Do you--or--have you owned a 1916-D Mercury Dime??

keets · February 6, 2011 1:38PM

I'm curious about this and other "Key Date" coins which always seem to be available. They strike me as an enigma-----everyone wants them but they don't seem to stay put anywhere for long. So tell me if you have/or had a 1916-D Mercury Dime and how long you held onto it. Also, without getting into specifics and being as honest as possible did you sell at a loss/gain/break even point?? Thanks.

BTW, I've never owned an example and have never really felt compelled to have one.

Al H.

DennisH · February 6, 2011 1:43PM

Yes I own one.
Bought a raw low grade cheap 3-4 years ago and still haveit. (It graded Fair-02 at PCGS and has a CAC sticker now too.)
I'd wanted one for years and have no plans to get rid of it until I get rid of everything.

MidLifeCrisis · February 6, 2011 1:43PM

I've never owned a 16-D Mercury Dime, but I have owned several 09-S VDB Lincolns, a 14-D Lincoln, a couple of 55 DDO Lincolns, and a couple of 3 Legged Buffalo Nickels. These "key dates" are cool but it's easy to decide to sell when something else comes along that's much more rare because you can tell yourself that you can pick another one up any time you want...you just have to have the money. Of the key dates that I've owned, I still like the 55 DDO Lincoln and 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel more because they are different and intriguing - even to non collectors. I know some collectors don't even consider them as key dates in the series though.

coinbuf · February 6, 2011 1:43PM

Yes I bought one a few yrs ago on the bst for my vf merc set, still have it and have no plans to see in the near future. In that vein of thinking I bought my first '09 s-vdb 1990ish and still have it.

keyman64 · February 6, 2011 1:46PM

Yup! Bought a number of 16-Ds in the G4 to VG8 range years ago when a G4 was between $300-$400....ahhhh, the good ol' days. Still have them!

I am currently saving up for my 63-FB or 64-FB example.

For the 16-D and other "mintage keys", it is all about DEMAND and has very little to do with supply. Many "RARE" coins are cheap because the demand simply isn't there. I have a few rare varieties but you do not see people throwing 10s of thousands of dollars at me trying to get them.

tydye · February 6, 2011 1:46PM

I purchased one for 1100 during the early 90s but sold it about 5 years later during a lull in my collecting. Got 2000 for it. Should of held on to it though. It was a VF

Billet7 · February 6, 2011 1:56PM

I have one.

OnTheHunt · February 6, 2011 1:57PM

I owned a G6 for a year or two and sold it and the others after completing the Mercury set. Made a modest profit.

Steve

DIMEMAN · February 6, 2011 1:58PM

I had a PCGS62 16-D in my 2004 set that I sold in 2005 to DLRC.

Now I have to do the whole thing over!

Weiss · February 6, 2011 1:59PM

Own one. I've owned it for a little less than a year. I'll sell it when I see an opportunity. It's probably not a long term keeper.

Lakesammman · February 6, 2011 2:00PM

Nope - never have, probably for the same reason as MidLife.

Rollerman · February 6, 2011 2:04PM

I've had one in full rims GOOD since around 1981. I paid $130 for it. It's still in my set, I've updated a lot of coins in that set, suppose I should update that 16D also.
Pete

BigJohnD · February 6, 2011 2:04PM

No - nor will I

Moldnut · February 6, 2011 2:05PM

Actually, I just bought my first one this weekend and Im glad I finally did. It was also nice to buy it from a forum member too!

fcloud · February 6, 2011 2:05PM

Currently have FR02 and AU50.
I have owned AG03, G04, G06, VG08.
I have never lost money on one of these.

PCGS FR02 CAC

tightbudget · February 6, 2011 2:31PM

Bought a VG8 as a filler last summer until I can get a better one

droopyd · February 6, 2011 2:44PM

I owned an AG for awhile, sold it for a small profit after holding a few years.

MrSpud · February 6, 2011 2:46PM

MrsSpud bought a slabbed AG3 16D to complete her Mercury dime set about 5 years ago. She upgraded to a VF a few years later and gave me the AG3 to complete my low grade Merc dime set. Not planning on selling them anytime soon.

