Owner Comments:
I have purchased an 1896 F in mint state and will be sending it to NGC in my next batch.
In this year an effort was made to minimize government spending. "Torrico y Mesa," the "T" in "TF" was replaced by an assistant, leaving only the initial "F" for Juan Figueroa.
The paltry number of 1896 F Dineros graded does not represent their true availability. While the 1896 F is a better date, it is generally findable in circulated grades with some searching. Raw mint state coins are known to appear from time to time, although usually in MS 61-63. 1896 TF is more difficult overall, despite having more coins graded. 1896 F may be more difficult in Gem or better, however. Some 1896 F Dineros have a "textured" surface on the reverse; this is as struck.
Flatt reports an ".F.", an "F.", and an 1896 F with "E" rotated 90 degrees in FIRME. Krause reports a plain date and an 1896/5 (of which the later is the majority of the coins graded), and the rotated "E" variety. They give a price point of $75 for the overdate, and $48.50 for the plain date in MS 60. There is no reason for this price differential, and the lower value is closer to the truth. Krause gives a value of $18 for the rotated "E" variety, which is beyond absurd. This variety is rare. Perhaps they should move the $75 to that column.
It is likely that many or all 1896 F Dineros were created by scrubbing the assayer initial "T" from the dies. This would make sense of the dot sometimes found before the "F". Many coins show remnants of the letter "T", although it often appears as a curved line. More research is needed. The rotated "E" in FIRME variety is quite dramatic and I have only seen one such example thus far. Flatt calls it rare.
Only four graded at NGC/PCGS. One in AU 58 at PCGS (1896/5), one in MS 62 at PCGS, one in 64 at NGC (1896/5) and one in 65 at NGC (1896/5).