Ned Ludd Coins » 1937 Dime Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

1937 Dime Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

Have you heard the saying “a dime a dozen”? That is because the dime is one of the smallest coin face values available; it is only worth ten cents. However, the actual worth of the 1937 dime is more than the face value.

While there are many different coin types in the history of U.S. coinage, including memorable designs, the dime stands out in the memory of users and collectors. Popularly known as the Mercury dimes, it features the Liberty head with a winged cap on the obverse and a battle axe bracketed by olive twigs on the reverse.

This article explains the value of the 1937 dime and what you can get for it. This is based on the condition or grade, and the mint mark on the coin.

1937 Dime Details

1937 Dime Details
Image Credit: Coin Community

Are you wondering about the specific details that distinguish the 1937 dime from others? This section breaks down different aspects of the dime, so you can determine what affects the value.

  • Category: Winged Liberty Head Dimes
  • Mint: San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Denver
  • Mintage: 80,751,756
  • Obverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Reverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Metal Composition: 90% Silver, 10% copper
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Silver Weight: 0.07234 troy oz.
  • Weight: 2.5 grams
  • Diameter: 17.91 mm
  • Thickness: 1.95 mm

As mentioned in the introductory part, the 1937 dime has one of the most beautiful and unique designs of all the coins in the country’s history of coin-making. It is not that the Liberty is a strange design or branches have never featured on any other coin.

However, the combination of the Liberty head and the olive branches, and other distinct markers, makes the coin stand out. On the reverse, you will see two olive branches flanking fasces. Fasces refers to wooden rods bound together and may include an axe.

In the case of the coin, the bound rods surround an axe and the axe’s head or blade is slightly revealed on one side. It is symbolic of the jurisdiction and power of a magistrate. The reverse also features the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DIME near the rim. It is on this side that you find the mint marks. On the far right are the words E PLURIBUS UNUM.

On the obverse, the Liberty head is in stark relief and unlike other designs, it wears a winged cap. For some, the wing symbolized freedom. For others, the device bore an uncanny resemblance to the Roman god Mercury, hence its name.

The word LIBERTY appears around the top of the obverse, the mint date is on the shoulder, near the rim to the right, and the words IN GOD WE TRUST is on the left, in front of Liberty’s neck.

Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Worth Money

1937 Dime Value Chart

Below is a chart to show the actual value of the beautiful 1937 dime. The value depends on the condition of the coin and the mint mark it carries.

Mint Mark Good Fine Extremely Fine Uncirculated
1937 No Mint Mark Dime Value $1.51 $1.62 $1.82 $5.41
1937 ‘S’ Dime Value $1.51 $1.62 $2.15 $18
1937 ‘D’ Dime Value $1.51 $1.62 $1.82 $16

The value of the dime depends on the collector’s choice and how neatly the coin wears. It also depends on the mint mark and the details on the coin. For example, some 1937 dimes show signs of wear that change the mostly silver color to slightly copper.

This color change, typically appearing in patches, transforms the look of the coin. For some collectors, this color patch is valuable; they price it higher than a coin that is mostly silver. The value increases if there is a discernible mint mark.

There are also 1937-proof dimes, which are coins struck on special planchets using special dies. These coins are unique and more valuable because the dies used on them are treated with chemicals so they can produce sharp images and details.

The luster of proof coins is also better than other coins. The Philadelphia mint strikes proof coins, so they do not have any mint marks. They are typically few, so they are rare and sought by collectors. For this reason, they are usually highly valuable; one may fetch as high as $1,000.

Mint Marks

The 1937 dime presents the mint mark on the reverse. The coins struck in Philadelphia typically have no mint mark because that is the main mint in the United States. That mint also strikes many more coins than other mints each coinage year.

Because of the number of coins minted in Philadelphia, they are usually Abundant on the rarity scale. Consequently, they attract less value than other coins with mint marks, which are fewer in number. The value chart above shows that no mint-mark Philly coins are less valuable than others.

However, for coins with a mint mark, look to the reverse for the mark. It will be a D or an S, ensconced at the base of the olive branch on the left. It fits between the E in ONE and the base of that branch. The mark is usually small and can be easily missed.

Coin Condition

One of the first things you notice with any coin is its condition. Before inspecting distinct markers or errors, you can tell whether or not the coin is too worn out or still in fine condition. This is called a coin condition or grade, and there are four main types for the 1937 dime or any other coin.

A coin can be in uncirculated or mint state+ condition. The coin is clean and shows no damage, at least not significantly. In some cases, there may be color oxidation without affecting any other part of the coin. The color change only increases the coin value instead of reducing it.

Extremely fine coins are also valuable because they are close in condition and look like uncirculated coins. While they may have some signs of damage or wear, their condition is good enough to make a collector pay good money for them, especially if there is a visible mint mark.

The value typically drops if the coin is in fine condition. Such coins have circulated a lot and have lost most of their shine. Also, there are no details in sharp relief, which reduces the beauty and attraction. The same is true if the grade of the coins is good, except that they have even fewer defined details than the former coins. So, they are less valuable.

1937 Dime Value and Varieties Guides

Knowing the details of each coin type will help you get the best price from graders, buyers, and collectors. The following is a guide to show the value and varieties of the 1937 dime based on the mint mark.

