During his daily TV broadcast, Fox personality Glenn Beck compared the United States to a fascist regime. He then explained that the Roman symbol for fascism (a bundle of sticks, wrapped in rope, with an ax attached) could be found on the mercury dime. Lookups for "mercury dime" quickly surged into the stratosphere.
The American coin is no longer in circulation, a fact that no doubt contributed to a huge uptick in searches. Folks were eager to learn more about the dime, when it went it was minted, and when it was discontinued.
According to the Beck broadcast, the dime was first used in 1916 under President Woodrow Wilson. Coinfacts.com explains that the dime ceased being produced in 1945. Also, according to the coin enthusiast site, the controversial symbol blends the Roman fasces with an olive branch. The point: to indicate "America's military readiness but also their desire for peace."
Some folks went beyond coin queries. Lookups for "what is fascism" and "fascism vs. socialism" soared after Beck's broadcast. This post from Ask Yahoo! explains the differences between fascism, communism, and socialism. Fascism "uses a central authority to maintain control, but 'terror and censorship' are common. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was the most famous fascist, a fact "that ought to tell you it's not a very good way to run a country."
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