1916 Barber & Mercury Dime Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
In 1916, the US Mint produced two dime types, Barber dimes (1892 to 1916) and Mercury dimes (1916 to 1945). As you can see, it was the last year for Barber dime minting and the first year when Winged Liberty Head dimes (Mercury dimes) appeared in circulation. The 1916 dime value is connected with their silver content and overall condition, making them valuable as both collectibles and investments.
1916 Barber dime Value Chart |
||
| Condition | 1916 No Mint mark dime | 1916 S dime |
| Good | $4.12 | $4.12 |
| Very good | $4.44 | $4.44 |
| Fine | $5.07 | $5.07 |
| Very fine | $9.09 | $9.09 |
| Extra fine | $25 | $25 |
| AU | $84 | $84 |
| MS 60 | $121 | $121 |
| MS 63 | $257 | $257 |
1916 Mercury Dime Value Chart |
|||
| Condition | 1916 No Mint mark dime | 1916 D dime | 1916 S dime |
| Good | $3.71 | $1,134 | $4.25 |
| Very good | $5.92 | $1,713 | $6.25 |
| Fine | $7.19 | $2,963 | $9.68 |
| Very fine | $8.43 | $4,657 | $14 |
| Extra fine | $14 | $7,080 | $23 |
| AU | $28 | $10,502 | $28 |
| MS 60 | $40 | $14,965 | $48 |
| MS 65 | $135 | $31,775 | $246 |
1916 Dime Value Guides
The US Mint minted 24,310,000 Barber dimes and 32,894,080 Mercury dimes in 1916. They came from three mints, but none struck proofs.
1916 No Mint Mark Barber dime Value
In 1916, the Philadelphia mint made 18,490,000 Barber dimes. Such a high mintage resulted in affordable prices for these coins. For example, you can buy one piece for $4 to $1,900, depending on its quality. On the other hand, one collector bought one of these coins for $46,000, although it was in relatively low grade.
1916 Barber dime value |
||
| Condition | 1916 dime | 1916 S dime |
| Good | $3.95 to $4.80 | $3.90 to $4.80 |
| Very good | $4.12 to $5.06 | $4.10 to $5 |
| Fine | $4.70 to $7.45 | $4.70 to $7.45 |
| Very fine | $10 to $18 | $10 to $18 |
| Extra fine | $24 to $41 | $24 to $41 |
| AU | $55 to $100 | $55 to $100 |
| MS 60 | $110 to $132 | $110 to $132 |
| MS 61 | $120 to $144 | $120 to $144 |
| MS 62 | $135 to $165 | $135 to $165 |
| MS 63 | $155 to $185 | $170 to $205 |
| MS 64 | $180 to $215 | $216 to $260 |
| MS 65 | $300 to $360 | $360 to $430 |
| MS 66 | $500 to $700 | $800 to $960 |
| MS 67 | $1,500 to $1,900 | $6,000 to $7,200 |
1916 No Mint Mark Mercury dime Value
The Philadelphia mint came with 22,180,080 No Mint mark dimes in 1916. Such a high mintage results in affordable prices nowadays, and you can purchase one of the circulated coins for $3 to $35. Well-preserved specimens are a bit more pricey and typically cost $40 to $840.
1916 Mercury dime value |
|||
| Condition | 1916 dime | 1916 D dime | 1916 S dime |
| Good | $3 to $4 | $960 to $1,440 | $3 to $4 |
| Very good | $5 to $6.50 | $1,440 to $2,040 | $3.50 to $6 |
| Fine | $5.50 to $7 | $2,500 to $3,360 | $7 to $10 |
| Very fine | $6 to $7.92 | $3,600 to $5,520 | $11 to $19 |
| Extra fine | $7.25 to $11 | $5,400 to $7,560 | $18 to $22 |
| AU | $12 to $36 | $7,500 to $12,000 | $19 to $36 |
| MS 60 | $40 to $48 | $19,750 to $12,900 | $35 to $42 |
| MS 61 | $44 to $53 | $11,000 to $13,200 | $40 to $48 |
| MS 62 | $60 to $72 | $11,250 to $13,500 | $48 to $57.60 |
| MS 63 | $75 to $90 | $13,500 to $16,200 | $75 to $90 |
| MS 64 | $85 to $102 | $16,600 to $19,920 | $120 to $144 |
| MS 65 | $125 to $150 | $25,000 to $30,000 | $225 to $270 |
| MS 66 | $220 to $264 | $28,000 to $35,000 | $300 to $360 |
| MS 67 | $700 to $840 | / | $1,200 to $1,440 |
The most expensive 1916 Mercury dime with an MS 67+ rating reached $1,998 at Heritage Auctions, but the record price went to one coin with Full Bands. It cost $20,400 at Stack’s Bowers in 2020.