1937 No Mint Mark Dime Value

1937 No Mint Mark Dime Value
Image Credit: eBay
  • Type: Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dimes
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: None
  • Minting Location: Philadelphia
  • Year of minting: 1937
  • Face value: Ten cents
  • $ Price: $1 to $5 (or more)
  • Quantity produced: 56,865,756
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • % Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
  • Mass: 2. 5 grams
  • Diameter: 17.91 mm (0.705 inches)

The Philadelphia mint quite a number of the 1937 dime, minting almost 80% of the entire sum for that year. This number accounts for the mint’s value on the rarity scale, which is Abundant. And because it is readily available, the Philly mint is not in high demand and does not attract great value.

The coin has no mint mark, which is also an important factor in determining value. However, it is not always the case that the Philly coin’s value is almost the same as its weight in silver. Sometimes, a buyer may notice an error that significantly raises its value. Besides, the more coins you have to sell, the more money they get for you.

1937 ‘D’ Dime Value

1937 ‘D’ Dime Value

  • Type: Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dimes
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: D
  • Minting Location: Denver
  • Year of minting: 1937
  • Face value: Ten cents
  • $ Price: $1 to $16 (or more)
  • Quantity produced: 14,146,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • % Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
  • Mass: 2. 5 grams
  • Diameter: 17.91 mm (0.705 inches)

The D mint mark on the coin represents the minting branch, which is Denver. Considering the people who were to use the dime, the mintage from Denver is low. The mintage of the dime for 1937 is low, compared to other years and the purpose for it.

Fortunately, the low mintage has affected the value over time because the 1937-D dime is not commonly found. Therefore, it is much sought-after, significantly impacting its value. Apart from the mint mark and the condition of the coin, it is the same as the Philly coins in weight, composition, and design.

1937 ‘S’ Dime Value

1937 ‘S’ Dime Value

  • Type: Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dimes
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: S
  • Minting Location: San Francisco
  • Year of minting: 1937
  • Face value: Ten cents
  • $ Price: $1 to $18 (or more)
  • Quantity produced: 9,740,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • % Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
  • Mass: 2. 5 grams
  • Diameter: 17.91 mm (0.705 inches)

The 1937-S dime is the most valuable on our list because of the mint mark and mintage. It has the lowest mintage of all the coins, so it is rarely seen. The low number draws attention to it and makes collectors pay more if they can find it.

The mint mark represents the mint branch, which is San Francisco. In mint state or uncirculated condition, the coin can get about $40, but it depends on the buyer and if there are other seller options. A collector looking to complete a particular set may be willing to pay more for such a coin.

Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money

History of the 1937 Dime

The dime began its journey in 1916, but it was not the first dime to be struck. A law in the country stated that coinage could be changed or redesigned after it had been in circulation for at least 25 years without getting approval from Congress.

So, after the half dollar, quarter, and dime had been in circulation for 25 years in 1916, the U.S. Treasury, which also controlled the Mint, decided to replace the Barber coins, as they are called, so named after the Mint engraver, Charles Barber.

However, officials in the U.S. Mint were worried that the designs might be more than they could handle. Therefore, they opted to get a great design by carrying out a contest. Adolph Weinman’s design came out tops for the dime and half dollar.

The dime came out beautifully, although certain aspects were modified to accommodate vending machines. Manufacturers complained about the difficulty of getting the new dime to fit and work in their machines. Apart from that, the coin was well-received and used for a few decades until 1945.

By then, it had been in use for more than 25 years, so the Treasury changed its design to feature Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died that same year. Nevertheless, a gold Mercury dime was minted in 2016 for the hundredth-year celebration.

Only a few of the Mercury dimes are still in mint state or uncirculated condition. Such coins are in the possession of collectors, so some of those on sale are in fairly fine or extremely fine condition. Most are in good or fine condition.

1937 Dime Grading

Grading a coin is pretty straightforward if you know what to do. The physical condition of a coin is used for its grading, and the worse off a coin is, the lower on the grading scale it goes.

You can use the four categories already discussed in this article to determine the grade, but they are further divided within each category using numbers. For example, an MS 65 1937-S dime is of a lower grade than an MS 68 1937-S dime, although the difference may not be immediately obvious.

Here is a video showing how to grade your 1937 Mercury dimes.

List of 1937 Dime Errors

List of 1937 Dime Errors

There are hardly any notable mint errors in the 1937 dime, but some people have noticed easy-to-miss marks on the coin that may make it worth much more than the face value.

A doubled die error may occur on the date or the designer’s initials. The die may strike the coin planchet more than once, seemingly in the same position, but the result would show that the angles are slightly different, not exact.

This produces a thicker and more flawed date or initial, replicating two or three times. The error may also be seen on the mint mark if the coin has one. Apart from this error, there is no other known error on the dime minted in 1937, which is a remarkable feat, although the mintage is low.

1937 Dime FAQs

Which Mercury dime is rare?

Several Mercury dimes are rare, consequently causing their value to skyrocket. The rarest dimes include the 1921 and 1921-D dimes, 1926-S dime, 1931-D dime, 1925-D, 1942 over 41-D, and 1942 over 41 dimes.

Where is the mint mark on a 1937 Mercury dime?

The mint mark is on the reverse, at the left lower corner of that side. It is at the base of the olive branch, ensconced between the base and the E at the end of ONE. The mint mark is small and easy to miss, but knowing its location helps with identification.

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