1916 Proof Dime Pattern - J-1794

Coin Details

Auction Record

$144,000 PR58 08-28-2022 Heritage Auctions

Description

A proof pattern for Adolph Weinman's iconic Mercury dime design, struck in 1916 as the primary design evaluation piece for the new ten-cent denomination. The proof format — characterized by mirror-like fields, frosted devices, and exceptional sharpness — represents the ideal presentation of Weinman's design and served as the definitive reference specimen against which production strikes would be measured. J-1794 is the primary Judd catalog entry for the 1916 dime pattern and anchors the sub-variety sequence that includes J-1794a and J-1794b. Weinman's design had been selected in a competition organized by the Commission of Fine Arts, chaired by sculptor James Earle Fraser (designer of the Buffalo Nickel). The competition invited three sculptors — Weinman, MacNeil, and Albin Polasek — to submit designs for the dime, quarter, and half dollar simultaneously. Weinman's Winged Liberty Head obverse drew on classical imagery to create a distinctly American composition: the winged cap symbolizes freedom of thought, a concept with deep roots in the American philosophical tradition. The reverse fasces — a bundle of rods symbolizing strength through unity — was an ancient Roman symbol that had been adopted by the young American republic. This proof pattern captures Weinman's artistic vision in its purest form, before the inevitable compromises required for mass production.

Rarity Notes

R-7 (Extremely Rare). The primary catalog entry for the Mercury dime pattern is one of the most desirable Design Reform era patterns.

Cross References

Judd J-1794, Pollock P-1984