Gold Mercury Dime a Caricature

messydesk · April 8, 2016 12:20AM

I'm not a Mercury dime specialist, but it wasn't hard to recognize the lack of detail on the gold commemorative when compared with the original, even without looking at the original. Not as much detail in the wing or hair braid and no split bands on the reverse both jumped out at me. I assume the relief is also lower, like it is with the AGE bullion coins. I'm disappointed, though not surprised, that a coin that will sell for a premium to collectors couldn't have detail true to the original. Die life is no excuse, as only 1900 were struck from each die, which is probably a fraction of a percent of the die life of actual Mercury dime dies, and they were struck in a comparatively soft metal.

oih82w8 · April 8, 2016 12:28AM

Is it because they (the mint) did not want to make it too realistic? I don't care for them (Dime, Quarter & Half Dollar) in gold. I realize that there is sort of law mandating the metal content, but not in gold.

asheland · April 8, 2016 12:48AM

Definitely not FB!

steveben · April 8, 2016 1:06AM

Originally posted by: asheland

Definitely not FB!

not FB for sure. do you suppose any will be?

oih82w8 · April 8, 2016 1:14AM

Perhaps this issue will be redesignated FB as "Flat Band"

asheland · April 8, 2016 1:32AM

Originally posted by: steveben

Originally posted by: asheland
Definitely not FB!

not FB for sure. do you suppose any will be?

I doubt it.

CaptHenway · April 8, 2016 1:40AM

What is all that folderol in the lower hair, below the edge of the cap?

illini420 · April 8, 2016 1:47AM

Remember that we're all still looking at a drawing/rendering of what the coin looks like. We're NOT looking at one of the actual struck coins which may look quite different.

PCGS has separate coin numbers on these for coins w/ and w/o FB, so at least PCGS is optimistic that they will be grading some of these w/ FB.

GotTheBug · April 8, 2016 2:22AM

.

bronco2078 · April 8, 2016 2:28AM

Originally posted by: GotTheBug
I think it would have been more interesting if they had struck an actual dime for circulation, even if it was clad.

That would have been a great idea , circulating commemoratives . That makes too much sense though.

Regardless of how tacky they look , the mint should do pretty well flogging this stuff to a certain demographic. The usual suspects in the secondary market will extract their pound of flesh as well.

DIMEMAN · April 8, 2016 2:51AM

I don't care for any of the mint "stuff" including these silly Mercury looking dimes in gold. Good grief!

ricko · April 8, 2016 3:46AM

I would certainly hope that depiction is just that...and the actual coin will be replete with detail matching the originals. Cheers, RickO

LanLord · April 8, 2016 3:51AM

Originally posted by: ricko

I would certainly hope that depiction is just that...and the actual coin will be replete with detail matching the originals. Cheers, RickO

This has been my thought. It's a poorly done digital drawing, not an actual image of one of the coins.

If however, this is how it really looks. It is ugly!

jmski52 · April 8, 2016 3:55AM

Dimeman, doesn't this present a quandary for you, particularly if the Mint is calling this a dime? Do you have the 1996-W Roosie or the 2015-P Reverse Proof? How do you decide where to draw the line?

TomB · April 8, 2016 3:56AM

Perhaps I am in the minority on this one, but I think it looks just fine. However, my opinion might be influenced by my low expectations of US Mint products.

IrishMikey · April 8, 2016 5:14AM

I think that this issue may surprise us. While it may not be a 100% faithful imitation of the 1916 original, it may be nicer than people think. Compare it to the modern silver and gold eagles -- they are not perfect reproductions, but they have grown on us.

johnny9434 · April 8, 2016 5:17AM

Originally posted by: steveben

Originally posted by: asheland
Definitely not FB!

not FB for sure. do you suppose any will be?

no and it would help if it did ( i hope )

epcjimi1 · April 8, 2016 5:23AM

PCGS has separate coin numbers on these for coins w/ and w/o FB, so at least PCGS is optimistic that they will be grading some of these w/ FB.

Plot twist.

SamByrd · April 8, 2016 5:27AM

it does have chocolate under the gold foil , right?

really sad if that is what it looks like as a finished product.

keyman64 · April 8, 2016 5:36AM

I'm not a buyer of modern "stuff" from the mint these days but it is sad that in the year 2016

they are unable/unwilling to create a product that truly replicates the intent of the original

designer and mint workers that produced the coin for the first time in 1916, thereby turning it

into just a pile of

Further, to not make it full band is a disgrace.

