Mercury Dime Market - Questions

LVGT

So I think one of the reasons I collect coins is that I found 3 mercury dimes in a vending machine when I was a kid. I woke up thinking that I want to start buying a few of these coins.

I have a couple questions as I am unfamiliar with the series:

1) How has the market for these coins been lately? I will probably focus on MS64-66 coins.
2) Are there any sleeper dates?
3) FSB... Is the premium worth it or should I just look for strongly struck coins FB or not?
4) Any other advice would be welcome.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

DIMEMAN

Mercury dimes have always been popular and still are.

There are lots of tuff dates and the big in price 16-D.

And to me FB's are not worth the extra cost....especially some where it can be thousands of extra dollars.

Like you said just go after nicely struck coins. Some coins without bands actually look better than ones with bands.

LVGT

Thanks. I will be staying away from anything over $1000. Just curious if there were any relative values in the series?

DIMEMAN

You can get all of the 40's for under 100 dollars each.

The 30's won't be much more.

The 20's will have some at 1000 the 21's will be more.

The teens will be 1000 or less except the 16-D.

These prices are considering the grade level that you mentioned.

streeter

Not exactly what you will be looking for but MERC proofs seem(to me) to be undervalued. A lot of them around right now. You have a lot of choices for $200.

oreville

I disagree with dimeman,

FB dimes are simply getting stronger and stronger vs their non FB sisters.

More and more mercury dime collectors no longer even consider buying non FB dimes in mint state.

Do not make under the $1000 level the criteria for buying dimes as it may stop you from buying the right dime. If it due to your budget constraints then that is a different story.

But then this is why this is a great hobby. Collectors do not always agree otherwise we would lust after the same coins!

CoinJunkie

<< <i>So I think one of the reasons I collect coins is that I found 3 mercury dimes in a vending machine when I was a kid. I woke up thinking that I want to start buying a few of these coins.

I have a couple questions as I am unfamiliar with the series:

1) How has the market for these coins been lately? I will probably focus on MS64-66 coins.
2) Are there any sleeper dates?
3) FSB... Is the premium worth it or should I just look for strongly struck coins FB or not?
4) Any other advice would be welcome.

Thanks in advance for any insight. >>


Answers:

1) Overall, the market has been pretty flat for a long time. Key dates have appreciated in the last decade.
2) Many pre-1930s issues are tougher to find nice than one might think.
3) I only collect FB Mercs, but I know a lot of people disagree. Mostly it's about aesthetics.
4) My advice would be to come up with a collecting goal/strategy before starting to purchase coins, and to be selective.

yellowkid

I don't collect series but I admit to having thought about a Merc series, I love them Follow the advice given, go with the FB's when you can. Good luck, have fun!!!

fcloud

Go for the varieties, too. Many of them can be found at reasonable prices. This is one of the less expensive sets in which can be put together in mint state, and you can always substitute non mint state coins for the more expensive coins to complete a very nice set. When doing my main set all but three coins were mint state. The 1916-D was AU50, the overdates 42/41 were both VF coins. You could expand that to many of the tougher coins and still have a very nice set. (If you get the Coin Dealer Newsletter check out my article on Mercury Dimes in the current issue, June 8, 2012. If you don't subscribe maybe a local dealer would let you read it.)

seateddime

I am focused on MS67 and MS68 FB coins.

When possible I trade PCGS coins for NGC star coins.

There are at least 5 in the short set I have been able to located MS67 FB and Fully Prooflike. Those are few and far between, really rare!

Unknown

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keyman64

Question #1 - The series will always have a strong following because of the attractive design. Grab a Red Book that is 10 years old then a Red Book from today to compare...that's really the best advice. Long term - The values of RARE COINS with HIGH DEMAND tend to GO UP! That being said, I would not go after super high grade common date coins since the upside is sooooo small if it even exists even when considering a very long term hold. So for the common dates you should go after coins with very nice eye appeal but not necessarily the highest of grades...it will be tough to get your money back...of course this depends on how long you hold the collection and a few other factors etc...For the dates that are more rare, that is where you should put the majority of your dollars. The nice quality tougher dates will always be in high demand. I will post a thread later tonight that examines the Mercury Dime Keys and Semi-Keys....it is an analysis I started last July but never finished....I should really finish it up and gather opinions on it. It will be a fun discussion I hope.

Question #2 - Sleepers in the traditional sense, I would say NO. In the not-so-traditional sense, I would say YES. There are not that many collectors of the Cherrypickers' Guide varieties. There are 30 varieties recognized by PCGS. If you can find them in high grade or Top Pop by Cherrypicking them....LET ME KNOW! There are only about 5 DIE HARD Mercury Dime Complete Variety Set builders here at PCGS. If the demand ever goes up then you will certainly have real value...in the mean time, Top Pops should just come to me. I am always open to the idea of UPGRADES.

I am still looking for the following 6 in Mint State, preferably FB:
1934-D/D FS-501
1941 DDO FS-101
1942-Inverted S FS-501
1945 DDO FS-101
1945-D/D FS-506
1945-S/S FS-503


Question #3 - My opinion differs from that of the DIMEMAN. I prefer the coins to have as much of the originally intended design as possible. That would mean a Fully Struck coin...or when it comes to PCGS Slabbed Examples, FB. But I also understand the "Budget Issue". Each person has to find the right balance for themselves. Go for EYE APPEAL and you won't make too many mistakes...and make the decision per DATE/MM....not for the series or date ranges as a whole. Luster/Eye Appeal will carry you a long way when it comes time to sell.

Question #4 - If you every have questions about Mercury Dimes or the Mercury Dime Varieties there are a few members that have the series covered very well: fcloud(Tony), DIMEMAN(Jon), Kozman(Dennis...not into the varieties though) and myself.............and yes, there are others but the ones I mentioned tend to be a bit more active on the forums and are the ones that come to me off the top of my head.

Please feel free to contact me any time with questions. Good Luck...and we will look forward to seeing you build your set!

LVGT

Thanks for the valuable input all. I look forward to your thread tonight Keyman.

DeepCoin

Let me take the contrarian view regarding the FB designation. For someone who collects on a small but reasonable budget, I found that you can find great coins for far less money in the non FB state. As to value, if you buy any coin at the right price, then you will be in good shape. For me the key was finding coins that had great eye appeal for the grade and not being quite so concerned regarding one very small part of the coin.

If you enjoy the registry aspect of collecting, PCGS even has a set where the bands designation has no effect upon the coin with respect to adding or removing points. Collect coins that make you smile and learn the market with regard to pricing and the level of coin you are targeting. It can be a great joy when you find coins that fit your criteria and you successfully negotiate a new acquisition.

There used to be a group of collectors here called the Mercateers, I still have the t-shirt from that time (about 10 years ago). All in all, a great group of folks who enjoy this series who by in large to not take themselves or collecting too seriously, yet love the hobby.

DIMEMAN

Ah...the good ole days. I was in the Mercateer group back then.

Remember Red Friday? Back then the Registry set were only updated once a week. Every coin you had added that week went up on Friday and they put a red flag on any set that had been updated.

A lot of those guys don't post here much any more.......Like Fairlaneman...I miss ya Ken.


Ken knows his Mercs as does Fcloud and the rest.

grip

DC
That was a fun time..and the only time i have ever put so much energy
into one series...FB rule