1916 D Mercury dime Value
Since Denver produced only 264,000 Mercury dimes this year, you can expect these coins to be rare and expensive. Even circulated pieces are worth $1,000 to $12,000, while perfectly-looked ones are estimated to cost $35,000.
The most expensive coin in the set became the Mercury dime with Full Bands after selling at an auction for $207,000. The second place went to the dime from regular strikes with the D mint mark after a collector paid $29,900 for it.
1916 S Barber dime Value
Precisely 5,820,000 Barber dimes were struck in San Francisco in 1916. Used coins are affordable and are typically worth $4 to $100. Those in the mint state cost $110 to $1,000, but collectors often pay $6,000 to $7,200 for precious pieces in an MS 67 grade.
The most costly coin from the set is one 1916 S Barber dime with an MS 67 rating that was paid $7,250 at an auction in 2018.
1916 S Mercury dime Value
Thanks to the mintage of 10,450,000 Mercury dimes, these from San Francisco are considered affordable. You can get one circulated specimen for $3 to $35, while those in perfect condition can reach $35 to $1,440.
Despite modest estimation, one coin minted in this mint in 1916 won $4,406 at Heritage Auctions. The other one with Full Bands made a real surprise in August 2001 when it sold for $23,000 at Heritage Auctions.
Related Posts: 16 Most Valuable Dime Errors
1916 Dime Errors
Interestingly, 1916 was the year of perfectly struck coins. Neither Barber dimes nor Mercury dimes came with significant errors in that period. You can find pieces with die cracks and off-center errors on the open market, but they are still uncategorized.
1916 FB Mercury dime value |
|||
| Condition | 1916 FB dime | 1916 D FB dime | 1916 S FB dime |
| AU | / | $9,500 to $13,800 | / |
| MS 60 | / | $12,500 to $15,000 | / |
| MS 61 | $50 to $60 | $13,000 to $15,600 | $70 to $84 |
| MS 62 | $70 to $84 | $15,500 to $18,600 | $90 to $108 |
| MS 63 | $85 to $102 | $21,000 to $25,200 | $150 to $180 |
| MS 64 | $120 to $144 | $26,000 to $31,200 | $230 to $276 |
| MS 65 | $200 to $240 | $44,000 to $55,000 | $725 to $870 |
| MS 66 | $360 to $432 | $58,000 to $72,000 | $1,100 to $1,150 |
| MS 67 | $900 to $1,080 | $160,000 to $200,000 | $2,750 to $3,500 |
| MS 68 | $7,500 to $9,500 | / | / |
As for Mercury dimes, they came with one famous variety, so-called Full Bands. These perfectly struck coins are valuable and can be worth a lot. For instance, you can count on $50 to $9,500 if you have a specimen without the mint mark.
On the other hand, dimes produced in San Francisco are worth $70 to $3,500, depending on quality. The rarest and most collectible are 1916 Mercury dimes minted in Denver. Their price range is from $9,500 to $200,000.
Related Posts: 22 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money
History of the 1916 Dime
1916 Barber dime
The 1916 Barber dimes are early silver coins minted after engraver Charles E. Barber’s design. He created them after the contest for the new coin design failed.
Unfortunately, he was not particularly original and innovative, so he based the obverse look on the Morgan dollar. On the other hand, the reverse was similar to the Seated Liberty dime.
The US Mint produced these coins from 1892 to 1916 in four mints, but the public never accepted and loved them. On the other hand, they were excellent for minting. You could recognize 74 regular pieces in the series, including the scarce 1894 S dime.
1916 Barber dime |
||
| Location | Year | Minted |
| Philadelphia | 1916 No Mint mark dime | 18,490,000 |
| San Francisco | 1916 S dime | 5,820,000 |
| Total | / | 24,310,000 |
1916 Mercury dime |
||
| Location | Year | Minted |
| Philadelphia | 1916 No Mint mark dime | 22,180,080 |
| San Francisco | 1916 S dime | 10,450,000 |
| Denver | 1916 D dime | 264,000 |
| Total | / | 32,894,080 |
1916 Mercury dime
Three mints started producing silver Winged Liberty Head dimes in 1916 based on sculptor Adolph A. Weinman’s design, and the minting lasted until 1945. He got this prestigious job after winning a design competition organized to replace the existing Barber dimes.
