The Mercury dime interestingly does not depict the Roman messenger god, despite the common misconception. The obverse figure is a depiction of the mythological goddess Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, a classic symbol of liberty and freedom, with its wings intended to symbolize freedom of thought, thus making the correct name of the coin the Winged Liberty Dime.

The Mercury Dime was designed by the noted American sculptor Adolph A. Weinman.  The Mercury Dime is considered by many to be one of, if not the, most beautiful American coin designs ever produced.  Certainly the most attractive dime design.  The composition, which was 90 percent silver, 10 percent copper, and 17.9 mm diameter of the Mercury dime was unchanged from the Barber dime.

Adolph Weinman, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, won a 1915 competition against two other artists for the design job, and is thought to have modeled his version of Liberty on Elsie Kachel Stevens, wife of noted poet Wallace Stevens. The reverse design, a fasces juxtaposed with an olive branch, was intended to symbolize America’s readiness for war, combined with its desire for peace.