1945 Mercury Dime Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1945 Mercury Dime is a late-war silver issue struck at three mints. Guide estimates for ordinary circulated-to-uncirculated pieces run from about $5.73 in G4 to $41 in MS65, depending on mint.
The real action starts when you look at the Micro S variety or coins with fully separated fasces bands, which can push values higher.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1945 Mercury Dime
Snap a clear photo of both the front and back of your 1945 dime and upload them to our identification tool. That gives you a preliminary read on which mint version you have and whether anything looks unusual.
It is not a substitute for professional authentication, but it is a solid first step before digging deeper.
1945 Mercury Dime Value
Upload both sides of your 1945 Mercury Dime.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1945 Mercury Dime Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1945-S Micro S variety lists at about $6.62 in G4 and $126 in MS65, well above the normal S-mint coin at the same grades.
- Philadelphia Full Bands examples are considered scarce for the date; Full Bands is a strike designation that can add substantial premiums above standard mint-state prices.
- Mint-state coins with original surfaces across all three mints carry premiums over circulated examples, with guide values reaching $36 to $41 at MS65 depending on mint.
- Several error types have been reported for 1945 dimes, including doubled die obverse and inverted S mintmark, each valued individually based on condition and visibility.
Step 1: Identify Your 1945 Mercury Dime Mint Mark and Version
Three mints produced 1945 Mercury Dimes: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Philadelphia coins carry no mintmark at all.
Denver and San Francisco pieces show a small D or S on the lower-left reverse, just beside the word ONE.
Do not confuse the AW monogram on the obverse near Liberty's neck with a mintmark. Those are Adolph Weinman's designer initials, not a West Point mark.
All 1945 dimes are struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weigh about 2.5 grams, and measure 17.9 mm with a reeded edge. There were no proof Mercury Dimes made in 1945; proofs ended in 1942.
San Francisco produced two distinct mintmark sizes this year: the normal S and the much smaller Micro S. The Micro S is a genuine variety, not a missing mintmark, and it commands a meaningful premium.
Compare any S-mint coin against a known normal S at the same magnification before drawing conclusions.
Step 2: Check Your 1945 Mercury Dime Grade
Start by checking the hair detail above and in front of Liberty's ear on the obverse. In lower grades, that area flattens first, then the wing and cap lose definition.
On the reverse, the horizontal bands on the fasces and the diagonal ax bands show progressive wear.
Luster and contact marks matter in mint-state territory. A coin can look sharp but still show bag marks or cleaning that knock value down.
Weak bands or soft peripheral legends are not always signs of circulation; they can result from a soft strike, especially on branch-mint issues from Denver and San Francisco.
Full Bands is a separate designation applied to coins where the central bands on the fasces show complete separation. It is a strike characteristic, not a grade or an error.
Different grading services may apply slightly different criteria, so use the comparison image alongside your coin under consistent lighting to gauge where yours falls.
Step 3: Check 1945 Mercury Dime Value by Mint and Version
1945 Mercury Dime — No Mint Mark — Silver Circulation
The 1945 Philadelphia dime has no mintmark. Look at the lower-left reverse near ONE: if the space is blank, you have the P issue.
Guide estimates place it around $5.73 in G4 and $41 in MS65.
This mint is the one to watch for Full Bands designation, which is considered scarce for the date. Full Bands coins have fully separated horizontal bands on the reverse fasces and can trade well above the standard MS65 figure.
No separate Full Bands price is provided here, but the premium can be significant when confirmed by a grading service.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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Coin Identifier
G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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Coin Identifier
VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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Coin Identifier
F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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Coin Identifier
VF 25
Coin Identifier
VF 30
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Coin Identifier
VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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Coin Identifier
XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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Coin Identifier
AU 53
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Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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Coin Identifier
MS 61
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Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
Coin Identifier
MS 69
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—
—
MS 70
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1945 Mercury Dime — D — Silver Circulation
Denver coins show a small D on the lower-left reverse next to ONE. Guide estimates run about $5.73 in G4 to $36 in MS65, slightly below the Philadelphia and San Francisco issues at the top grade.
