What is on the back of a dime.

Factual Questions
1

Not the olives, not the oak, I understand them. I’m talking about the torch.

I’ve always assumed that the torch holder was a modified fasces, which was on the predecessor *Mercury dime of 1916-1945. I understand the symbolism of the fasces, but I’m a little more curious about the torch that it evolved into.

We had just come out of “The War,” and Roosevelt had just died (thus prompting the design change). Is the torch some symbol of hope for the future from coming out of The War, or is it an “Eternal Flame” symbol that somehow refers to Roosevelt.

Also, is my assumption about the torch holder as the evolved fasces design accurate. I’d had to think my idea about the fasces was just a load of feces.

*I know, I know.

2

No answers, but these images might be helpful to some:

Roosevelt dime reverse

Mercury dime reverse

3

I’ll try to remember to read one of my more in-depth books at work(coin shop) tomorrow, but I think this is the best the web has to offer;
DIME

They just call it a torch, but, I agree with you, it is obviously a modified fasces.