Lot 1714
1916-D Mercury Dime. PCGS graded MS-64 Full Bands. Well struck with nice light gold toning on the obverse. Popular key date to this series. Always in demand. Pop 109; 29 in 65 FB; 16 in 66 FB; 6 in 67 FB. A satiny beauty. Smooth, rolling luster with splashes of rich golden brown toning mingle on the satiny gem surfaces. Devices on most 1916 dimes are sharp with the exception of the S-mint coins, and on this handsome Denver rarity they were struck with energy and full vigor by the dies imparting all design elements boldly. Only 264,000 minted, the lowest mintage in the Mercury dime series.
The obverse of Adolph A. Weinman's dime of 1916 to 1945 centers on the left-facing profile bust of a young woman whom we know to be the allegorical Liberty. She has waved hair framing her face, and this is held in place by a close fitting cap. The folded over top of the cap reveals that it is not so tight fitting as first appearance suggests. Liberty is further festooned with a pair of wings, only one of which is visible. Arranged in an arc is the legend LIBERTY.
The coin's reverse displays a fasces, the ancient symbol of power and authority carried by Roman magistrates. The fasces was a wooden handled ax sheathed in a bundle of wood or iron rods. The rods were held fastened together by a leather thong wound around them both horizontally and diagonally. Above the rods protruded the ax head.
Balancing the forces of war and peace, the fasces as depicted on the dime is entwined with an olive branch. In large letters is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and the denomination ONE DIME below (PCGS # 4907) .
Estimated Value $17,000 - 20,000.
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| Realized $23,863 |
