1916-D Mercury Dime Value & Price Guide (2026)

Coins

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Only 264,000 were made. That's it. The Denver Mint struck barely a quarter-million Mercury dimes in 1916 - the first year of the series - while Philadelphia cranked out 22 million and San Francisco produced 10 million. That tiny Denver mintage created the most famous key date in all of U.S. silver coinage. A worn example is worth over $1,000. A gem? Over $30,000.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1916-D Mercury Dime (Winged Liberty)
Year	1916
Category	Coins - U.S. Silver Dimes
Composition	90% silver, 10% copper
Weight	2.5 grams
Diameter	17.9mm
Mint	Denver (D)
Mintage	264,000
Condition Range
Good (G-4)	~$1,248
Very Good (VG-8)	~$1,883
Fine (F-12)	~$3,090
Very Fine (VF-20)	~$4,948
Extremely Fine (EF-40)	~$7,339
About Uncirculated (AU-50)	~$9,980
Uncirculated (MS-60)	~$15,257
Gem (MS-65)	~$32,662
Record Sale	$364,250 (MS-68 Full Bands, Heritage Auctions)
Rarity	Very Rare

The Story

In 1916, the U.S. Mint introduced one of the most beautiful coins ever designed. Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman created the Mercury dime - though it doesn't actually depict Mercury. The figure on the obverse is Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, symbolizing freedom of thought. People saw wings and thought "Mercury," and the nickname stuck forever.

The design was part of a broader artistic overhaul of American coinage that started under President Theodore Roosevelt, who wanted U.S. coins to rival the beauty of ancient Greek money. Weinman delivered. The obverse features Liberty in profile with the winged cap, surrounded by "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST." The reverse shows a fasces - a Roman symbol of authority - wrapped with an olive branch representing peace.

Denver received dies late in 1916 and only managed to produce 264,000 dimes before the year ended. That accident of timing created a numismatic legend. Philadelphia struck 22.18 million. San Francisco produced 10.45 million. Denver's output was a rounding error by comparison.

The 1916-D Mercury dime became the ultimate key date for one of America's most collected coin series. The series ran from 1916 through 1945, and every collector assembling a complete set needs this coin. Demand has never let up.

How to Identify It

Key Features

Obverse: Liberty facing left wearing a winged cap. Date "1916" at the bottom.
Reverse: Fasces (bundle of rods with an axe) wrapped with an olive branch. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE DIME" around the rim.
Mint mark: Small "D" on the reverse, to the left of the fasces at the bottom.

The Mint Mark Is Everything

Without the "D," you have a 1916 Philadelphia or 1916-S dime - nice coins, but worth a fraction of the Denver issue. The mint mark location is on the reverse, near the bottom left of the fasces.

The "D" is small. On worn coins, it can be faint. Use a magnifying glass. Make sure you're seeing a genuine D - not a scratch, not a blob of corrosion, and definitely not an added mint mark.

Common Confusions

1916 Philadelphia (no mint mark): 22.18 million minted. Worth $5–$15 in circulated grades.
1916-S: 10.45 million minted. Worth $5–$20 in circulated grades.
Added "D" mint marks: The most common fraud. Someone adds a D to a 1916 Philadelphia dime. Under magnification, look for tool marks, incorrect placement, or a D that doesn't match the style of genuine Denver coins.
Altered 1946-D: The "4" in the date gets reshaped to look like a "1." Check for inconsistent digit style.

Value by Condition

Grade	What It Looks Like	Value
G-4 (Good)	Heavy wear, date readable, rim intact	~$1,248
VG-8 (Very Good)	Major features visible, some wing detail	~$1,883
F-12 (Fine)	Moderate wear, some feather detail on wings	~$3,090
VF-20 (Very Fine)	Light wear on high points, clear wing detail	~$4,948
EF-40 (Extremely Fine)	Slight wear on hair and wings, strong details	~$7,339
AU-50 (About Uncirculated)	Trace wear, most luster present	~$9,980
MS-60 (Mint State)	No wear, may have marks	~$15,257
MS-65 (Gem)	Strong luster, sharp strike, minimal marks	~$32,662
MS-65 FB (Full Bands)	Gem with fully separated horizontal bands on fasces	$40,000 – $50,000

Full Bands Premium

"Full Bands" (FB) refers to the horizontal bands on the fasces on the reverse. On well-struck coins, these bands are fully separated and distinct. Many 1916-D dimes are weakly struck, making Full Bands designation rare and highly sought after. An MS-65 FB commands a significant premium over a standard MS-65.

Why Prices Climb So Steeply

The value difference between grades is dramatic because surviving examples in higher grades are extremely scarce. Most 1916-D dimes circulated heavily - they were dimes, used for buying things. Finding one in uncirculated condition means it was set aside almost immediately, which rarely happened with a coin that looked just like every other dime.

Authentication & Fakes

The 1916-D Mercury dime is heavily counterfeited. At $1,000+ even in the lowest grades, the incentive for fraud is high.

Most Common Fakes

Added mint marks. A genuine 1916 Philadelphia dime (worth $5–$15) gets a "D" tooled, glued, or soldered onto the reverse. This is the #1 fake.

How to spot it: Under 10x magnification, the added D will often show:

Tool marks around the mint mark
Different depth or style compared to a genuine D
Slightly wrong position relative to the fasces

Altered dates. A 1946-D dime with the first digit altered. Check for a "4" that looks slightly different from reference examples.

Cast counterfeits. Poor reproductions with mushy details and incorrect weight. The coin should weigh exactly 2.5 grams.

Professional Grading

Mandatory for this coin. A PCGS or NGC slab adds thousands of dollars in buyer confidence. No serious collector buys a raw 1916-D Mercury dime. The grading fee ($30–$65) returns itself many times over in the selling price.

Where to Sell

Circulated Examples ($1,200 – $10,000)

Heritage Auctions - Best venue for key-date Mercury dimes
Stack's Bowers - Strong for classic U.S. silver
eBay - Solid results for certified coins with good photos

Uncirculated Examples ($15,000+)

Heritage Auctions - Handles most record-setting Mercury dime sales
Stack's Bowers - Excellent track record for high-grade examples
Legend Rare Coin Auctions - Specializes in high-end coins

Get it graded first. Always. A certified 1916-D sells for significantly more than a raw example at any grade level.

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Common Questions

How much is a 1916-D Mercury dime worth?

In Good condition, about $1,248. In Fine condition, about $3,090. Uncirculated examples start around $15,257 and Gem (MS-65) examples are worth about $32,662. Top-grade specimens with Full Bands designation have sold for over $300,000.

How can I tell if my Mercury dime is a 1916-D?

Check the date (1916) and the mint mark - a small "D" on the reverse, near the bottom left of the fasces. Use a magnifying glass. If there's no mint mark, it's a Philadelphia issue worth much less.

Why is the 1916-D Mercury dime so valuable?

Tiny mintage. Denver only struck 264,000 in 1916 - the first year of the series. Philadelphia made 22 million. Every Mercury dime collector needs the 1916-D, and there aren't nearly enough to go around.

What does "Full Bands" mean on a Mercury dime?

It refers to the horizontal bands on the fasces (reverse). On sharply struck coins, these bands are fully separated and distinct. The "FB" designation from grading services adds a premium because many Mercury dimes are weakly struck in this area.

Are there many fake 1916-D Mercury dimes?

Yes. The most common fraud is adding a "D" mint mark to a genuine 1916 Philadelphia dime. Always examine the mint mark under magnification and insist on PCGS or NGC certification for any purchase.