DIMES may be worth much more than their original 10-cent value.
Errors, key dates, mintage and other factors typically determine how rare and valuable the coin is.
For example, a 1916 dime sold from Heritage Auction for $195,500 due to its low mintage - 264,000.
It was more than just the small number of dimes produced, however.
The coin was particularly rare due to its high grade, MS67 Full Bands.
The Full Bands here are key as bands on a Mercury Dime are found within the fasces design element.
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The fasces is a bundle of sticks and an axe wrapped within vines of olive leaves on the reverse - a symbol of power.
Binding all these elements together are the bands, which are shown as three sets of twin belts, according to Professional Coin Grading Services.
The Full Bands is only found on Mercury Dimes where the middle set of bands shows a complete split in the middle.
This rare detail reveals how sharp the strike is, which on many Mercury Dimes is scarce.
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HISTORY OF MERCURY DIMES
The Mercury dimes were minted from 1916-1945 and made up of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
Instead of their five-cent value, these Mercury dimes were worth 10 cents.
Designed by Adolph Weinman, these are commonly referred to as the Winged Liberty Head Dime.
The obverse features an image of Liberty looking to the left with her hair covered by a winged cap, hence the nickname.
After 1945, the Treasury ordered a new design featuring recently the deceased President Franklin Roosevelt.
DETERMINING COIN VALUES
Coin experts determine a coin's value based on a variety of factors.
This includes mintage, errors, demand, age, design, certification, and condition.
More importantly, coins are graded on a rigid scale - which is what collectors will pay big bucks for.
There are five main components when it comes to a grading scale including strike, surface preservation, luster, coloration, and eye appeal.
Coins are assigned a whole number between 1 and 70, with the highest figure being close to perfect.
VALUABLE COINS
Pennies can also be high in value, especially if its a double-die error.
Arguably the most famous one of them all is known as the 1955 double die piece.
In average condition, the 1955 double die penny is worth $1,318, according to USA Coin Book.
The value could surpass $17,000 if in an MS 63 grade.
One buyer recently paid more than $2,000 for a circulated 1955 piece in a high grade.
Plus, a certified Buffalo Nickel sold online for $1,776 due to a rare error as the buffalo on the coin only has three legs when it should have four.
While the mintage is unknown, the error element makes it fairly rare.
It is worth $721 in average condition and up to $5,842 in uncirculated grades.
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A penny sold for $18,000 all because of one small error on the date.
Plus, if your dime is what's known as a "proof", you may be $4,800 richer.
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