The Mercury Dime JACKPOT!

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by The Half Dime, Mar 29, 2024.

  1. The Half Dime

    The Half Dime Arrows!

    So, today I went to the coin shop about 30 miles from where I live, and I naturally started looking through silver coins.

    I have a regular junk silver buyer, so I went to buy some dimes like I usually do. They were $2.01 today, and as I got to looking, I found a Mercury dime from an unbelievable year, which had me quite shocked, honestly. I looked closely at the year, and it's a 1921! I made sure to bring that coin home with me, as it's a good $20-30 coin in AG condition.

    I literally loved the fact that I was able to find this dime in with the junk silver. I also found a nice 1916-S Mercury to go with it, so believe you me, I am a happy camper. While the 1921 dime pictured below is a stock photo (credit to APMEX), it is in roughly the same condition.

    The question is: what are some good deals that you have found at an LCS? Have you been known to hit the jackpot with a key date coin? 1921-mercury-dime-ag_2211_Obv.jpg 1921-mercury-dime-ag_2211_Rev.jpg
     
    ernie11, PamR, eddiespin and 12 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. JoshuaP

    JoshuaP Supporter! Supporter

    While not a key date, I got this 1916 D for $9 a few weeks ago.

    20240307_145339.jpg 20240307_145346.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2024
    ernie11, PamR, eddiespin and 8 others like this.
  4. The Half Dime

    The Half Dime Arrows!

    That's awesome! 1916-D is definitely a better date. The rim ding makes me see why you got it for $9, but from the obverse, it's easily a solid G-4. You did quite a good job on that one. ;)
     
    -jeffB likes this.
  5. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Supporter! Supporter

    I’d be pushing a bid past $20 on that 16 D obv
    $9 is just over spot
     
    -jeffB likes this.
  6. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC

    Got this at the local pawn shop as a generic 1843 a couple weeks ago. :)
    IMG_6892.JPG IMG_6893.JPG
     
  7. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Only been to my LCS once. Got a loitering ticket. lol.gif
     
    Barney McRae and dwhiz like this.
  8. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    Years ago I went to a local pawn/coin shop -- where the owner 'knew everything about coins'

    So, I picked up a Lincoln, 1909 S in F condition

    Today it is in an NGC slab: 1909 S VDB F-12

    It cost me $40
     
    Barney McRae, -jeffB, JoshuaP and 2 others like this.
  9. bsowa1029

    bsowa1029 Franklin Half Addict

    Same exact thing happened to me yesterday!
    I was sifting through the bin of halves that were priced at 19x FV and found this…

    I’m not very familiar with the series but knew that the obverse mint marks have lower mintages. So when I got home I did a little more research and found out about the 1946 DDR and that seems pretty easy to spot with the naked eye. PCGS estimates that only 3,000 of the variety exist, but with such a high mintage for the date there should be plenty to search through in the junk bins. I’m going to have to keep my eye out for that one from now on.

    image.jpg
    image.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2024
  10. The Half Dime

    The Half Dime Arrows!

    Holy crap, I got one quite similar to this yesterday! Differences were that this coin was an 1843 love token, with no remaining mintmark (if applicable). It's also ex-jewelry but it was treated as generic gold, and I got it for $250. How much was this quarter eagle?
     
    Evan Saltis likes this.
  11. The Half Dime

    The Half Dime Arrows!

    WHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaT? He knows nothing about coins if he's selling a 1909-S VDB in F-12 for $40! It'd be more like $750 if he knew what he was doing.

    Man, how I'd love to find a deal like that. Some of my best-selling stuff is junk silver that I make about $2-3/face on.
    I think that coin is honestly quite cool! I wish they would've kept the obverse mintmark, mainly because it could continue such a short-lived thing. I feel like these coin shops don't search through these coins when selling them, which leads to good deals.
    Some people don't search through bulk Mercuries when they have never been through them, which is partially why one of my LCS's have found a few 1916-Ds when they unknowingly bought them at melt.
     
  12. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC

    I paid $579 after Maine sales tax, and sold it less than 12 hours later for $1400.

    I could have gotten more I think, but I wanted it gone. $600 is a lot of money for a small time dealer like me.
     
    Heavymetal likes this.
  13. Jersey magic man

    Jersey magic man Supporter! Supporter

    I received a 1916 Merc in change from the post office a while back. Unfortunately, the reverse was so worn you could not see if there was a mint. It could have been a D but I will never know.
     
    PamR and Heavymetal like this.
  14. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    Agree on the G-04 1916-D half. ($68) The 1921 Merc I make it a AG-03 at worst, Fair-02. Still ($40-$50). Too bad about the jewelry on the 1843 2 1/2 gold.
    I'd love to see the 1909-S VDB in the slab.
    Nice 1917-D as well.
    I haven't been to my buy and sell gold guy in a while, he would let me cherry pick the halves, I was paying a little above spot which was around $9. Pulled out a 1919-S a solid VG, and a Booker T commem. A sparkling AU or better Franklin, and some other junk.
     
    -jeffB and Heavymetal like this.
  15. PamR

    PamR You Never Know! Supporter

    My hubby brought this one home just yesterday. Someone must have had in their change and his worker put in safe.
    IMG_9021.jpeg IMG_9023.jpeg
     
    -jeffB, charley and masterswimmer like this.
  16. Barney McRae

    Barney McRae Well-Known Member

    The only LCS near me (that I would trust) is 35 miles one way. I went there once to ask some questions about a couple of my coins. They were busy AF, it was right before Christmas and when I bought some coin flips and a couple of proof nickels out of the $1 junk jar, I found my place in the pecking order as the woman in front of me was paying for 2 St Gaudens 20 dollar gold pieces. So I slithered away without really exploring the place. :p I may go back during a weekday sometime, but I got spooked. lol
     
    -jeffB and SensibleSal66 like this.
  17. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Yeah, spooky.
    My guy I guess is a shyster, I guess. Not a very honest person. Goes with the type of business it is I guess.
     
  18. Barney McRae

    Barney McRae Well-Known Member

    There are coin places closer to me, but when their ratings on the internet call them shady, condescending, and utter aholes, not sure I even want to darken their door. lol Also, if they sell guns, copper wire, and home appliances, I'm wearing leather gloves when I walk in there.
     
    SensibleSal66 likes this.
  19. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Geez! Where do you live? 8 Mile or something?
     
  20. Barney McRae

    Barney McRae Well-Known Member

    My primary residence is near Jacksonville Beach Florida. There really aren't many decent coin shops around, mostly pawn shops. The only dealer that isn't a fence is a pretty good drive across the river. I hate traffic. So eBay is my LCS.
     
    SensibleSal66 likes this.
  21. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Yea, I guess you have it rough. I used to like Ebay until I joined here and heard all about the unfair practices going on there. Too many fakes and dishonest sellers. JMHO.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page