Branch-mint Mercury Dimes from Denver can exhibit softer strikes, so do not automatically assume weak detail means heavy wear. Compare your coin's fasces bands and peripheral legends against the comparison image under good light before settling on a grade.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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Coin Identifier
G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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Coin Identifier
VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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Coin Identifier
F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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Coin Identifier
VF 25
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Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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Coin Identifier
XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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Coin Identifier
AU 53
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Coin Identifier
AU 55
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Coin Identifier
AU 58
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Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
Coin Identifier
MS 69
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—
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MS 70
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—
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1945 Mercury Dime — S — Silver Circulation
The normal San Francisco issue carries a standard-sized S mintmark on the lower-left reverse. Guide estimates are about $5.73 in G4 and $41 in MS65, matching the Philadelphia coin at the upper end.
Before pricing any 1945-S dime, compare the S mintmark to a known Micro S reference at the same scale. If your S looks typical in size, you have the normal version.
Full Bands examples from San Francisco also exist but carry no separately adopted price here.
Coin Value Lookup is a handy starting point when you want to look up values for other dates and denominations in the Mercury Dime series or beyond.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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Coin Identifier
G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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Coin Identifier
VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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Coin Identifier
F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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Coin Identifier
VF 25
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Coin Identifier
VF 30
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Coin Identifier
VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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Coin Identifier
XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
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Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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Coin Identifier
MS 61
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Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
Coin Identifier
MS 69
Coin Identifier
MS 70
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1945 Mercury Dime — S — MicroS
This is the variety to hunt for. The 1945-S Micro S uses a noticeably smaller S mintmark punch than the normal San Francisco issue.
You need to compare the two side by side at matching magnification; the Micro S is genuinely tiny, not just slightly smaller or partially filled.
Guide estimates sit at about $6.62 in G4 and jump to roughly $126 in MS65, making this the highest-valued regular business strike of the year in that top grade. The coin is not a missing mintmark and not an error; it is a distinct variety created when a different-sized punch was used.
A coin with no visible mintmark at all is likely a Philadelphia issue, not a worn Micro S.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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Coin Identifier
G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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Coin Identifier
VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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Coin Identifier
F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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Coin Identifier
VF 25
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Coin Identifier
VF 30
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Coin Identifier
VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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Coin Identifier
XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
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Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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Coin Identifier
MS 61
—
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
Coin Identifier
MS 69
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Coin Identifier
MS 70
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1945 Mercury Dime Error List
1. 1945 Mercury Dime — Wrong Planchet / Off-Metal Strike
A wrong-planchet 1945 dime was struck on a blank intended for a different denomination or possibly a different metal. To check, compare the weight, diameter, and edge of your coin against the standard 2.5 grams, 17.9 mm, and reeded edge.
If one or more of those measurements is clearly off and the design is incomplete or distorted, a wrong planchet is possible.
Be cautious. Plating, corrosion, acid treatment, and deliberate alterations can all make a normal dime look like it was struck on an odd blank.
Condition, the degree of design completeness, and the specific planchet involved all affect value, so no single price range applies. Professional authentication is the right move for any suspected off-metal strike.
2. 1945 Mercury Dime — Off-Center Strike
An off-center 1945 dime shows a displaced design with an unstruck crescent of blank metal along one edge. The date needs to remain visible for the coin to be attributed to 1945, which is a key factor in desirability.
The percentage of off-center displacement matters. A 5% shift is common and not very exciting.
A 10–50% shift with a readable date is where collectors pay attention. Value depends on condition and how dramatic the displacement is.
Do not confuse a clipped planchet, one-sided die misalignment, or post-mint flattening with a genuine off-center strike. A true off-center coin has a consistent blank crescent where the planchet simply was not under the die.
