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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;NumismaticN00B, post: 1230432, member: 31655&quot;]The year was 1916, and the world was very different from what we are use to today. Wanna know how different? Paris was bombed by German Zeppelins for the first time in World War I. Ya, that different! A lot of things changed that year, but none more importantly to me then the redsign of the American dime. The Barber dime, predecessor to the Mercury dime, had been in use since 1892, and had the same obverse as other American coinage at the time. In 1916 the American public was ready for a change to its, well, change. The US Mint held a public competiton for the redesign of the dime. </p><p><br /></p><p>Many people had entered the contest, even Charles Barber, designer of the Barber dime. On March 3, 1916, history was made when mint director Robert Wolley announced the winner of the contest. The winner was Adolph Weinmen. To help with the design, Adolph received help finishing the design by none other then George Morgan, designer of the Morgan dollar. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Mercury dime was released that year, with over 32 million minted. With the coins first appearence, many people confused the obverse image with Mercury, the greek messenger god. It was actually an image of Lady Liberty, sporting a winged cap. That is where the Mercury dime got its nickname. Its actually called the Winged Liberty dime. People obviously liked the name Mercury dime more, as it has stuck for 95 years. </p><p><br /></p><p>People were curious as to who Mr. Weinmen had used as a model for the beautiful coin. It was widely believed that Elsie Katchel Stevens, the wife of famed poet Wallace Stevens, was the model. She and her husband were tenants of an apartment owned by Weinmen. In 1913, Weinmen had prepared a bust of Mrs. Stevens, with her hair pinned up under a cap. This is believed to be where the design for the Mercury dime came from.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the obverse of the coin, Lady Liberty is featured with her winged hat. The wings represent liberty of thought. The date is below and to the right of Lady Liberty. A little further up and to the right of the date is the initials of the designer, which people believed to be an error when the coin first came out. The coin was horded early on for this reason. The reverse of the coin pictured a roman fasces. The fasces was used in ancient Rome by officials as a symbol of power. The words &quot;E PLURIBUS UNUM&quot; is to the right. When this is translated from latin it reads, &quot;Out of many, one.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>The Mercury dime and others were perfect symbols of America at the time. We were, and still are a powerful nation, one with rich history. Our coins were a symbol of our power. One easy way to educate one about our history is through coins. A little coin research can give one more knowledge then you would think. Part of our history lives in these coins, one being the Mercury dime.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i>EDIT: I was reading through and noticed I mispelled a word wrong so I corrected it. I hope that doesnt mean I&#039;m disqualified</i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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