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Thread Title: Help with 1916-D Mercury dime
Created On Wednesday September 29, 2004 7:28 PM

dcarr
Collector

Posts: 2116
Joined: Jan 2002

Wednesday September 29, 2004 7:28 PM

I will, most likely, have the opportunity to purchase a small coin collection that has a couple key-day coins in it (1916-D dime, 1909-S VDB cent). I've never owned either coin before, and I've never really studied the '16-D dime. Can anyone point me to an on-line reference or pictures that show the genuine mint mark style and placement ? As I understand it, there are 4 dies (4 mint mark placements ?). I seem to remember something about genuine coins having a "triangular" shaped opening in the D. Is that true for all four dies ? Where might I find a good picture of the "trangle" ? The D on this coin looked a little odd to me, but I didn't see any obvious signs of tampering under 16x magnification.

Also, are there any diagnostics that I should look for on the 1909-S VDB ? I'll probably need to make a "yes" or "no" decision on buying the collection tomorrow.

Thanks for any assistance.

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Coin Designs by DC

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coinbuf
Expert Collector

Posts: 3305
Joined: Sep 2002

Wednesday September 29, 2004 7:39 PM

If you have the PCGS guide to counterfit detection it shows the correct placement and style.

Chris

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My Lincoln Registry
My Signature Set

Posts: 2116
Joined: Jan 2002

Wednesday September 29, 2004 8:43 PM

<< If you have the PCGS guide to counterfit detection it shows the correct placement and style.

Chris >>

Thanks, I should get that book.

But,
I looked in an old pile of papers I had and found some old articles from the "Numismatist" magazine. I found an article with pictures of all four mint marks on the '16-D. I'll take that article with me when I go look at the coins again.

I also found pictures of the 1909-S VDB. I remember the coin I looked at had strong die erosion lines running through the mint mark area, and it matches the picture of a genuine coin exactly, as pictured in another Numismatist article.

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gregormendel
Master Collector

Posts: 8008
Joined: Aug 2004

Wednesday September 29, 2004 8:51 PM

Try this article. (has pix)

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Member SSOF

Posts: 2116
Joined: Jan 2002

Wednesday September 29, 2004 10:29 PM

<< Try this article. (has pix) >>

Thanks,
That article only shows fakes and not any of the four genuine dies, but it was still helpful.

I think they got the captions switched on the two pictures.

The coin I looked at, as I rememer, looked suspiciously like the top photo in that article.

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dorkkarl
Choose Your Title

Posts: 13748
Joined: May 2002

Thursday September 30, 2004 4:30 AM

the interior of the d mintmark has a distinctive look. once you've seen what it's supposed to look like, you won't forget. suggest you find some real coins to study, & compare to the 1 you're buying..

K S

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"When you have two competing theories which make exactly the same prediction, the one that is simpler is more likely the correct one" - Occam's (or Ockham's) Razor (named for William of Ockham, a 14th century logician and Franciscan friar - slightly modified by dorkkarl)

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UncleJoe
Expert Collector

Posts: 3067
Joined: Mar 2002

Thursday September 30, 2004 5:01 AM

IMO this is an excellent reason why you purchase a coin such as a 16-D Merc in a PCGS holder.

A little bit of knowledge can be harmful. How long will it take for you to become expert enough to really know if you have bought a counterfeit or not? For such a coin I would suggest that you not take the chance. No upside IMO purchasing it on your own. But by purchasing it in a PCGS slab you have the backing and guarantee from PCGS.

Joe.

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cosmicdebris
Ruler Of Britannia

Posts: 46870
Joined: Apr 2001

Thursday September 30, 2004 8:25 AM

How's this one?

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Bill

dorkkarl
Choose Your Title

Posts: 13748
Joined: May 2002

Thursday September 30, 2004 10:03 AM

BOGUS!

K S

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"When you have two competing theories which make exactly the same prediction, the one that is simpler is more likely the correct one" - Occam's (or Ockham's) Razor (named for William of Ockham, a 14th century logician and Franciscan friar - slightly modified by dorkkarl)

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