3. 1945 Mercury Dime — Broadstrike
A broadstrike happens when the coin is struck without the normal collar holding the blank in place. The result is outward metal spread: the coin looks wider than usual, the rim is absent or distorted, and the design may appear slightly expanded.
The whole design should still be present on a broadstrike, unlike an off-center coin where part is missing. Check the edge profile; it should lack the normal reeding since no collar confined the blank.
Post-mint flattening from a vice or hammer can mimic a broadstrike, but it usually shows uneven distortion and damage to the surfaces. Condition, eye appeal, and the degree of spread all influence what a broadstrike 1945 dime is worth.
No specific price range is established here.
4. 1945 Mercury Dime — Repunched Mintmark
A repunched mintmark on a 1945 dime shows traces of a second, slightly offset mintmark position underneath or beside the primary D or S. You will see remnants of a separately positioned punch, such as a partial extra serif or a shadow letter.
Inspect the mintmark area under magnification and compare it to a normal example at the same scale. Machine doubling produces a flat, shelf-like effect and is far less valuable.
Die chips or corrosion around the mark can also create misleading extra shapes.
Value depends on the visibility and clarity of the repunching, the overall condition of the coin, and collector demand for the specific variety. No adopted price range applies broadly.
5. 1945 Mercury Dime — Partial Collar Strike
A partial collar strike occurs when the planchet is only partly seated in the collar during striking. One section of the edge shows normal reeding and rim, while the opposite side displays a stepped or finned edge where the metal was not confined.
Compare the edge of your coin all the way around. A normal Mercury Dime has uniform reeding.
A partial collar coin has an obvious transition from normal edge to abnormal edge, sometimes described as a railroad-rim effect.
Do not confuse this with simple rim damage, a dryer-coin flattened edge, or a full broadstrike. The partial collar specifically shows a step or ledge.
Condition and the severity of the misalignment determine value; no standard price range is provided here.
6. 1945 Mercury Dime — Struck-Through Error
A struck-through error shows a localized depression, foreign-object impression, or incomplete design area where something sat between the die and the planchet during striking. On a 1945 dime, this could appear as an indented patch or a blurred section of the design.
Grease fills and retained foreign objects produce different-looking results. Grease fills tend to create smooth, slightly depressed blank spots, while a struck-through object may leave a textured impression.
Keep those descriptions separate when evaluating your coin.
Wear, scratches, cleaning, and ordinary weak strikes can all look vaguely similar. The key difference is that a struck-through area has a distinctly sunken or impressed quality against otherwise normal surrounding surfaces.
Value varies with size, location, and condition.
7. 1945 Mercury Dime — Doubled Die Obverse
A doubled die obverse on the 1945 Philadelphia dime shows consistent separation or notching on obverse design elements such as letters, the date, or portions of Liberty's profile. The doubling results from a misaligned hub impression during die production, so it appears uniform across the affected area.
Look under magnification and compare to a normal 1945 obverse under matching light. True die doubling produces raised, separated outlines, not flat shelves.
Machine doubling, which is far more common and much less valuable, creates a flat, shelf-like displacement usually most visible on high points.
Reflections and worn die contours can also fool you. Condition, visibility of the doubling, and the specific variety all factor into value.
No standard price range applies here.
8. 1945 Mercury Dime — Inverted S Mint Mark
The 1945-S inverted mintmark variety shows an S that was punched upside down into the working die. To identify it, compare the orientation of the S terminals with a properly positioned 1945-S reference coin.
The curves at the top and bottom of the letter will appear reversed relative to normal.
This is not the same as the Micro S variety, which is simply a smaller punch. It is also distinct from a repunched mintmark, where you see traces of a second position.
An inverted S has the entire letter flipped, not doubled or reduced in size.
Machine doubling, die chips, and corrosion near the mintmark can create confusing shapes, so careful side-by-side comparison under magnification is essential. Value depends on condition, clarity, and collector demand for the specific variety.
