1926-D

Denver produced 6,828,000 dimes in 1926, putting the issue within the mid-range tier of branch-mint figures for the decade. The coin entered Western circulation channels and saw heavy use through the late 1920s and the Depression years that followed. Survivors at typical grade levels are common, but high-grade preservation thins quickly. Strike quality on the 1926-D ranges from acceptable to soft, and a portion of the production shows the kind of central fasces weakness that complicates Full Bands collecting. The date is not generally considered among the major condition rarities of the series, but gem Full Bands coins still require patient hunting and a real budget. Original rolls did not survive in significant numbers, and most upper Mint State pieces emerged from advanced specialist collections over the decades.

The Adolph A. Weinman design carries through unchanged, with Liberty in her winged Phrygian cap on the obverse and the fasces wrapped by an olive branch on the reverse. Composition is 90 percent silver, 10 percent copper, weight 2.5 grams, diameter 17.9 millimeters, with a reeded edge. The D mintmark sits on the reverse to the left of the fasces base. The Full Bands (FB) designation from Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) is awarded only when the two horizontal bands at the fasces center display complete separation across their full width. Authentication checkpoints include the mintmark for tooling or repunching irregularities, the weight standard at 2.5 grams, and an examination of the rim and reeded edge for harsh repair work. Genuine fields show a fine die-flow grain at magnification.

PCGS and NGC populations on the 1926-D drop sharply once grades cross MS-65 FB, and Heritage Auctions plus Stack's Bowers Galleries have logged a number of strong sales at the upper levels. Read the full Mercury Dime series history.