When you say a dime you know you are talking about the smallest circulating coin and something that actually has no real value at all. I mean what can you even buy for 10 cents nowadays? Nothing. Or maybe you are wrong?
I know you all are confused now, but this really depends on what kind of dime you have. Just as you know, there are some rare and valuable coins. Some have a face value of $200, $100, $50, $5, or a quarter dollar, and believe it or not some dimes can fetch you some nice amount of money.
So I gave myself a task to explore and learn which dimes worth money and write this comprehensive list. I hope that after reading this article you’ll all check on your pocket change, you can never know, maybe you have one with you.
Evolution Of The U.S. Dime
As usual let us briefly talk about the history and evolution of the U.S. dime. The dime is the smallest and thinnest U.S. coin and its face value is 10 cents. The denomination of the dime was in use for the first time in 1792. And in French, it means a “tenth part” of the decimal. In fact, the dime was the first coin ever minted in the U.S. even before the official mints existed.
Types of U.S. Dimes
Currently, the U.S. dime features a portrait of Franklin Roosevelt on the front side, while on the back side you’ll find an olive branch, oak branch, and a torch. This design is in use from 1946 until this day, however, the design of the dime was changed from time to time, and here is the list of all his previous looks:
- Disme – this was the very first design created in 1792. It had the face value of one dollar which is odd. This particular coin was minted in some smaller amount but never released into circulation.
- Draped Bust – the second dime design from 1796 and the first design that was released into circulation. It features a portrait of Lady Liberty on the front side and a bald eagle with live branches on the backside. This coin was minted until 1807.
- Seated Liberty – the third design portrays Lady Liberty sitting on a rock while she is holding a shield and a liberty flag. On the back side, ONE DIME is engraved and decorated with a wreath. This coin was minted in the period from 1837 until 1891.
- Barber – this design got its name after Charles Barber who created them. The front side of these dimes shows the bust of Liberty wearing a cap and headband. The back side has ONE DIME engraved and decorated with wreath, similar to the previous design. These coins were minted from 1892 until 1916.
- Mercury – also known as the Winged Liberty Head. This coin design portrays a Roma goddess Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with wings. On the back side, you’ll find a juxtaposed and an olive branch twisted around it. The coin was minted from 1919 until 1945.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt – current dime design was in use since 1946. His portrait was placed on a dime coin to honor him shortly after he died in 1945.
In the past dimes were minted out of silver, except the first ones which were made of copper. However, as I mentioned in the previous articles in 1965 congress made The Coinage Act, which completely changed the material composition for minting. From 1965 all coins are minted out of a combination of copper and nickel instead of silver.
Like with many other coins, the most valuable dimes are the old ones that are kept in great minting condition. This does not mean the coin is flawless. It is normal that your old coin changes in color with time due to oxidation.
Dimes that are worth some money nowadays are in excellent condition and rare because of their production errors, or mall quantities produced.
Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money (Table Chart)
| Name | Mintage | Metal composition | Diameter and weight | Varieties | Year | Estimated value for uncirculated coins |
| 1894-S Barber Dimes, | 24 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1894 | $1,997,500 |
| 1796 Draped Bust Dimes, | 22,135 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1796 | $881,250 |
| 1804 Draped Bust Dimes, | 8,265 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1804 | $632,500 |
| 1975 No S Roosevelt Dime | N/A
Only two of these coins are known to exist |
91.67% copper 8.33% nickel | 17.9mm
2.27 grams |
No | 1975 | $456,000 |
| 1822-P Capped Bust Dimes, | 100,000 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1822 | $440,625 |
| 1797 Draped Bust Dimes – 13 Stars, | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1797 | $402,500 |
| 1938-S Mercury, | 8,090,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1938 | $364,250 |
| 1800 Draped Bust Dimes, | 21,760 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1800 | $352,500 |
| 1803-P Draped Bust Dimes, | 33,040 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1803 | $322,000 |
| 1931-S Mercury, | 1,800,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1931 | $270,250 |
| 1798 Draped Bust Dimes, | 27,550 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1798 | $253,000 |
