The 1916-D Mercury (or Winged Liberty Head) dime is a notable American rarity, the key date of its series, and a pillar of the “Renaissance of American Coinage.” When Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Coin Resource Center launched, it included many major rarities and naturally, the 1916-D Mercury dime was included.
The Denver Mint struck 264,000 Mercury dimes in 1916, a small mintage accounted for, per the CRC narrative, by that facility’s acceptance of a large order for quarters (a denomination in high demand at that time), which resulted in the suspension of production of other denominations early in the year. The CRC listing’s narrative touches on the small mintage and the date’s collectability.
Forgers often add mintmarks to 1916 Mercury dimes (a far more common date) to capitalize on the date’s rarity, so collectors should be very careful when buying their example.
Like other CRC entries, those for the Winged Liberty Head (or Mercury) dime are broken down by finish – Circulation Strike and Proof – and date. The overall series listing includes a history and a helpful illustrated definition of Full Split Bands, an important diagnostic for determining strike quality that can confer a premium. Like other CRC listings, the entry for the 1916-D dime includes a link to recent auction appearances.
