Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 2/8/2021: Gold $1813 | Silver $26.90
Minimum 1916 dime value is $2.37 for a coin in 'good' condition, closely following its silver value. Of added interest to collectors, 1916 is the ending of the old Barber dime series and the introduction of Mercury dimes.
The 1916 (d) Denver Mercury dime was minted in seriously limited conditions! Just 264 thousand. If you happen to find one in a drawer or garage sale, grab that coin and head for the hills, you have just hit the jack pot.:) In addition you could always be generous and contact us, we would be more than happy to buy it for the silver spot,. The 1916-D Mercury Dime is one of the most counterfeited/altered coins on the market. I heard something from a coin dealer, not long ago, regarding the big silver rise of 1979-80. They stated that other melters (themselves included) estimated over 750,000 'full' sets of Mercury Dimes were bought in to be melted. Originality Charts High 1916 Dime Value Rare coin collectors describe the surfaces of this dime as frosty white. Combine mark free surfaces with the original bright luster from the day it was minted and this 1916-D Mercury is a true rare dime.
Each series has its differences in values. And depending on the mint that struck your dime the possibility of a very big change in value.
The Denver mint struck the least amount of dimes in 1916 and minted only the Mercury series, creating a rare dime in great demand by collectors. Today's value of a well worn example is over $700.
The main mint in Philadelphia and the third mint in San Francisco also produced dimes, all combined, Barber and Mercury 1916 dime value has five date and mintmark combinations.
Three mints produced dimes for this year. Starting with the rare Denver mint coin, it is identified by a 'D' mintmark found on the reverse. The San Francisco mint used an 'S' mintmark also located on the reverse, and Philadelphia, the main mint, did not place a mintmark on coins.
- 1916-D dimes typically are well struck, with good luster and only occasional weakness in their central portions. Thus, most certified Mint State pieces have Full Bands (FB), these being the horizontal pair at the center of the fasces.
- The Mercury or Winged Liberty dime (1916-1945) has long stood as an iconic coin in the U.S. The coin’s elegant design draws heavily from the French Beaux Arts movement of the late 19th.
Also moving values up or down is the eye appeal of your coin, is it sharply detailed or very worn? Below are images showing coins representing various stages of wear, helping judge how much your 1916 dime is worth.
| 1916 Dime Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condition of Coin | ||||
| Date | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1916 Dime Value Updated | 2/8/2021 | |||
| Last Year of the Barber Dime | ||||
| 1916 | $3.42 | $3.98 | $20 | $82 |
| 1916 S | $3.42 | $4.87 | $20 | $65 |
| First Year of the Mercury Dime | ||||
| 1916 | $2.37 | $4.86 | $9 | $37 |
| 1916 D | $735 | $1,750 | Rare | Rare |
| 1916 S | $2.37 | $9 | $21 | $38 |
Originality Charts High 1916 Dime Value
Rare coin collectors describe the surfaces of this dime as frosty white. Combine mark free surfaces with the original bright luster from the day it was minted and this 1916-D Mercury is a true rare dime.
It took a hammer price of $26,450 competing against multiple bidders at a David Lawrence Rare Coin Auction to secure a rare addition to an advanced dime collection.
Handled carefully, and protected from the elements allowed this coin to survive to the present in a rarely found pristine condition. Dealers and collectors welcome such a find.
Quality and originality does enhance your 1916 dime value, from the ultra gems to the worn examples in the lower grade.
Higher Condition Leads to Higher 1916 Dime Value
The chart shows the value of a 1916 dime in 'extremely fine' condition is far higher than a coin in 'good' condition. Collectors and dealers are always searching for the best quality, best preserved coins. They judge the condition of each and assign a 'grade.' Comparing your coins to the images finds the accurate condition value on the chart.
Uncirculated: No wear is visible on the surfaces. Mint luster, the radiating shine, is unbroken. These dimes appear as brand new although toning is often present. Rotate your coin under a light, examine the cheek area for breaks in this luster. A Barber or Mercury dime in uncirculated condition is always in demand.
Extremely Fine: Even wear, but very light, is typical of this condition. All of the design details are very distinct. Upon close examination, flatness of once rounded details is evident. Dimes in extremely fine condition stand out as crisp and sharp in appearance.
Fine: Wear is noticeable covering the entire surface, diminishing the minor parts of the design. A blending of hair details on the obverse and a flattening of the design in the leaf details on the reverse. At this stage of wear your old coin still retains a pleasing look.
Good: After many years of use the portraits of each series are reduced to just an outline with little detail remaining. The rim of the Barber dime is distinct, however the rim of the Mercury dime is beginning to merge with the lettering. Worn almost smooth these dimes are at the low end of the 1916 dime value.
Coin Values | CoinStudy Articles
Date by Date
In Depth Mercury Dime Values
1916 to 1945
1916 | 1924 | 1931 | 1940 |
1917 | 1925 | 1934 | 1941 |
1918 | 1926 | 1935 | 1942 |
1919 | 1927 | 1936 | 1943 |
1920 | 1928 | 1937 | 1944 |
1921 | 1929 | 1938 | 1945 |
1923 | 1930 | 1939 |
Values listed for the entire Mercury dime series including more on the 1916 dime value. Rare and valuable dates are scattered through out the series. Additionally, the condition of your old dimes play a key role in value.
