Tricky GTG: 1945-s Mercury Dime -- Revealed in Comments

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ProofCollection
ProofCollection Posts: 8,056 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited September 10, 2026 7:01PM in U.S. Coin Forum

This GTG is more to tell an interesting story than to test skills because it will lead up to a story that will be told in the reveal. For now, opine on what you would grade this Merc. BTW this is a recent Trueview which I think is actually pretty decent.
I will reveal right now, the dime is NOT Details.

Comments

  • privatecoin
    privatecoin Posts: 3,853 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS66

    Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc

  • Batman23
    Batman23 Posts: 5,473 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS67. Just missing FB.

  • dcarr
    dcarr Posts: 10,257 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS67, 50-50 chance at full bands.
    I will guess that it did make FB, barely.

    Moonlight Mint
  • PapiNE
    PapiNE Posts: 478 ✭✭✭✭
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    Poor strike and marks on the Fasces put it at 65/65+ for me. I believe I saw this one at FB but I disagreed.

    USAF veteran 1984-2005

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Im in with a 67 as well, no fb

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @dcarr said:
    MS67, 50-50 chance at full bands.
    I will guess that it did make FB, barely.

    My guess is the same - 67FB.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,189 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It looks beautiful and with terrific luster. I will guess either MS66 or MS67, but will not give an opinion as to FB or not since FB is a designation and you asked for a grade.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • Pghpete
    Pghpete Posts: 209 ✭✭✭
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    IMHO MS-66 not FB

  • BigFrankie
    BigFrankie Posts: 60 ✭✭✭
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    MS66, close to FB

  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS66

    Investor
  • cameonut2011
    cameonut2011 Posts: 10,869 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I agree with 67 shot FB

  • BruceS
    BruceS Posts: 1,551 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    66fb

    eBay ID-bruceshort978
    Successful BST:here and ATS, bumanchu, wdrob, hashtag, KeeNoooo, mikej61, Yonico, Meltdown, BAJJERFAN, Excaliber, lordmarcovan, cucamongacoin, robkool, bradyc, tonedcointrader, mumu, Windycity, astrotrain, tizofthe, overdate, rwyarmch, mkman123, Timbuk3,GBurger717, airplanenut, coinkid855 ,illini420, michaeldixon, Weiss, Morpheus, Deepcoin, Collectorcoins, AUandAG, D.Schwager, blu62vette, morgan13, torinoCobra71, JWP, promethius88,
  • alaura22
    alaura22 Posts: 3,963 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS-67

    Mike
    My Indians
    Dansco Set

  • marcmoish
    marcmoish Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I also agree with 67FB

  • tradedollarnut
    tradedollarnut Posts: 20,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    64 no FB

    Early Dollar Set
  • DNADave
    DNADave Posts: 7,350 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’m going to to say 66FB

  • cameonut2011
    cameonut2011 Posts: 10,869 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @tradedollarnut said:
    64 no FB

    Curiously, why do you think it is a 64?

  • tradedollarnut
    tradedollarnut Posts: 20,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @cameonut2011 said:

    @tradedollarnut said:
    64 no FB

    Curiously, why do you think it is a 64?

    Looks like putty and a scratch. But it’s off an image and just a guess

    Early Dollar Set
  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    66FB.

  • tradedollarnut
    tradedollarnut Posts: 20,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 10, 2026 4:03PM
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    The overall coin just seems ‘off’.

    Early Dollar Set
  • cameonut2011
    cameonut2011 Posts: 10,869 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @tradedollarnut said:

    @cameonut2011 said:

    @tradedollarnut said:
    64 no FB

    Curiously, why do you think it is a 64?

    Looks like putty and a scratch. But it’s off an image and just a guess

    I completely missed that.

  • cameonut2011
    cameonut2011 Posts: 10,869 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    In light of the circled areas, if it is what it appears to be, I do think it probably ended up in a 63-64 holder given that you already disclosed it wasn’t in a details holder.

