[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, David W. Lange. This information was originally published in 2005 in The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes]
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MINTAGE: 55,230,000 (Ranking 62/77)
POPULAR VARIETIES: Two distinct and transitional hub pairings are known. While better described as subtypes than varieties, they are nonetheless quite collectable. This date is known to exhibit dramatic strike doubling, a curiosity common to many dates in this series (photos). A clashed obverse die is also noted.
RARITY: This issue is common in all grades through MS-65, though slightly scarcer in gem than the 1916(P) dimes. Many Mint State pieces have full bands. Both luster and strike are excellent with this issue.
COMMENTS: Only a relatively small number, about one dime in eight, were coined from dies of the old hubs used in 1916. New obverse and reverse hubs were introduced early in 1917, and dies sunk from these hubs were employed in coining the majority of the dimes produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Dies from both old and new hubs were used for branch mint coins, as well.3 The new obverse hub is lower in overall relief, most noticeably in the curls framing Liberty’s face and along the leading edge of her wing. More subtle is the narrowing of the obverse border and the shallower relief of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Gone are the textured fields of the original model.
For purposes of identification, the author has chosen to describe these subtypes as the Type of 1916 (T16) and the Type of 1917 (T17). These designations apply principally to the obverse hub types, as the only distinction evident between the old and new reverse hubs is the presence or absence, respectively, of a textured field. In all other features, the reverse types are indistinguishable.
The overall higher relief in Liberty’s portrait which helps to distinguish the Type of 1916 is evident in even the lowest grades. In such coins, the tips of Liberty’s wing feathers remain visible when all other details have been obliterated. For this reason, dimes of the Type of 1916 can be slightly puzzling to grade below Very Good when using conventional standards. A bit of experience and observation will enable one to overcome this difficulty.
The lowering of relief on the obverse deprived viewers of much of the design’s boldness, and numismatics was certainly the loser in this action. The winner was clearly the Mint’s coining and engraving departments, which may have benefited from the extended die life for which purpose these changes were likely made. Further modifications to the obverse hub appeared in the following year. Both the Type of 1916 and the Type of 1917 are illustrated above. For close-up photos of the distinguishing features, see Chapter 2.
The mintage of dimes at the Philadelphia Mint in 1917 was remarkably high for that era. Acting Mint Director Mary M. O’Reilly wrote to Philadelphia Mint Superintendent Adam M. Joyce on June 28 with an urgent plea: “Will you please arrange as early as possible to coin dimes exclusively for the present. The Treasurer reports that he has a supply of quarters and halves in the sub-treasuries at present, but needs all you can give him of dimes.”4
The need for an increase in productivity was brought about by the tremendous upsurge in demand for fractional coins during 1917. This resulted from America’s growing industrial output as the major provisionary and banker for Britain and France during World War I. This nation’s entry into the war in April of that year further increased the demand for newly coined silver. Around the clock operation of three shifts per day soon became routine at all United States Mints. An increase in both personnel and security necessitated the closure of the Philadelphia Mint to visitors on February 3.5 This policy remained in effect until one month before the war’s end and was soon extended to the other mints, as well.
