears, as collectors were still interested in collecting the Mercury Dime for its beautiful design.

The general public implied that the image used for the Lady Liberty was that of Elsie Stevens, a woman for who designed a sculpture for her husband in 1913.

Whereas, some coin collectors believed that Adolph designed the Mercury Dime in honor of the soldiers of Baltimore.

On the reverse side of the 1917 Mercury dime, there’s the image of a fasces with a wrapped olive branch using three twin bands, which symbolizes unity and a stronger nation.

The value of the mercury dime is tied to its silver value, the higher the value of silver, the higher its worth.

1917 Dime Grading

Same with other coins, the grading of the 1917 mercury dime is categorized into grades like Good, Fine, Very Fine, Uncirculated, and Brilliant Uncirculated. There’s also the category of full-band. Mercury dimes that are graded as a full band have higher value, and it’s mostly in mint state.

The color of a mercury dime is important, as with other copper coins that are graded based on their surface color. But this grading scheme is peculiar to reputable grading companies like PCGS.

Knowing how to properly grade a 1917 mercury dime is essential especially if you have one in your possession. Yes, you might need to have it appraised by a reputable numismatic, but it’s always helpful if you have even a vague knowledge of how to grade your 1917 dime.

To learn more about the grading scale of the 1917 dimes, watch the video below.

Rare 1917 Dime Error Lists

The 1917 mercury dime is valuable itself, so if you find an error coin, it’ll have significant value.

But you should know that not all the 1917 mercury dimes with errors are valuable, as some errors are pretty common. Also, any error or mistake that happens to a coin after the minting process doesn’t qualify as an error. Errors are only valuable when they happen during the minting process.

The 1917 Dime has some interesting errors, let’s take a look at a few;

1. 1917 Mercury Dime with Missed Center Error

A 1917 dime with the off-center error usually has some of its details missing, but not important details like dates or mintmarks. This error happened to only a handful of the 1917 dime, making it a prized addition to any coin dealer.

As always, the value of a dime with this error is based on the degree of the off-centering, and the condition of the coin.

At auctions, 1917 dimes in a premium state with a dramatic off-center error will sell for about $300. One of these error coins graded AU58, was bought for $485.

2. 1917 Mercury Dime Clip Error

The double clip error happens when the metal strip used in the production of the coin is punched twice before being struck by the dies. This causes the coin to have a missing part of its circumference.

The 1917 dime with the double clip error is rare, and when this error combines with other errors like the broad strike error, the value becomes higher.

A 1917 – P dime with the clip and broad strike error that was sold for $230.

1917 Dime FAQs

1. Why Is The 1917 Mercury Dime Special?

The 1917 mercury dime is special because of its rarity and beauty. Plus, it’s also intriguing because the portrait on the observe side of the coin is usually confused for the Roman God Mercury. And the fact it was also minted in the World War 1 increases its historical significance.

2. What’s The Total Mintage Of The 1917 Dime?

A total of 91,962,000 mercury dimes were minted in 1917, from the three U.S. mint facilities – Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

3. How Can I Tell If I Have A Valuable 1917 Dime?

The value of your 1917 dime depends on several factors like the rarity and condition. If it’s an error coin, it has more value and that’s because it’s rare. However, to get the actual value of your 1917 dime, you should take it to a professional coin dealer to give you a real estimate of its worth.

4. Where Can I Buy The 1917 Mercury Dime?

You can buy a 1917 dime at coin shows, online auctions, and coin dealers. But, seeing the 1917 dime at auctions will be a rare case, because the coin itself is a hard find.

5. What’s The Composition Of The 1917 Mercury Dime?

The 1917 mercury dime is made of 90% silver and 10% copper, hence its desirability and high value.

6. Why Is The 1917 Mercury Time Popular Among Collectors?

This dime is popular among coin collectors for a variety of reasons, its beauty included. Many collectors love having the 1917 dime in their collection as an appreciation of the fact that it was minted during a period of turmoil and change in American history.

7. How Do I Clean My 1917 Mercury Dime?

It’s not advised to clean your 1917 dime especially when it still has its shiny surface. Cleaning any coin can drastically reduce its value, as you might accidentally wipe off the important details. If you must, use a soft damp cloth, and glide over the coin very gently – as though it’s glass.

8. What’s The Best Way To Store A 1917 Dime?

When storing your 1917 dime to preserve its value, ensure it’s in a cool and dry environment. And you can even put it in a protective holder or coin album for better protection.

Conclusion

The majority of 1917 mercury dimes still existing are in bad condition, and lack their initial details and design.

The interest in the 1917 dime is quite a high one, and the focus is mainly on the variants minted in Denver, as they are more valuable than their counterparts.

When in a preserved state, these dimes are attractive, and they are sold at only premium prices. Coin collectors are always in competition with themselves to have the highest grade of the 1917 dime. So, if you by any chance find one in your stash of old coins, do well to preserve it, as it’s a rare gem.