Small But Not Forgotten

THE UNITED States Mint has been pounding out an absolute torrent of coins in recent years, including a wide variety of commemoratives and several sets of bullion coins, beyond all the circulating coinage. The quarters receive plenty of attention, as their reverse designs are changing constantly, and cents and nickels make it in the news because their production costs have risen to distressingly high levels. In the midst of all that, we also have plenty of dimes that are issued each year. Yet they seem to be somewhat forgotten.

Curiously, if we ask about dimes among collectors, plenty of folks will have something rather kind to say about the Mercury dimes. They seem to have found a special spot in collectors’ hearts as beautiful pieces, and as the last series that is entirely made of 90 percent silver coins. Perhaps because