BaronVonBaugh · February 6, 2011 3:19PM

No 16 d, but I have a 1877 IHC and a 1858 IHC J208.

123cents · February 6, 2011 3:36PM

I have owned a NGC AU-55, ICG VF-30, PCGS VF-20, PCI VG-8, and now own a PCGS G-6.

CoinJunkie · February 6, 2011 3:41PM

I've never had the slightest desire to own a low grade example, and don't want to commit the
funds to own a high grade one.

rld14 · February 6, 2011 4:08PM

I finished the Dansco Mercury dime set I started as a kid, except this coin.

I just can't seem to justify spending this much on what's really a common coin. I mean, I will pick one up someday but it's a low priority... and I always have a better place to spend the $$.

Elcontador · February 6, 2011 4:58PM

When I started collecting coins in the 1960s, I was put off by how expensive the 16 D dime was, in conjunction with that there were as many counterfeits around as there were real coins. I found plenty of other neat coins in change. Flash forward a few decades, and with certification, the threat of getting stuck buying a fake disappeared. However, as CoinJunkie said, I couldn't see paying a fortune for an Unc. Merc when for the same price, I thought other coins that had more value could be acquired for the same price.

Steve27 · February 6, 2011 9:44PM

I purchased this one a few years ago, cracked it out of the ANACS slab and put it in my Dansco, where it still resides.

JohnsCoins · February 6, 2011 9:53PM

I bought mine a couple years ago to complete my Mercury dime set. Have no plans on selling it soon.
John

kurtdog · February 6, 2011 10:33PM

I owned several of the "No D" varieties in my lifetime. Oh, wait a minute, that has to do with cents. Never mind.

DoubleDime · February 6, 2011 10:52PM

I've had one since 1977 and no plans to sell it soon.

Merc · February 6, 2011 11:13PM

Yes, I have one in a G4 ANACS holder. I bought it about 8 years ago. The D mint mark is clear and strong. Most of the 1916-D dimes are either G/AG or are mint state.

ambro51 · February 6, 2011 11:14PM

I had toyed with the idea of buying a high grade piece a few years ago...but went with high $ copper instead.

The low grade ones turn me on NOT.

golden · February 7, 2011 2:30AM

I have never owned a 1916 D dime.

Bochiman · February 7, 2011 2:39AM

We have 3. All PCGS.
G-4, G-6, VG-10 (CAC)

The only one I would have any thoughts of selling right now would be the G-4. It was the first one.
Bought as a nice G-4+ a few years back. Some may put it G-6, some may keep it G-4 as a nice G-4. Either way, I don't mind holding it, or selling it.

The G-6 was bought last year and has some toning (such as being in an older album). It gives it character that most of the 1916-D mercs don't have.
Would take a strong offer to tempt me to sell, otherwise, it is here for quite awhile (to my son and his choice what to do in 10+ years when he hits college).

The VG-10 (CAC) bought a couple of years ago that is a nice example that I could easily replace, but, not sure if I want to pay up in the price for a higher grade example (not scarce but not always available in my limited collector's resources).
High enough graded example to have a nice look.

So, I have no problems having this "key" date. It's popularlity has been there. If I were to lose money, if this date/mm tanked, I wouldn't lose my house (bought with discretionary funds), but I don't think that will happen. I won't sell at a loss because I don't need to sell. I have entertained selling the G-4, to help pay for other purchases (such as when I bought our 1793 half cent, but I sold silver bullion to help with the stretch instead).

llafoe · February 7, 2011 3:11AM

Maybe...

UtahCoin · February 7, 2011 3:21AM

I think the first one I owned was in about 1989 or so. Long Beach Coin Show, PCGS Rattler G-6 $350. I did hold in my hot little hand a PCGS MS65FB once. As I recall Ira Stein showed it to me at Long Beach years ago.

JamesMurray · February 7, 2011 3:24AM

<< <i>Maybe...

