NNP Encyclopedia data is provided in cooperation with Whitman Brands, based on catalog data organized by the Greysheet Identification System (GSID).
Entry Details
PCGS Number: 4905 Coin Date: 1916 Denomination (Short): 10c Denomination (Long): 10 Cents Variety: Mercury Desg: MS Composition: 90% silver; 10% copper Mintage: 22,180,080 Strike Type: Business Coinage Type: Winged liberty head (Mercury) dime Coinage Years: 1916-1945 Mint Location: Philadelphia Diameter: 17.9 Fineness: 0.9 Weight (Grams): 2.5 Weight (Ounces): 0.08 Designer: Adolph A. Weinman Edge: Reeded Obverse Description: Winged Liberty, or Mercury (the Roman god of commerce), is depicted facing left with LIBERTY spelled around the periphery. IN GOD WE TRUST appears left of the neck and the date is positioned just below the bust around 5 o'clock. The designer's initials "AW" appear to the right of the neck. Reverse Description: A large torch is centered vertically adorned with an axe head and olive branches. UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN * ONE DIME * is spelled out around the periphery. Mint mark, if any, appears near the bottom rim left of the torch. General Notes: The 1916 Mercury dime is a high-demand coin among both Mercury dime enthusiasts and type collectors, with the latter gravitating toward this issue because it is a first-year coin for the series. This piece is generally found well struck, with the horizontal crossbands on the reverse exhibiting strong, complete strike. While not as available in uncirculated grades as issues from the mid 1930s on, the 1916 Philadelphia Mercury dime is one of the most common pre-1934 issues to be found in Mint State grades and is widely available with Full Bands details. That is in part because so many people saved this first-year Mercury dime issue when it was still new. PCGS #: 4905 NGC ID: 23GX
