It isn’t often that you see an “Almost Good” coin in a slab, but for key dates, such as this 1916-D Mercury Dime, collectors want the guarantee of a third-party grading service. On the obverse, the detail on Ms. Liberty’s “winged head” is almost completely absent, replaced by smooth steel-grey surfaces. Liberty’s profile is enhanced by the grime wedged between her face and the left field. The obverse is actually a decent candidate for the G-04 grade, with its full rims. However, on the reverse, heavy circulation has taken its toll on the periphery, obliterating most of the detail there. Also, none of the bands on the fasces are visible, and the ax head seems as though it had never been sharpened. Still, for the budget-minded Mercury dime collector with that one last hole to fill, this AG-03 is a perfect fit.

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