- Year: 1938
- Mint Mark: S
- Type: Mercury Dime
- Price: $3.00-$45.00+
- Face Value: 0.10 USD
- Produced: 8,090,000
- Edge: Reeded
- Silver Content: 90%
- Silver Weight: .0723 oz.
- Melt Value: $2.21
Notes: The 1938 (s) San Fransisco minted Mercury Dimes are the most valuable as far as their collector appeal. They seem to be selling for about $5 more than the d or p minted dimes issued this same year. They are all 90% silver. When buying or selling Mercury Dimes full bands are key.
Mintages
How much is a 1938 S Mercury Dime worth?
In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around $3.00, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $45 at auction. This price does not reference any standard coin grading scale. So when we say Average Circulated, we mean in a similar condition to other coins circulated in 1938, and mint state meaning it is certified MS+ by one of the top coin grading companies. *** [?].
What are your coins really worth?
Use the handy-dandy calculator below to find the real value of any mercury dime in your collection.
Most Valuable
The most valuable Mercury Dime's. Prices listed are for MS-65 certified. Visit the link to learn more about each coin.
| Image | Year | Mint | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1916 | D | $41k |
 |
1919 | D | $25k |
 |
1918 | D | $22k |
 |
1919 | S | $15k |
 |
1924 | S | $12k |
 |
1923 | S | $8k |
 |
1926 | S | $6k |
 |
1918 | S | $6k |
 |
1920 | S | $4k |
 |
1921 | D | $3.9k |
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| Image | Name | Mint | Worth |
Want more? Click here to see the most valuable coins ever minted.
Are 1938 S Mercury Dimes Silver?
Yes! Mercury Dime's produced in 1938 are 90% silver to be precise, and contain .0723 troy oz or 2.248 grams in total of .999 pure silver. Silver weight is measured in troy ounces. Troy ounces weigh about 2 grams more than the standard ounce. CoinTrackers has built a tool that will let you know if your coin is silver or not. The tool is called Is My Coin Silver?.
Numismatic vs Intrinsic Value:
This coin in poor condition is still worth $0.79 more than the intrinsic value from silver content of $2.21, this coin is thus more valuable to a collector than to a silver bug. Coins worth more to a collectors may be a better long term investment. If the metal prices drop you will still have a coin that a numismatic would want to buy.
Want more info? Then read Coin Collecting Investment an article that details the benefits of coin collecting as a way to build wealth. Also learn how to properly store your coins.
Current silver melt value* for a 1921 D Mercury Dime is $2.21 and this price is based off the current silver spot price of $30.51 This value is dynamic so bookmark it and comeback for an up to the minute silver melt value.
***Price subject to standard supply and demand laws, dealer premiums, and other market variations. Prices represent past values fetched at online auctions, estate sales, certified coins being sold by dealers, and user submitted values. While we wholeheartedly try to give honest price estimates there are many factors besides appearance, metal content, and rarity that help make up the coins overall value. Call or visit your local coin dealer for more information.
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