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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,103 |
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New Member
United States
33 Posts |
I've had a low cost, straight graded 1916-D Merc on my radar for as long as I can remember. I completed my book quite a long time ago but then came to realization that I probably didn't want a loose 16-d with the kind of money they command and my limited numismatic knowledge. Now that I'm actually looking a bit more seriously I've realized that I should probably run a potential purchase across more experienced eyes here before diving in. Alas, one has popped up that I'm looking at but something seems off? to me.... To my eyes, everything looks right. The coin is slabbed in an old soap, and all the details are there....however, on the obv, the "U" and "S" in "TRUST" seem to be touching while I can't find another example of this in other legitimate slab. Your thoughts? For sale from a smaller dealer. Again, everything would appear to be there but I'm more than paranoid about big key dates and counterfeits. Any idea about the reverse variety? While you're here you might as well take a guess at the grade. I'll reveal later.   |
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Moderator
 United States
15388 Posts |
I don't have the expertise on this coin to comment on authenticity. Others will weigh in on that topic.
To my eye it has a lot of appeal as an honestly circulated coin with no significant issues. I say it straight grades at G06.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5661 Posts |
Looks genuine to me. Perhaps a hit on the S pushed a bit of metal into that area a long time ago. I'd also say G-6, nice coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
21584 Posts |
Could be a small die chip between the letters but looks authentic otherwise.
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Moderator
United States
187637 Posts |
It looks legitimate to me.  |
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Moderator
United States
94728 Posts |
what die set would that be with the MM being rotated so far?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73628 Posts |
Looks real to me.
Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4468 Posts |
It looks like the top of the U may have taken a hit and there is some displaced metal.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10478 Posts |
Quote:
what die set would that be with the MM being rotated so far? I thought all of the mintmarks were angled like that!  And might want to see if the reverse has a slight rotation to it. That's another tell as some were rotated. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10478 Posts |
Here's one from ebay with the slight rotation......   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4587 Posts |
There was a post - one one of the boards - about this recently. With the statement that all legit 16Ds had the die rotation, which was easily refuted. It also touched on some other diagnostics.
I'd look it up, but we're not allowed to link to those sites, so I'm not going to bother. I'll narrow it down as I only read/post five boards - here, CT, PCGS, NGC, and CACG (both of those last tow only rarely).
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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New Member
 United States
33 Posts |
It is in fact a straight graded G6 so good job on that! Thank you for all the opinions so far, they are extremely valuable. As for the mintmark I'm still unsure as to what variety it is, and I honestly cannot find a good resource with reference pictures after hours of searching. I know there's four reverse dies, two have repunched mintmarks, and all have rotation between obv and rev....but besides that there's really not very many pictures that I can find that explain the difference. However, there is one coin on ebay in a VG10 with what I believe is the same mintmark variety based on the location and shape. Anyone have a reference with pictures for the reverse dies?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2362 Posts |
For comparison here's my 16-D in a PCGS holder G04. Very slight rotation.  Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith Edited by cipster
08/12/2025 10:39 am
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,103 |
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Posted 08/11/2025 10:34 am
