This has probably been asked and answered I just didn't find it. With the montage of the 1916D being so low and obviously noticeably low as it was a new coin design why isn't there more high grade examples out there? I just looked at the population at PCGS and AG3 and G4 out numbers all other grades combined and fewer than 60 in MS60 or above. It just seems that since it was only 10 cents more people would have saved them as opposed to Morgans and gold in high grades found today. (Yes the Gov. had Morgans stock piled I understand that). I'm just curious thanks
1916 was the middle of WWI and people were more concerned with contributing to the war effort. Also IIRC they were released unceremoniously into circulation and the dime was a staple of the average person's everyday spending money. That might have been someone's hourly wage.
I do believe other factors played in as well such as that mintmarks were less important at that time (many 1916 dated Mercs were saved/survived), and the great majority of the population was east coast. I suspect the lower mintage coupled with western life at that time also had much to do with what we see today.
also, at the time that was not a very low mintage. Check the mintages of the 1913, 1914, & 1915 barber half dollars. Sure more money, then check the mintage of the 1913 S barber quarter.
