1916-D 10C MS66 Full Bands PCGS. CAC....

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1916-D Mercury Dime, MS66 Full Bands
Remarkably Lustrous and Attractive Example

1916-D 10C MS66 Full Bands PCGS. CAC. Only a handful of 20th century issues have the power to immediately capture the imagination of collectors. Among them are the 1909-S VDB cent, the 1932-D quarter, and certainly the 1916-D Mercury dime. With a mintage of just 264,000 coins, the 1916-D is far and away the lowest-mintage date in the entire series, and in fact it claims the lowest mintage among all dime issues dating back to 1886 when the San Francisco Mint struck a mere 206,524 examples.

As Mint officials prepared for the release of three new designs for the dime, quarter, and half dollar in 1916, the Great War caused a shortage of subsidiary coinage, especially quarter dollars. Earlier in the year, the Philadelphia and San Francisco Mints had struck more than 22 million and 10 million examples of the new Mercury dime design respectively. These quantities were sufficient to satisfy commercial demand, and on November 24 Mint Director von Engelken ordered the Colorado branch mint to cease production of all denominations save the quarter dollar, explaining the low mintage of D-mint dimes. So the mintage and availability of the 1916-D dime was limited to the small number of coins struck prior to the Director's orders.

Although other Mercury dime issues may be scarcer, collector interest in the 1916-D exceeds that of all other dates in the series. Examples are available across virtually all grade levels. Circulated examples are usually available for a price through Extremely Fine condition, About Uncirculated pieces are elusive, and Mint State representatives such as this are scarce. At the MS66 level, fewer than two dozen coins are known. This piece displays remarkable mint luster; frosted in nature rather than the expected satin finish seen on most Denver products. The centers are mostly untoned with rich golden-russet patina surrounding the margins on each side. Housed in a first generation holder. Population: 22 in 66 (2 in 66+) Full Bands, 7 finer (1/15).(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 23GY, PCGS# 4907, Greysheet# 4524)

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight: 2.49 grams
ASW: 0.08oz
Mintage: 264,000

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