I bought a coin set from my dealer in it was some quarters,dimes,nickle cents half dollars like someone just put the set together themselves. Anyhow what caught my eye when I was looking at it was the mercury dime. I looked at it for like 10 minutes and all I was trying to figure out was (which 1916 mercury dime was the valueable one) I have been collecting for sometime but I am still studying the mercurys. I asked the dealer if he was firm on his price and he was so I bought it. Not knowing what I just bought I did not think anything of it. A week goes buy and I have that set on my mind so I open up the case and take out the mercury dime curiosity is getting the best of me. I dont have a scope nor a good magnifying glass so I used my printer/scanner and a digital camera. Of all the pictures I tried to get clear shots these are the best I could get. SO.... is this a 1916 D Mercury dime or not? I called my dealer and I am planning on going in there so he can look at this under his scope but before I do I want to make sure I dont look like a fool walking in there, I already left him a message telling him of my find. I dont care about condition because its quite apparent its real worn but confirming it as a 1916 D Mercury will make my day.
I am sorry but the mintmark on a genuine 1916-D Mercury Dime is very prominent even in the lowest grades. I have posted a link to all of the AG or lower 16-D Mercs sold by Heritage. After about 5 or 10, you should realize that what your are seeing on your coin is not a mintmark. The photo below is of a F-2 example which is more worn than your coin yet the top of the mintmark is still plainly visible without a loupe. Heritage Archives for P01-AG3 1916-D Mercury Dimes
I could go either way, but I'm more inclined to say it isn't. Only way to make it matter is to send it in and get it slabbed.
I agree with Paul these are usually pretty prominent even low grade. The thing about such a coin is you have to prove beyond a doubt its a 16d for anyone to wish to pay 16d money for it. There are not foolproof diagnostics for the coin like a 1916 SL quarter that can prove a coin is a rare date even if you can't see it.
Cant say one way or another, w/the pic. I've seen some almost convincing die-chips or planchet imperfections.
Well to be sure. One would put iron fileings on the reverse, then put a stong electro magnet under. If the D is there the iron will show it. Also a Magna-glo test may work. Good luck.
i bought dime in a set from a long time dealer i never had or sen a 1916d mercury before so first knowing about the 'd' being prominent i will take the coin back to where i bought it and they can look under there scope.
The top of an S looks a lot like the top of the D when the coin is AG. Considering they made like 100 times more S's or more, I am guessing S MM. When you hear hoofbeats think of horses, not zebras. You aren't the first one though by a long shot. I have seen literally dozens of "1916d's" in old mercury sets that were worn S's or simply wishful thinking. Let us know though what you can find out.
I'm in the "no" camp. As Paul mentioned above, coins in this grade typically still have a quite-visible mintmark.
You may have found one. I have one that I feel is a "D" that I found back in the late 1950's. In you first picture, the top appears to look like a "D". As others have said, send it in, and see if the so called others, can prove it out with what they have to see all better. If it proves out then the coin worth several $$$$. Nice find. I have a complete set of Mers, except for the double die ones. I feel that the 1916d I think is the real one, but I will not send it in.
