Mercury Dime grading trends

jdimmick

I would like to open up some commentary on mercury dimes.

In my pursuit for a middle grade 16-d, which I just recently accuired, I have noticed that the grading of circulated mercury dimes has gotten a little liberal. (PCGS,NGC, ANACS, ICG ) others are not included in discussion.

It has been about 5 years since I really took a hard look at merc's. But what the grading services are grading fine, vf etc. is not what I was accustomed to seeing say 5 years ago.

example: it used to be that a 16-d mercuryor any date in fine would have to have all vertical lines in the fasces visible, not necessarily sharp, but complete. Now, I am seeing coins with no lines visible excempt maybe the outer line barely visible being encapsulated in Fine and even F-15 holders. and to top that off fines are selling near 1400.00 at auctions
jimd

goose3

I believe there was a recent "letter to the editor" in Coinworld stating something very similar to your observations.

wingedliberty

Your are 100% correct.
Consider this: I have four 1916D Merc dimes in my collection. They are certified by PCGS/NGC.
I love every single one of them, but here is the fascinating thing.

1.Two are graded AG3 and G6. One by NGC and the other by PCGS. The two coins look identical!

2. The other two are VG8 and F12, The VG is PCGS and the F12 is NGC, both look identical.


It boils down to this. The grading services have adapted to a commercial marketplace when it
comes to circ. Mercury (or any other series). The ANA standards have been thrown out the window.
My 16D Mercs are in my safe dep.box, I wish I could scan and show you., but you get the idea.



Brian.

SarasotaFrank

I have been working very hard on building a good quality Mercury set. Other than the teens and twenty-one's, I would call of these coins XF or better - on up to MS-65. The original goal was to build a set with at least detectable diagonals. Of course, as very high quaility coins became available to me, I jumped on them and the majority of the 40's coins are now BU+.

I have acquired a nice vf 1921, which was about the best I could do, and continue to search for a 21-D.

I will be inspecting a 16-D on Monday.

Looking forward to it.

wingedliberty

DO NOT!!!!!!! buy a raw 1916D. The quality of the counterfeits is excellent.
Trust someone who learned the hard way as a kid. Nothing short of ANACS, PCGS, or NGC.


Brian.

Fairlaneman

Man if you are having problems figuring the Mid Range Grading try on the MS64 and higher Mess there is.

Ken

wingedliberty

I follow strict ANA standards for circ grading and PCGS standards for 60+ grading.
The grading services are more liberal now on circ. grades. My point is that one should always buy
key dates or expensive circ coins sight seen. You can get a nice PQ coin, especially a 1916D Merc.
Most of my BU mercs are 64+, Uncirculated grading is far easier for me for some reason. Maybe because
I see more of them.


Brian.