| 1798/7 Draped Bust Dime. John Reich-2. Rarity-6. 13 Star Reverse. Mint State-63 | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1798 | $199,750 |
| 1797-P Draped Bust Dime. 1797 16 Stars. John Reich-1. Mint State-66 | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1797 | $199,750 |
| 1916-D Mercury, | 264,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1916 | $195,500 |
| 1805 Draped Bust Dimes, | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1805 | $188,000 |
| 1838-P Seated Liberty Dimes, | 1,992,500 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.67 grams |
Yes | 1838 | $182,125 |
| 1804 Draped Bust Dime. 13 Star. John Reich-1. Rarity-5. About Uncirculated-55 | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1804 | $164,500 |
| 1919-D Mercury, | 9,939,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1919 | $156,000 |
| 1820-P Capped Bust Dimes, | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1820 | $156,000 |
| 1820-P Capped Bust Dimes, | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1820 | $152,750 |
| 1833-P Capped Bust Dimes, | 485,000 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.5 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1833 | $149,500 |
| 1918-S Mercury, | 19,300,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1918 | $144,000 |
| 1835-P Capped Bust Dimes, | 1,410,000 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.5 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1835 | $143,750 |
| 1802-P Draped Bust Dimes, | 10,975 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1802 | $138,000 |
| 1942/1-P Mercury, | N/A | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2% grams |
Yes | 1942 | $120,000 |
| 1801-P Draped Bust Dimes, | 34,640 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1801 | $111,652 |
| 1824-P Capped Bust Dimes : 4 Over 2 – Pointed Top, PR67 NGC. JR-1, High R.7 | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1824 | $108,000 |
| 1837-P Seated Liberty Dimes, | 682,500 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.67 grams |
Yes | 1837 | $105,750 |
| 1923-S Mercury, | 6,440,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1923 | $105,750 |
| 1945-P Mercury, | 159,130,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1945 | $96,000 |
| 1853-P Liberty Seated Half Dime. Arrows. V-4. Proof-64 (PCGS). CAC. | 1,100,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.67 grams |
Yes | 1853 | $96,000 |
| 1831-P Capped Bust Dimes,
John Reich-5. Rarity-1. Mint State-68
|
771,350 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.5 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1831 | $94,000 |
| 1814-P Capped Bust Dime. John Reich-1. Rarity-3. Small Date. Mint State-66+ | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1814 | $94,000 |
| 1825-P Capped Bust Dimes, | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1825 | $92,000 |
| 1842 Seated Liberty Dimes, | 1,887,500 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.67 grams |
Yes | 1842 | $92,000 |
| 1845-O Seated Liberty Dimes, | 230,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.67 grams |
Yes | 1845 | $92,000 |
| 1935-S Mercury, | 15,840,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1935 | $90,000 |
| 1830-P Capped Bust Dime. John Reich-6. Rarity-7+ as a Proof. Large 10C. Proof-65 Cameo | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.5 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1830 | $88,125 |
| 1798-P Draped Bust Dime. Large 8. John Reich-4. Rarity-3. Mint State-64 | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1798 | $82,250 |
| 1831-P Capped Bust Dimes, | 771,350 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.5 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1831 | $81,000 |
| 1807-P Draped Bust Dime. John Reich-1. Rarity-2. Mint State-66 | 165,000 | 89% silver
11% copper |
19 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1807 | $76,375 |
| 1834-P Capped Bust Dimes, | 635,000 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.5 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1834 | $70,500 |
| 1829-P Capped Bust Dime. JR-7. Rarity-8, as Proof. Small 10 C. Proof-66 | N/A | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.5 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1829 | $70,500 |
| 1821-P Capped Bust Dime. John Reich-2. Rarity-6+. Large Date. Mint State-66 | 1,186,512 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8 mm
2.7 grams |
Yes | 1821 | $70,500 |
| 1843-P Seated Liberty Dimes, | N/A | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.67 grams |
Yes | 1843 | $69,000 |
| 1900-O Barber Dimes, | 2,010,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1900 | $66,000 |
| 1893-S Barber Dimes, | 2,491,401 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1893 | $63,250 |
| 1809 Capped Bust Dime. JR-1, the only known dies. Rarity-3+. MS-66 | 51,065 | 89% silver
11% copper |