There were speculations that Lady Liberty on the obverse was similar to Elsie Stevens, the famous American poet’s beautiful wife. However, no one could confirm that for sure.
In fact, Americans mistakenly thought that it was the Roman god Mercury because of the winged cap. Even though Weinman wanted it to symbolize Liberty of Thought, the coin nickname remains to this day. At the end of WWII, the US Mint replaced these elegant coins with Roosevelt dimes in honor of the beloved President.
Related Posts: 18 Most Valuable Mercury Dimes Worth Money
How to Identify 1916 dimes?
Both dime types are well-known American ten-cent silver coins. The unique thing is that they were produced during the same year, making 1916 the last for Barber dimes and the first for Mercury dimes.
The obverse of the 1916 dime
Barber dime
The obverse of the Barber dimes contains the Lady Liberty image in the center. She wears a Phrygian cap bordered by a laurel wreath and ribbon with the word LIBERTY written on it. The DATE and the country name surround the central figure.
Mercury dime
The Mercury dime obverse depicts Lady Liberty facing left. She reminds Roman god Mercury, probably because of the winged cap. The word LIBERTY, the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST, and the DATE surround the composition, while the designer’s initials are placed on the right.
The reverse of the 1916 dime
Barber dime
You can see a vivid wreath made of olive and oak branches with added corn, wheat, and leaves on the lovely reverse. It surrounds the denomination, ONE DIME.
Mercury dime
The central position on the reverse is reserved for a large Roman torch adorned by an olive branch and axe. The saying E*PLURIBUS*UNUM is placed on the right, while the country name and the denomination are struck along the coin rim.
1916 dime (both coins) |
|
| Coin weight | 0.08037 troy ounces (2.5 grams) |
| Silver weight | 0.07235 troy ounces (2.25 grams) |
| Face value | Ten cents ($0.10) |
| Shape | Round |
| Compound | Silver coins with 10% copper |
| Coin thickness | 0.05314 inches (1.35 millimeters) |
| Coin diameter | 0.70510 inches (17.91 millimeters) |
| Edge | Reeded (118 reeds) |
Other features of the 1916 dime
Both Barber and Mercury dimes are ten-cent silver coins with the edge containing 118 reeds and a thickness of 0.05314 inches (1.35 millimeters).
Their weight is 0.08037 troy ounces (2.5 grams), while the silver share is 0.07235 troy ounces (2.25 grams). These coins’ diameter is precisely 0.70510 inches (17.91 millimeters).
Related Posts: 17 Most Valuable Dimes Worth Money
What makes 1916 dimes rare?
The rarest coins minted in 1916 are Mercury dimes with Full Bands. These collectible specimens in perfect condition can reach $12,500 to a breathtaking $200,000, depending on the preservation level.
Which 1916 dimes are worth a lot of money?
Barber dimes
- 1916 VF 25 Barber dime ($46,000 at Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2005)
- 1916 S MS 67 Barber dime ($7,250 at David Lawrence RC, December 2018)
Mercury dimes
- 1916 D MS 67 Mercury dime with Full Bands ($207,000 at Heritage Auctions, August 2010)
- 1916 D MS 65 Mercury dime ($29,900 at Stack’s, August 2007)
- 1916 S MS 67 Mercury dime with Full Bands ($23,000 at Heritage Auctions, August 2001)
- 1916 MS 68+ Mercury dime with Full Bands ($20,400 at Stack’s Bowers, August 2020)
- 1916 S MS 67+ Mercury dime ($4,406 at Heritage Auctions, March 2013)
- 1916 MS 67+ Mercury dime ($1,998 at Heritage Auctions, November 2013)
How much are 1916 No Mint Mark dimes worth?
Barber dimes without the mint mark typically cost $4 to $100, but you need to set aside about $110 to $1,900 for uncirculated pieces.
Mercury dimes produced in Philadelphia the same year are a bit more affordable, and you can find them for $3 to $35 on the current market. If you prefer pieces in the mint state, you should set aside approximately $40 to $840 per one.