  • pursuitofliberty
    pursuitofliberty Posts: 7,926 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Interesting. I saw the "scratch" TDN circled, but I think that is die polish. I think the "putty" is light refraction, but that could be part of the OP's tricky statement. I do see some very minor haze in other areas so maybe some PVC?

    All said, I would probably call this a 66+ from what I can see (I'm really torn with whether I see it as a 66 or a 67), and I am on the fence on the FB designation (I kind of hope it DIDN'T get it, because they don't look quite full, but I also hope if you made it, you got it).


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • ProofCollection
    ProofCollection Posts: 8,056 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    ---- REVEAL ----

    It seems the answers are where they should be and are in line with my thoughts. As I am a frequent submitter to our host, I've noticed that within the past few years they have tightened up considerably, I presume due to the presence of CACG. They've been issuing grades that I believe are at least a tick lower than they would have been 3-4 years ago and on a few occasions lower than CACG. This is one example that helps to prove my case. Now for the story...

    1. I saw the coin online and thought it looked really nice for the grade in a PCGS MS66 (light blue label) slab. I bought it on speculation that on a good day it could go FB and it might also be nice enough for MS67.
    2. I cracked it out in order to ensure an honest reassessment of the bands. Sent it to our host. And that's when PCGS does what they do best... but do oh so well. They always seem to disappoint and they didn't let me down. It comes back MS65!
    3. But as I confidently disagreed with it being a 65, I sent it to CAC with my last batch of coins, and JA agreed. Now it has a gold sticker!

    So what's the "real" grade? Per JA, at lest 66+. Maybe 67.

    For anyone interested, I'm going to be sending this to GC in the coming weeks.

  • cameonut2011
    cameonut2011 Posts: 10,869 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 10, 2026 7:32PM
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    Was the mark at 2:00 a luster graze?

  • U1chicago
    U1chicago Posts: 6,993 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The interesting thing here is that the 65 grade ended up being better than an upgrade to a 67 since it now gets a gold sticker and should sell for more than a 67 green cac.

  • P0CKETCHANGE
    P0CKETCHANGE Posts: 3,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 10, 2026 7:49PM
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    @U1chicago said:
    The interesting thing here is that the 65 grade ended up being better than an upgrade to a 67 since it now gets a gold sticker and should sell for more than a 67 green cac.

    Yeah, here I am trying to upgrade my coins by a measly plus grade and @proofcollection is playing 4D chess by unlocking the downgrade-to-gold-sticker game. 😂

    Well played.

  • ProofCollection
    ProofCollection Posts: 8,056 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @cameonut2011 said:
    In light of the circled areas, if it is what it appears to be, I do think it probably ended up in a 63-64 holder given that you already disclosed it wasn’t in a details holder.

    Yeah, it's not like a hit or nick, it's just smooth and shiny metal there like I've seen on other Mercs.

  • cameonut2011
    cameonut2011 Posts: 10,869 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'd rather have the CAC gold sticker than a 66 or 67 grade especially on a coin like this. Congratulations to the OP.

  • marcmoish
    marcmoish Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 11, 2026 9:10AM
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    @ProofCollection you opened with This GTG is more to tell an interesting story than to test skills because it will lead up to a story that will be told in the reveal

    You did not disappoint, cool outcome.

  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,765 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @dcarr said:

    @tradedollarnut said:

    @cameonut2011 said:

    @tradedollarnut said:
    64 no FB

    Curiously, why do you think it is a 64?

    Looks like putty and a scratch. But it’s off an image and just a guess

    .

    The central circled area is where the metal is not moving under the die, so there is a natural matte-like texture there.
    There is a similar vertical band, matte in texture, on the cap. That is also as-struck.

    The upper right circled area is not really a "scratch". It is a feeder-finger scrape on the die.
    Repeated feeding finger scraping also took out the leg of the "R" (P) in LIBERTY.

    .

    I didn't see the "R" till you pointed it out.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon

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