It would have been nice to see a 2016 version in silver high relief like that of 1916 and

part of 1917. Even though I am not a buyer of modern "stuff" from the mint, I may have

actually jumped all over that one since I am such a fan of Mercury Dimes. Oh well.

jesbroken · April 8, 2016 5:40AM

They couldn't be worth much, my grandson got a whole plastic pumpkin full of them last Halloween.

Jim

BryceM · April 8, 2016 5:53AM

Not for me. Just another modern mint product with no real purpose.

It has the form of the original, but not the soul.

DIMEMAN · April 8, 2016 6:26AM

Originally posted by: jmski52
Dimeman, doesn't this present a quandary for you, particularly if the Mint is calling this a dime? Do you have the 1996-W Roosie or the 2015-P Reverse Proof? How do you decide where to draw the line?

Not a quandary at all. I have the 96-W because it was made for circ and is in the Registry sets. I don't have and NEVER will have any of the mint rev proof "stuff". Just no interest at ALL.

ambro51 · April 8, 2016 6:37AM

Die making techniques have drastically changed. .... for the worse, in this case. If you want the 1916 high relief design exactly recreate, you'll need to have them made in a backstreet shop in China, not the US Mint.

Cougar1978 · April 8, 2016 7:34AM

Not a coin that sb in gold. I am turned off by 10c, 25c, 50c gold mods. Can't they have used the $2.50 Indian Design?

silverpop · April 8, 2016 7:53AM

another way to part suckers with their cash

good thing I avoid these things

DIMEMAN · April 8, 2016 8:19AM

Originally posted by: silverpop
another way to part suckers with their cash

good thing I avoid these things

+ 1

Kaline6 · April 8, 2016 9:37AM

I don't like it either. It looks computer generated; like hearing a synth cello rather than a genuine instrument.

coindeuce · April 8, 2016 11:56AM

Such a terrible insult to Weinman's descendants and to the memory of his artistic skill. The Mint Director should be embarrassed as hell for giving this final approval. Just another facet of the decline of American Arts.

If Teddy Roosevelt were alive to see this, he would blow a gasket with anger.

The U.S. Mint has transformed itself from a bastion of numismatic art into a money grubbing mass marketing producer of widgets.

golden · April 8, 2016 1:08PM

Originally posted by: DIMEMAN
I don't care for any of the mint "stuff" including these silly Mercury looking dimes in gold. Good grief!

Overdate · April 8, 2016 3:11PM

Originally posted by: DIMEMAN

Originally posted by: jmski52
Dimeman, doesn't this present a quandary for you, particularly if the Mint is calling this a dime? Do you have the 1996-W Roosie or the 2015-P Reverse Proof? How do you decide where to draw the line?

Not a quandary at all. I have the 96-W because it was made for circ and is in the Registry sets. I don't have and NEVER will have any of the mint rev proof "stuff". Just no interest at ALL.

The 2016-W dime will have a circulation-strike finish and, based on the precedent of the 2014 gold Kennedy half, will likely be in the Registry sets.

mariner67 · April 8, 2016 4:15PM

Great design...fitting tribute for the centennial.
They will do well!

dcarr · April 8, 2016 7:46PM

I believe the image to be an accurate likeness of what the final product will look like.
Overall, it is not a bad rendition. The hair is slightly different in detail, but not significantly different.
The relief is about the same depth as the original dime.

The coin imaged actually DOES have FULL BANDS. The lighting source is directly from the right, and so that makes it exactly PARALLEL to the bands. This has the effect of making their delineation nearly invisible.
Had the lighting direction been from the top, the bands would readily show separation.

But curiously, it looks like there are four thin bands at the bottom while the original had two thicker bands.

I note three things which I would have done differently:
1) The style of the date digits is a little off, especially the "2".
2) The neck truncation seems a little awkward and farther from the rim than the original. For many years the US Mint has been unnecessarily afraid of having any design elements close to the rim.
3) I would have arranged the gold content markings differently.

I am presently working on, and about to come out with, some "fantasy-date over-strikes" of Winged Liberty Head silver dimes (and Standing Liberty Quarters and Walking Liberty Halfs).
It has recently occurred to me that I could also potentially over-strike these 2016 gold dimes

Overdate · April 8, 2016 8:07PM

Originally posted by: dcarr
I am presently working on, and about to come out with, some "fantasy-date over-strikes" of Winged Liberty Head silver dimes (and Standing Liberty Quarters and Walking Liberty Halfs).

How about a nice 3-coin set of 1922's?

dcarr · April 8, 2016 8:11PM

Originally posted by: Overdate

Originally posted by: dcarr
I am presently working on, and about to come out with, some "fantasy-date over-strikes" of Winged Liberty Head silver dimes (and Standing Liberty Quarters and Walking Liberty Halfs).

