1926 Merc Question

[apush]

I bought several years back a 1926 mercury dime. It was at a flea market and I just wanted it for fun. The note that surrounds the white holder states V5 or VG (can't tell). I tried to locate today's value on line, but the mint mark looks like a "w" rather than the "d" or "s" which was all I could locate. Is my dime still worth the $1.00 I paid?
Thanks!
apush

 

[DigginThePast]

apush - Yes the dime is worth at least a dollar due to the silver content alone. VG stands for Very Good as in the grade of condition. The "w" you are talking about is not the mint mark. The mint mark (either D for Denver or S for San Francisco) will be located on the reverse of the coin, to the bottom left of the fasces. Look at the "D" in this pic:

 

[DigginThePast]

Forgot to add. The "w" is actually an entwined a and w that stands for the designer of the coin, Adolf Weinman. If your coin is a 1926-S it is desirable and it will have value over bullion as that issue has a lower mintage.