Numismatic

1916 Barber Dime AU-58 NGC

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The year 1916 marked the final chapter for one of America's most recognizable circulating silver coins, the Barber dime. Designed by Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber, this ten-cent piece represents the culmination of a design era that began in the late nineteenth century. Strikingly preserved in About Uncirculated 58 (AU-58) condition, this particular specimen offers a remarkably clear look at the artistry that defined American pocket change at the dawn of the First World War. On the obverse, a classic depiction of Lady Liberty faces right, wearing a laurel wreath and a Phrygian cap. The word LIBERTY is inscribed upon her band, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date 1916. Because this coin contains no mint mark, it is identified as a product of the Philadelphia Mint, which produced 18,490,000 dimes that year. Each coin was struck with 0.0715 troy ounces of silver. The reverse of the dime features a simple yet elegant wreath of agricultural products, including corn, wheat, maple, and oak leaves, which encloses the denomination ONE DIME. This specimen's high grade means the delicate details of the foliage and the bold lettering remain exceptionally crisp, making it a fascinating piece of early twentieth-century American history to explore.