1916 Proof Dime Pattern - J-1794/1984

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192,000 PR64 09-17-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

A proof dime pattern cataloged as both J-1794 and 1984, representing yet another variant in the extensive 1916 Mercury dime evaluation series. The depth of the dime pattern production — at least seven distinct entries including the primary J-1794, the sub-varieties 1794a and 1794b, and the dual-numbered 1794/1981 through 1794/1984 — reveals the importance the Mint and the Commission of Fine Arts attached to getting the redesign right. The Mercury dime would serve as the nation's ten-cent coin for nearly three decades, and its design needed to balance artistic distinction with practical durability. Weinman's original sculptural model was reportedly in higher relief than the production version ultimately adopted, and the pattern sequence may document the progressive lowering of relief that was necessary to achieve acceptable die life and striking consistency. The variant associated with catalog number 1984 represents one step in this optimization process, preserving a specific combination of relief, composition, and surface treatment that was evaluated and either modified or rejected.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8 (Extremely Rare). Higher-numbered variants tend to be among the scarcest.

Cross References

Judd J-1794, also cataloged as 1984