Mike Q. writes: I’ve found a 1939 Mercury Dime but the mint mark is on the front next to the neck. I am confused as according to this site the mint mark is supposed to be on the back. Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions.
The “W” to the right of Ms. Liberty’s neck is the initial of the coin’s designer, Adolph Alexander Weinman. The mint mark on a Mercury dime always appears near the rim at about 6:30 on the reverse. Philadelphia Mint issues have no mint mark.
This confusion about mint marks and the designer’s initials is common to many other U.S. coins, particularly when the designer’s initials are large or in a conspicuous position. The Saint Gaudens $20 gold piece is a perfect example: the stylized ASG (for Augustus Saint Gaudens) sits right below the date. The mint mark (if any) is just above the date.
See: Mint Marks
