During World War II, the Mercury Silver Dime was one of Americas most important coins. Struck in 90% silver and featuring a stirring image representing liberty, it was a coin with considerable spending power: the price of a loaf of bread or a copy of Life magazine, or two bottle of Coca-Cola or two calls from a public payphone. These coins were struck during the World War II years, from 1941 when the U.S. declared war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor to 1945 when the war ended with the German and Japanese surrenders. The obverse of the coin features Liberty wearing a winged cap to represent freedom of thought, but the public thought it showed Mercury, the Roman messenger of the gods who wore wings on his sandals to represent the speed with which he delivered messages; as a result, it became known as the Mercury Dime! The reverse shows a Roman fasces (an ax within a group of rods) and an olive branch to symbolize the power of the government to enforce security as well as to pursue peace. Most Mercury Silver Dimes were worn out in circulation or were melted for their precious silver leaving few coins for todays collectors.