Coin Overview
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Denomination: 10 cents (Dime)
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Date: 1916
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Mint: Philadelphia (no mintmark)
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Mintage: 22,180,080
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Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
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Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
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Weight: 2.5 grams
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Diameter: 17.9 mm
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Edge: Reeded
Design Description
Obverse:
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Features Liberty wearing a winged cap, symbolizing freedom of thought.
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The portrait was often mistaken for the Roman god Mercury, hence the nickname “Mercury Dime.”
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Inscriptions: “LIBERTY”, the date (1916), and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Reverse:
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Shows a fasces (a Roman symbol of authority) wrapped in olive branches, representing military preparedness and peace.
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Inscriptions: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, “ONE DIME”, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Historical Significance
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1916 marked a major artistic shift in U.S. coinage. The Barber dime, in circulation since 1892, was replaced with Weinman’s far more stylized and symbolic design.
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The Mercury dime series would run from 1916 to 1945, ending with FDR’s death.
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The Philadelphia issue had the highest mintage of the three 1916 dimes, making it common but still important as the first-year type coin.
Grading: PCGS AG03 (About Good)
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In AG03 condition, the coin is well-circulated, with heavy wear:
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The date is still visible, though weak.
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The outline of Liberty’s head is present but smooth.
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On the reverse, the fasces may be mostly worn flat, but the general shape remains identifiable.
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Despite its condition, it remains an authentic and collectible first-year issue.
Summary
Your 1916 Mercury Dime PCGS AG03 is a heavily circulated but historically important example of the first Mercury dime issued by the U.S. Mint. While not rare in this grade, it remains a key type coin for collectors due to its artistic debut, symbolism, and role in ushering in the modern era of U.S. coin design.
