Determining MM on very worn coins?

What's the best way to determine the MM on a VERY worn coin (if any)??

The coin in particular is a 1916 Mercury Dime.

 

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Mint marks on genuine coins are usually still visible even if the coin grades AG. I've seen AG Mercury dimes where the mint mark is easily seen in that grade. Now, if the coin is so worn that the rims are not even there, then the value of the coin is in question even if it is genuine. But I've never seen a coin so worn that the mint mark is completely gone.

 

.......perhaps known markers. but of course you would have to be able to see them too.

 

A good rule of thumb with 1916 D's is that even on AG's and Poors the mintmark is usually still pretty easy to see. For some reason it seems the shape of the "D" took less punishment then the "S".

That is my guess but I have looked at a lot of graded and ungraded AG and worse 1916 D's and this is just an observation I have made.

 

This one I found under a floor of an old mill house about 6 year ago.
from 16-17 the mint mark is smaller than and set different location other year till 1920.
I hope that helps

 

Under 10X I was able to see something very beautiful last night....a D.

 

Something very surprising...it took an expert to tell you to do that. :goofer:

 

What can I say, I'm a little slow.:headbang:

 

Ain't we all, to various degrees...

Nice find, UV! :thumb:

 

Well you can still detect a worn out mint mark with a magno-flux test. Put coin on magnet and apply tiny bits of iron to the coin, shake very gently. The iron should show the old mint mark. Traci

 

Thanks. Good info. I'll try that to verify what my old, tired eyes saw.:bigeyes::bigeyes:

 

PS -put a very thin piece of paper between the coin and magnet so you can shake gently. Traci )