[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: 25,610,000 (Ranking 48/77)

POPULAR VARIETIES: The only reported variety is the seemingly inevitable die crack from wingtip to rim.

RARITY: Much like 1924(P), this date is common only in the lower circulated grades and in the lower Mint State grades. XF-AU coins are slightly scarce, as are well struck Uncirculated pieces grading MS-65 and higher.

While it was still possible to encounter an original roll of this issue as late as the 1980s, it’s doubtful that any of these still exist. The debut of certification and encapsulation services at that time provided great incentives to break up these rolls.

Presently, the highest certified grade for this date is MS-67 FB, two examples being published, along with a single coin of that grade lacking full bands.

COMMENTS: Philadelphia Mint dimes of the 1920s are, as a rule, fairly well struck. 1925(P) is an exception. Although full band coins are not great rarities, nearly all coins of this date display an overall softness, both centrally and peripherally. A common problem spot is the date, in which the final digit may be flat and indistinct. This likely accounts for the smaller than expected population of gems.