Mmm. Toughie. For me, anyway. It's one of those where I can't quite decide if it's a super-slider 58 or MS63-ish. I'll call it AU63 or MS58.
Tough coin to grade, not because of the design - Mercs are easy in general - but because the original look of this particular coin draws one's eyes away from the light wear at high points & in the fields toward the cleanliness of the surfaces . . . especially clean for a lightly circulated coin. A wolf in sheep's clothing, I call this an AU55 in an MS64 holder.
I think what I initially interpreted as wear in the fields is actually just how the field are shaped due to indirect design transfer. MS-63
58 which means it won't be that during the reveal. I've got a 64, 65, and 66+ in hand and this one isn't even close to those. However, all of my examples have no toning. So, since I seem to be tone deaf the grade could be higher.
I’ve been looking for a 1916 mercury for awhile and I wanted something that had an antique, WWI era look as opposed to bright and blazing as I have several later mercs that are flashy. I’ve had an interest in thick original skins on MS coins lately but they are definitely a challenge to photograph. (Heritage’s photo looks even more lifeless than mine though so I’ll give myself a pass on this one? )
I think the reverse was fully struck, but the obverse had well worn dies, and did not strike fully, giving the appearance of wear in the pics. JMO