1918 S Mercury Dime

This is another high mintage issue that made hastily under stressful condition. A fair number of Mint State examples survive, but they are usually of disappointing quality. Most are weak at their peripheries, with features near the borders being indistinct (photos). Overuse of the dies compounded this problem, and it's not unusual to see worn, drawn dates and mint marks on unworn coins from eroded dies. This issue is very rare with Full Bands, but collectors are cautioned not to place sole emphasis on this design feature, as FB dimes of any date/mint may be accompanied by weak peripheral elements. The ultimate goal is to locate a coin from fresh dies that is well struck throughout, but with issues such as 1918-S this is a near impossibility.