Completing this Mercury Head Dime collection worth trying?

This is a Mercury Head Dime collection missing 9. The 1916-D is going to be a tough one.

 

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The 16 D has been eluding me for years. and because of the price. Probably will never get filled. Too many fakes to not buy slabbed.

 

Yes, absolutely I my opinion! The joy and challenge of completing the set would be very satisfying.

I'm missing two. The 16 D and the 1942 over 1.

 

Odd to see a book with the 1921 and 1921-d, but missing other dates beyond the 1916-d. Even in worn condition, the 21 and 21-d are worth as much as the rest of the book put together.

I think for this series "everything but the 16-d" is still a worthwhile accomplishment. The 1916-D is a prime example of demand driving price -- it's not at all rare in the scheme of things, but the only way you'll get one is with a fat wallet or great luck (or both). And there are an awful lot of fakes to trap the unwary.

 

Nice. Assuming all but extremely worn are slabbed, would one ever buy a slabbed and take it out for something like this? I'm guessing NO but you never know until experts help out.

 

The auction receipt said "Including 1921/1921-D". Now it makes sense

 

That's a cool set and to get the 21 & 21D without those others surprises me too. You can find circulated pieces to fill all the remaining holes for little over melt except the 26s and 31D and they are cheap enough in this grade. You said it was an auction was it eBay or another site?

 

A local auction 25 years ago for $125 . No sites to choose from back then

 

I had found a 16 D a few years ago at a pawn shop for 750$ Probably g to vg details, first turn off was cleaned and polished, my thoughts was it had the D added and before the polishing was an extra fine. It just didn't look right. I went in the next week and it was gone.

 

These are no better than educated guesses, but PCGS estimates the survival rate thusly: 1921-P, 2000 have survived. 1921-D, 3500 have survived. 1916-D, ten thousand have survived. People knew they were rare, and saved them. There are far more 1916-D's in PCGS slabs are there are all 1921's combined.

For the record, by the same math PCGS figures there are still fifty thousand 1909-S VDB Lincolns extant...

Demand is a wonderful thing.

 

Very interesting, thanks! Makes me ponder the thought of slabbing the 1921s, but not anytime soon.

 

You could slab them for 10 bucks each, plus insurance and shipping with ANACS.

 

some coin folders have an insert in the 1916-D hole that says "rare", as if they know you'll never get it

 

Because nobody wanted to buy albums where the insert more accurately said "expensive".

 

Personally, I would not, but I've given up on series and moved to Type Sets. Do what you enjoy (and can afford).

 

Or, after further thought, perhaps the insert should say -- in tiny print -- "If you can afford this coin, shouldn't you have at least sprung for a Dansco?"

 

Define "worth". If you're asking if the set will be valued higher when completed, chances are great that it will not and is the reason why most sets are broken up upon upon purchase. In this respect, no... it is not. However, if by "worth" you would enjoy the chase of the remaining coins and perhaps upgrading some others, then yes... it certainly is.

 

I like that you have 1921's. save up $$$ for a slabbed PCGS or NGC good grade 1916-D

 

True. 1846-O quarter eagle has 175 survivors. It sells for less than the 16-D and 09-S VDB in circulated grades. The 1846-O is a conditional rarity, but in circulated grades it's little better than bullion. With 175 survivors. Zero on ebay right now.

 

I've never really understood that. The 1916-D and the 1921's should be complementary goods; if you're buying a 1916-D you're probably in the market for the 1921's as well. That's why I can't really understand why the more common 1916-D costs a lot more than the supposedly scarcer 1921's, especially if there's probably roughly the same number of collectors going after them to complete a set.

You're right- demand is a wonderful thing!