>>

Im in the maybe camp as well , a seller i've done a lot of business with had trouble with another buyer concerning a few "rare" coins . To explain the seller is not US based and was a collector , doesn't know a lot about what he has and blundered onto Ebay.I've bought quite a bit from him for my own collection and became quite friendly with the seller through emails and swapping advice on different coins.
The upshot was he had listed a 1921 dime and didn't realise it was important to put the date in the title so took down his auction to relist , meanwhile another buyer who had bought an entirely different coin threw a fit and negged him on the other coin for taking down the 1921 which he had been winning.
Totally uncool , yes , long story short the guy appreciated i'd pointed out the 1921 listing might be better and helped him out with other US coins and values as well as maybe overpaying a little on other world coins he said i'd find a bonus or two in my delivery which is due any day now.

When pressed he said it was a 1916 dime he was going to list but because of the numpty and his unfair negging the seller doesnt want to sell to US buyers anymore nor list US coins to attract them.
I left it at that , i dont know if its a merc or barber or the MM , so it's the maybe camp for me.

sweetwilliet · February 7, 2011 3:25AM

I have owned my current 1916-d for over a quarter of a century, I bought it as a g4 raw. It has since been graded g6 by PCGS. Bought it for somewhere like $200. I think I may be able to make a profit on it, but am not sure.

joebb21 · February 7, 2011 3:27AM

couple of ag's, a g4, vg10, au50 and some according to ngc last week- a nice counterfeit!

sweetwilliet · February 7, 2011 3:28AM

Oh, and sorry to hear that you have never owned one, you are really missing out on a lot, including the secret 1916-d owner handshake.

QuarterCollector · February 7, 2011 3:44AM

I owned a VG8 in a ANACS holder. It was one of my first coins.

Tom

Barndog · February 7, 2011 3:45AM

used to own one. Sold it maybe three years ago, could be four years

Klif50 · February 7, 2011 3:50AM

I bought an AG 16-D dime in 79 to finish out my set for, I believe $110. When I went to sell it in 80 the dealer took a long look at it and said "I'm not sure this is real", and my only response was that "it better be since I bought it from you". I think he paid about $115. This was before coins were being plasticized so you had to let your conscience and your loupe be your guide. I still think it was good but was glad to get out of the series.

johnny9434 · February 7, 2011 3:55AM

no, nor do i care to.

GritsMan · February 7, 2011 3:55AM

I also own the "no D" variety and have been staring at it for more than forty years, willing the "D" to reappear!

I would have loved one as a child, but it doesn't interest me much now. Also have to agree that the low-grade specimens are more unattractive than low-grade coins of other series.

D · February 7, 2011 4:17AM

Yes, I've owned seven and I own six currently. I bought my first one from Darin.

-D

BillJones · February 7, 2011 4:33AM

The only 1916-D Mecury dimes I owned came from when I was a dealer, and they are strictly stock items, bought and sold. The best one I ever handled was an EF-40.

I now own a complete set of Lincoln cents so those constitute the only main stream key date coins in my collection. I've owned the others in the past. I handled every Morgan Dollar date and mint mark when I was dealer, but none of them were for me. I've owned a few 1877 and 1909-S Indian cents. The only one I miss was 1909-S in "perfect" MS-65 Brown that I pulled out of my collection and sold to a customer. I wish I still had that one as a collector. I've noever owned any of the key date Barber coins, because I never had a Barber collector as a customer when I was dealer. I was limited to type coins only.

shorecoll · February 7, 2011 4:46AM

I bought half a roll of AGs at <$200 ea. in the late 80's, sold them all at a profit except the last one which I kept for myself and lost somewhere in my house. So, I guess, technically I still have one somewhere.

slothman2000 · February 7, 2011 7:52AM

I own one....bought it to finish a circulated set...along with 1909-s vdb Lincoln, 1877 IHC, 1913-S Buffalo, and 1921-d WLH.....For all who have the rest of the coins and not this one to finish a set....you have way more patience than me....

PTVETTER · February 7, 2011 7:56AM

I have owned two and still have the better one VF

grote15 · February 7, 2011 7:56AM

I own two--both AG3, one in an ANACS old school holder and one graded by PCGS. I sold a PCGS example a few months back. As someone mentioned, coins like these seem to only rise in value. When I bought my first AG3 several years back, I got it for $350. Now, you're lucky to find one for less than $500. Can't go wrong with key dates, for the most part.