Almost Found a 1916D Merc

[SD51]

I was asked by a neighbor to try and locate a buried phone cable and of course I said, YES! Didn't take too long since the cable was less than a foot under ground. I found out that his house was built in 1930 and I asked the obvious question and he agreed to let me look for some coins. He jokingly said he gets to keep any gold and I agreed.

After digging ten pennies, some clad dimes, two nickels and one quarter, I got a dime signal down 8". The soil was good and wet from the recent rains. It took a while to get around some tree roots but out pops a pretty worn Merc! I didn't try to read the date until I got home.

I saw a "191" and couldn't make out the last date digit. I flipped it over to find the mint mark and it's an "S"!

Still not quite sure if it's a 1917 but here's some pics so you guys can help.





Mint mark...

 

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[1637]

i thinking 1919,its funny that its always only the number you need to see thats worn,
cool find brad

 

[bill_wabo]

I see a 5, but i'm 53 with new glasses! Your coin near a century old and still good looking, congrats!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice find!

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on the silver

 

[Javadroid]

Mercs are beautiful coins in any condition. Congrats on the excellent find!

 

[Underwonder]

Congrats!

 

[IDXMonster]

Well it's not a 5...that's for sure,they don't exist. And that "almost" thing only counts in two things...horseshoes and hand grenades. But any time you dig deep silver is a WIN no matter what it is. Good score!

 

[rainorshine]

Looks like 1918 to me

 

[against the wind]

If you want my opinion, it's a 1918s.
Congrats on a nice save.

 

[RVRoamer74]

Nice Merc !! Also nice to help a neighbor out.

If I had to guess I would also say a
1918 s ....

 

[SD51]

Thanks guys for all the comments and help! Agree, always nice to see a Merc surface! It's definitely my oldest one!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on a nice old Merc. They are a beautiful coin to dig.

 

[washingtonian]

Sweet find!

 

[sutphin]

NICE MERC...

 

[A2coins]

im thinking a silversmith could make a d out of an s i have a 1916 with no mint mark

 

[Hawks88]

Beautiful coin find. Congrats

 

[neodetectorist]

I am going to weight in at 1918.
Nice find.

 

[DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus]

I know how you feel. I was detecting one night when I found a mercury dime with the reverse side up in the hole and I clearly saw the "D" mint mark. I picked up the dime and turned it over to see the date and saw "1916". My heart started racing and I felt waves of euphoria. I turned the dime over again and the mint mark had mysteriously become an "S". I could not believe it. I wondered what sort of foul and evil magic was at work. Then I took another anti anxiety pill from my doctor, Dr. Mengele, and set off swinging again, alone into the cold and darkness.

Nice find!