1916 Mercury Dime. Mercury. MS-67 FB (PCGS). CAC--Gold Label. This fully frosty Superb Gem combines razor sharp striking detail, superior surface preservation and vivid toning. It is sure to see spirited competition when it crosses the auction block. The rims are crisp and distinct from the peripheral design element and, the centers fully defined over even the most intricate design elements. This gorgeous coin from the first year of the Mercury dime series is outstanding!Charles E. Barbers design for the dime, quarter, and half dollar finally reached the end of the line and were due for replacement in 1916. The new design for the dime was created by Adolph A. Weinman, who chose to feature a bust of Liberty wearing a cap with small wings on the side to represent Freedom of Thought and Expression and the soaring American spirit. The reverse bears a representation of the Roman <em>fasces lictoriae</em>, a bundle of rods surrounding an ax representing magisterial power and authority, with an olive branch wrapped around representing the hope for peace in a world consumed in the First World War. The intended interpretation of the obverse design was missed by the general public, who quickly came to call them Mercury dimes, never mind that the Roman god Mercury wore an entirely different style of headpiece called a <em>petasos.</em> However, it is by that moniker that the coin is most commonly known.
