Numismatic

1916-S Mercury Dime MS-62 NGC (FB)

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In 1916, the United States Mint introduced a new ten-cent design that would become one of the most celebrated in American numismatics. Minted in San Francisco, this 1916-S Mercury Dime is composed of 90 percent silver, containing approximately 0.0723 troy ounces of precious metal. Out of a total mintage of 10,450,000 pieces for this specific year and mint, this particular specimen has survived in remarkable condition, certified by professional graders as Mint State 62 with Full Bands. The obverse of the coin features a young depiction of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap. Although often referred to as the Mercury Dime due to the cap's resemblance to the Roman messenger god, the design was intended to represent freedom of thought. On the reverse, the imagery shifts to a fasces, a bundle of rods bound around an ax, which is closely intertwined with a leafy olive branch. This juxtaposition of symbols represents both readiness for defense and a deep desire for peace. For observers examining this coin, the Full Bands designation is especially notable. This detail indicates that the horizontal bands binding the fasces on the reverse are fully defined and separated, a feature that is difficult to find on these early issues due to the pressure required during the striking process. The letter S is visible on the reverse, denoting its origin at the San Francisco Mint.