One of the most popular and widely collected coins today. Spanning over two hundred years of US dime production and literally hundreds of date and mintmark combinations. Examine closely these small potential treasures.
★Coin Values Discovery... finds 1916 dime value and...
all old US coin values. It is an excellent index with images and text links to coin series, from Cents to Gold. Value charts, plus grading images with descriptions uncover how much your box of old coins is worth.
Rare Dimes!
Awaiting discovery are potentially high value rarities in the US dime series as well as some other possible finds in your box of old coins. Visit... Finding Rare Dimes...
Mercury Dime Overview
The Winged Liberty Head dime, known more commonly as the Mercury dime, had a short-lived mintage but remains one of the most popular coins to collect today.
The Mercury dime was first struck in 1916, when it replaced the Barber dime that had grown increasingly unpopular in its later years. A contest was held to determine the design of the new coin, and it was Adolph Weinmann’s classically-inspired sketches that won.
The obverse of Weinmann’s design features a profile bust portrait of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap. Although not part of Weinmann’s plan, the portrait bears a resemblance to the Roman god Mercury, hence the name “Mercury dime.”
Around the obverse rim is the legend “LIBERTY,” and to Liberty’s left we find the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The year of mintage is situated at the bottom.
The reverse, drawing further inspiration from classical antiquity, centers on a fasces, an Etruscan-Roman symbol consisting of a bundle of sticks with an ax head at the top, overwrought with an olive branch. The fasces represents authority, strength, and unity, while the olive branch represents peace.
The upper rim reads “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and the lower rim has the denomination “ONE DIME.”
The Mercury dime was only minted until 1945, when the sudden death of President Franklin Roosevelt prompted the creation of the Roosevelt dime.
History of the 1916 Mercury Dime
1916 was the first year of production for the Mercury dime, and, as first years often are, it was fraught with setbacks and design difficulties.
It was ultimately October when Mercury dimes began production, so to satisfy demand for dime pieces, dimes wearing the discontinued Barber design had to be struck for the majority of the year until the new dies were ready.
Three mints struck Mercury dimes in their inaugural year: Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver.
Philadelphia stuck the greatest number, coming in at 22,180,080. San Francisco struck 10,450,000. Denver only struck 264,000, ensuring that this issue is scarce and brings a high premium.
The Denver issue, due to its scarcity, has become one of the most widely counterfeited coins ever. Anyone looking to buy or sell a 1916-D Mercury dime should make sure it is authenticated by a professional service like PCGS or NGC.
Things to keep an eye out for on supposed Denver mintages are the shape and alignment of the mint mark, the spacing from the other design elements, and any evidence of tooling or tampering.
The mint mark should have prominent serifs with rounded tips, and the hole inside the “D” should be triangular in shape.
One good way to check the shape, other than comparing pictures, is to look at the 1914-D penny, which uses the exact same mint mark.
Tooling lines will appear as scratches or raised lines that are visible on the field and not visible on design elements. They are the result either of tampering with the coin’s design or of trying to fix false die imperfections, and any coin exhibiting tooling lines should be suspect.
Even experienced collectors can be fooled by fakes, especially if they cannot magnify the coin to get a closer look at the mint mark, so there really is no substitute for a professional authentication service.
Further reading on detecting fakes:
Buy 1916 D Mercury Dime
Valuing the 1916 Mercury Dime
The minimum value for a 1916 Mercury dime will be its melt value, or how much its silver content is intrinsically worth. With the current spot price of silver, the approximate melt value is $1.10. This is not likely to change with the condition.
As for the numismatic value of the coin, the Philadelphia and San Francisco mintages are still reasonably common in most grades, so values are modest outside of Uncirculated grades.
Philadelphia issues are worth $2.87 in Good-4, $4.87 in Very Good-8, $6.02 in Fine-12, $7.14 in Very Fine-20, $12 in Extremely Fine-40, and $25 in About Uncirculated-50. Uncirculated (MS-60) examples are valued at $35, and the value jumps to a nice $122 for Uncirculated (MS-65).
San Francisco issues are a bit more valuable. They are worth $3.36 in Good-4, $5.17 in Very Good-8, $8.27 in Fine-12, $12 in Very Fine-20, $21 in Extremely Fine-40, and $25 in About Uncirculated-50. Uncirculated (MS-60) grades are worth $43, and Uncirculated (MS-65) examples bring $222.
The Denver mintage, due to its rarity, is a very valuable coin, even in lower grades: $1,024 in Good-4, $1,547 in Very Good-8, $2,676 in Fine-12, $4,205 in Very Fine-20, $6,395 in Extremely Fine-40, and $9,485 in About Uncirculated-50.
Uncirculated examples can be very difficult to find and are valued accordingly: $13,517 for Uncirculated (MS-60) and $28,700 for Uncirculated (MS-65).
1916 D Mercury Dime Mintage Number
As a general rule, if the horizontal bands on the reverse fasces show clear, complete dividing lines, that coin is known as a Full Bands or Full Split Bands specimen. A testament to a quality strike, the Full Bands designation can increase the value of your coin.