Mint State

Paul is a senior editor and has been a member of the Coin World staff since 1988. Paul covers the U.S. Mint beat and has memorably reported for more than two decades on many of the hobby's most important stories, including the record sale of the Farouk/Fenton 1933 double eagle and the protracted legal proceedings of the Langbord 1933 double eagles. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Grove City College in Pennsylvania and collects autographs and memorabilia from The Andy Griffith Show.

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Eager anticipation: Breaking down the gold 1916 centennial coins

The 2016 Winged Liberty Head dime to be struck to mark the centennial of the coin's 1916 introduction into circulation in .900 fine silver will be produced as a tenth-ounce, 24-karat gold release. Shown are mock-up images for the coin.

Images courtesy of U.S. Mint.

2016_Standling_Liberty_Gold_Quarter_Merged

The gold 2016 Standing Liberty quarter dollar is to feature sculptor Hermon A. MacNeil's original Bared Breast obverse from 1916, not the modified Mailed Breast subtype introduced in 1917.

Images courtesy of U.S. Mint.

24-karat gold 2016 half dollar will be struck in a half-ounce size to mark the centennial anniversary of the introduction of sculptor Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty half dollar designs.

Images courtesy of U.S. Mint.

The United States Mint released mock-up designs June 17 that tentatively depict what the 2016-dated Winged Liberty Head dime, Standing Liberty quarter dollar and Walking Liberty half dollar 100th Anniversary gold coins will look like.

Members of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee previewed the designs during two days of coin and medal design review June 16 and 17.

The most prominent of factors in the centennial coin’s production is the Mint’s decision to employ sculptor Hermon A. MacNeil’s original Bared Breast obverse introduced in 1916, and not the modified 1917 Mailed Breast version that masks Liberty’s previously exposed right bosom

The three 2016 coins’ mock-up designs appear to replicate the original .900 fine silver versions that MacNeil designed for the Standing Liberty quarter dollar and sculptor Adolph A. Weinman did for the dime and half dollar.

As illustrated in the mock-up designs, the precious metal composition would be given as AU, its elemental symbol on the periodic table, instead of GOLD. The weight would be given as 1/10 OZ. for the dime, 1/4 OZ. for the quarter dollar and 1/2 OZ. for the half dollar. The fineness inscription would be 24K (for 24 karat), and not .9999 FINE as it appears on American Buffalo gold coins.

The fineness, weight and metallic content are tentatively slated to appear on the obverse of the Standing Liberty quarter dollar, but are set for the reverse side of the other two denominations. Each coin will retain its respective face value — dime, quarter dollar and half dollar.

All three coins are expected to be eagerly awaited by collectors.

Here’s what some Facebook fans are already saying, specifically on the gold dime, from our initial June 17 posting at Coinworld.com announcing all three denominations:

Christopher Brant: I think they should mint this in gold and platinum.

Noah T. Wright: I’ll take one.

Vernon Peterson: I think the 2016 date is to large & doesn't look right. Since it shows 1/10oz of gold + "ONE DIME", why not place the date in Roman Numerals - MMXVI instead of 2016...

Steve Elam: Waste of Time! Not A Dime!

As Coin World learns additional details of any design modifications, surface finishes, release dates, mintages and product options, we will report them to you.