Gold Merc vs. Classic Merc

BryceM · October 17, 2016 6:45PM

So, I acquired a 2016 gold Merc today. I've looked at a few, and I've followed the threads here about the coin. I agree with most of what has been said. I'm not really interested in most mint products and I collect very few things that were "made for collectors." That aside, I love the designs of 1916 and the gold SLQ was nice enough that I decided to keep the one I bought to flip. This led to a desire to have the Merc too.

The coin that came today is graded SP70 by our hosts and is technically fabulous (thanks Mitch Spivak!!!) The design itself though is tremendously lacking in detail, and compared to the SLQ, even more cartoonish. 24k gold is one of the softest coinage metals available and should strike up almost any design perfectly. It's sad that so much of the fine detail was "smoothed over" in the reproduction. Ask any neophyte about the sign of a well-struck Merc and you'll hear "Full-Bands" every time.

I give you the wing detail of the cap of both the SP70 gold version and an MS68 silver version:

smallchange · October 17, 2016 6:55PM

Hopefully the WLH will be struck more like the standing liberty and not the mercury. I just can't get too excited about the dime.

Jim

TomB · October 17, 2016 6:56PM

I agree. They are not the same animal, though I find the gold Merc to be rather fascinating in its own ways.

291fifth · October 17, 2016 6:56PM

It is actually a new design which was inspired by the original design. There was no attempt to exactly replicate the look of the 1916 coin.

SeattleSlammer · October 17, 2016 7:17PM

Oh man, this is such a cool post. Thank you for the close-ups. They really put things into perspective.

BryceM · October 17, 2016 8:01PM

For the sake of completeness, here's a photo of the whole coin. SP70 all the way:

wondercoin · October 17, 2016 8:03PM

Glad you liked the coin Bryce. That's PCGS perfection ! Wondercoin

messydesk · October 17, 2016 8:13PM

@291fifth said:
It is actually a new design which was inspired by the original design. There was no attempt to exactly replicate the look of the 1916 coin.

Perhaps, but when the first samples were being shown at CSNS, people sure weren't inspired to like the new one.

CertifiedGoldCoins · October 17, 2016 8:32PM

@291fifth said:
It is actually a new design which was inspired by the original design. There was no attempt to exactly replicate the look of the 1916 coin.

The US Mint had a zillion dollars ripped off from the numismatic economy, and a hundred years of progress in technology with which to work. What should have been a magnificent tribute to Weinman's art turned out to be a disappointment. They've already privatized our currency, letting the "Federal" Reserve print anything they like. Time to privatize the Mint, put someone like Dan Carr in charge, and especially, stop the Congress from flooding the coin market with unimaginative junk.

ricko · October 18, 2016 6:08AM

I certainly think the gold Merc should have replicated the original in all aspects....it was (to me) a disappointment. Cheers, RickO

PTVETTER · October 18, 2016 3:49PM

They are two different animals, not ment to be the same by design!
Marketing?

illini420 · October 18, 2016 3:54PM

Here's a few comparison photos I did with my gold dime the day I got it in the mail:

illini420 · October 18, 2016 3:55PM

And one w/ the gold dime and the 2016 Dan Carr Mercury Dime silver round

LindeDad · October 18, 2016 4:12PM

I figure by 2017 all will be going to melt pot, totally glad I didn't play along in the mint game this year.

ChangeInHistory · October 18, 2016 6:23PM

@291fifth said:
It is actually a new design which was inspired by the original design. There was no attempt to exactly replicate the look of the 1916 coin.

Exactly, and that's a missed opportunity by the Mint. They could have stayed true to the original design which would have been more popular with collectors. I probably would have bought one if they did. Mercurys are not my series, but it is one of the classic designs. The technology exists and gold is easier to mint, as CertifiedGold mentioned, its hard to believe it wouldn't be cost effective. And they still could have made a ton of money.

DIMEMAN · October 19, 2016 11:41AM

Sure glad I don't go for any of the mint junk.

Gold Merc vs. Classic Merc

Comments

Leave a Comment

Categories