How about a nice 3-coin set of 1922's?

epcjimi1 · April 9, 2016 3:05AM

Yep. Evidence of bands is poorly portrayed in bottom band of mint artwork, but the bands are there.

It has recently occurred to me that I could also potentially over-strike these 2016 gold dimes

Into what? J/W

dcarr · April 9, 2016 4:20AM

Originally posted by: epcjimi1
Yep. Evidence of bands is poorly portrayed in bottom band of mint artwork, but the bands are there.

It has recently occurred to me that I could also potentially over-strike these 2016 gold dimes

Into what? J/W

I have dies for fantasy-date over-strikes of Winged Liberty Head dimes.
I soon plan to use them to over-strike original 1916-1945 silver dimes.
But I could also use those same dies to produce a gold version, by over-striking these 2016 gold dimes.

younique · April 9, 2016 4:29AM

May indeed be full band in hand. 125,000 though.

epcjimi1 · April 9, 2016 4:38AM

But I

couldalso use those same dies to produce a gold version, by over-striking these 2016 gold dimes.]

I see a big could there.

1940coupe · April 9, 2016 5:30AM

Put me down for one of those 2016 gold dime over-strikes ! I guess if you did a over-strike cust. would have to send you one to over-strike

edgar · April 11, 2016 9:14AM

Considering all the likely deviation from the original coin, has there been any discussion or details as to how the quarter and half will compare. How does this impact those expecting to acquire all three for a set? Are you more or less likely after seeing the line art?

Thanks

Connecticoin · April 11, 2016 9:58AM

Originally posted by: LanLord

Originally posted by: ricko
I would certainly hope that depiction is just that...and the actual coin will be replete with detail matching the originals. Cheers, RickO

This has been my thought. It's a poorly done digital drawing, not an actual image of one of the coins.

If however, this is how it really looks. It is ugly!

I hope that is the case. Because if that depiction is what the coin will look like, they should hire Dan Carr, who would do a much better job.

FullStrike · April 11, 2016 11:28AM

Is there such an animal as a Coin Industry Lobbyist? I'd think they might work for the ANA, PNG, or perhaps the TPG,s.

Seems to me that the " industry" wouldn't want high quality competition for the old stuff. You're talking about reaching into their pockets.

mrearlygold · April 11, 2016 12:15PM

Originally posted by: asheland
Definitely not FB!

MrEureka · April 11, 2016 12:49PM

How about a nice 3-coin set of 1922's?

I was hoping for a 42/1-S or a 46.

dcarr · April 11, 2016 5:39PM

Originally posted by: MrEureka

How about a nice 3-coin set of 1922's?

I was hoping for a 42/1-S or a 46.

I wouldn't do a "1942/1-S" because that date already exists (just not with an "S" mint mark).
A "1946" Winged Liberty head dime is something that is very possible at some point.
But that date is not one of the three fantasy-dates for this type that I'm about to release in a few days.

SaorAlba · April 12, 2016 1:02AM

Originally posted by: dcarr

I wouldn't do a "1942/1-S" because that date already exists (just not with an "S" mint mark).

A "1946" Winged Liberty head dime is something that is very possible at some point.

But that date is not one of the three fantasy-dates for this type that I'm about to release in a few days.

Oh do say more, puhleez

ElKevvo · April 12, 2016 1:37AM

Maybe they used a non full band coin or AU coin as a pattern? Just kidding...I would hope not and would like to think the mint would have more sense. No reason why it does not have more detail IMO.

K

topstuf · April 12, 2016 1:49AM

Don't matter what WE think.

This series is gonna SELL!

And sell BIG!

People who aren't ...numismatists.....(lah-dee-dah).... don't much care about 98% of the objections posted so far.

THARE PURTEE, JOLEEN, AN WURRA GONTER ORDER AS MINNY AS WE KIN!

Walkerfan · April 12, 2016 1:53AM

I like it.

The only lack of detail that I see is in the bands.

Can't wait to see the gold SLQs and WLHs, too!

They are sure to be sold for a huge premium on the secondary market.

I am also interested to hear about the HYPE surrounding these coins and the circus acts to follow.

It looks like the price is still yet to be determined.

chiefbob · April 12, 2016 4:54AM

Any guesses on the price?

1/10 oz AU + Mint juice = ???.??

Gold is trending up, could be a lot higher by the 21st.

Gold Mercury Dime a Caricature

Comments

Leave a Comment