18.8 mm
2.7 grams |
No | 1809 | $60,000 |
| 1895-O Barber Dimes, | 440,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1895 | $58,755 |
| 1839-P Liberty Seated Dime. No Drapery. V-2. Repunched Date. Proof-65 Cameo | 1,053,115 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.67 grams |
Yes | 1839 | $55,812 |
| 1838-O Liberty Seated Dime, No Stars MS66 PCGS. CAC. V-1 | N/A | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm 2.67 grams |
Yes | 1838 | $49,937 |
| 1968 No S | N/A
Extremely rare. The estimation is that there are only 6 examples known so far. |
75% copper
25% nickel |
17.9 mm
2.27 grams |
No | 1968 | $48,875 |
| 1895-P | 690,880 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1895 | $46,000 |
| 1855-P Seated Liberty Dimes, | 2,075,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.49 grams |
No | 1855 | $44,650 |
| 1854-O Seated Liberty Dimes, | 1,770,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.49 grams |
Yes | 1854 | $32,200 |
| 1865-S Seated Liberty Dimes, | 175,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.49 grams |
Yes | 1865 | $30,550 |
| 1951 Roosevelt Dime, PR68 Deep Cameo | N/A
Until now only 9 examples appeared on the market |
90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
No | 1951 | $23,500 |
| 1956-P Roosevelt Dime, PR69 Deep Cameo | 109,309,384 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1956 | $19,975 |
| 1950-P Roosevelt Dime, PR68 Deep Cameo | 50,181,500 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1950 | $18,800 |
| 1949-P Roosevelt Dime, MS-68 FB | 30,940,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1949 | $13,200 |
| 1999-D Roosevelt Dime, MS65 Brown | 1,397,750,000 | 91.67% copper 8.33% nickel | 17.9 mm
2.27 grams |
Yes | 1999 | $12,500
*not sold yet* |
| 1964-P Roosevelt SMS Dime, SP66 | 933,310,762 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1964 | $10,200 |
| 1983 Roosevelt Dime No S PCGS Proof-70 DCAM | N/A | 91.67% copper 8.33% nickel | 17.9 mm
2.27 grams |
No | 1983 | $9,600 |
| 1967 Roosevelt Dime, SMS MS68 Deep Cameo PCGS | N/A | 75% copper
25% nickel |
17.9 mm
2.27 grams |
No | 1967 | $9,987 |
| 1956-P Roosevelt Dime, MS68 Full Bands | 109,309,384 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1956 | $9,987 |
| 1954-P Roosevelt Dimes, PR68 Deep Cameo | 114,243,503 | 90% silver
10% copper |
17.9 mm
2.5 grams |
Yes | 1954 | $9,400 |
| 1972-S Roosevelt Dimes, | 3,260,996 | 91.67% copper 8.33% nickel | 17.9 mm
2.27 grams |
Yes | 1972 | $8,400 |
How To Identify Rare Dimes?
Like with all other dimes you must have some basic knowledge about the U.S. dime’s history and how its design evolved. I mentioned that there are a few different designs of this coin, and each represents a different era.
When you try to identify your potentially rare dime make sure you look for the following:
- Mint mark and date – Minting date is very important since this way you’ll know which dime you have. For example, if your coin is dated 1938 it must have a Liberty goddess with a winged cap, all other portraits are fake. Also, pay attention to the mint marks. Dimes were minted in San Francisco (s), Denver (D), New Orleans (O), Carson City (CC), and Philadelphia (P). Keep in mind that if there is no mining mark. In the case of dime coins, those are probably produced in Philadelphia, however, visit some specialist for consultation.
- Condition of the coin – The current state of the coin is crucial. No matter how rare the coin is if it is damaged (some people clean coins and damage the surface) its value is lower. If you have a Disme dime it must be in a good condition since these coins weren’t used, the only markings that are acceptable are discoloration or corrosion.
- Material composition – Check with your reliable coin specialist if the coin material composition is compatible with the era when it is made. Remember all coins before 1965 are made with higher silver content, if the content is lower than 80% the coin is fake!
Where To Look For Rare Dimes?
Of course, your first stop should be your wallet and your pocket change since some rare and available Roosevelt dimes are still circulating! So make sure that after you hit your favorite local coffee shop and you decide to tip the water check your coins (you might be tipping him/her with more than you think).
What I usually told you is to check the Internet auction stores as well as specialized stores where you can buy coins. But since the dimes aren’t so valuable, and there are too many of them, I suggest another approach.
Visit your local coin dealer and buy dimes in rolls or bulks. It will cost you around $5 dollars, but since you buy 50 pieces you have 50 chances to find the scarce and valuable coin! Also, check for the coin machines. These machines convert loose change into paper cash. A lot of people don’t know when they have a valuable dime and swap it for money without knowing.
If all that fails, you can always do some research on your own. These are the most reliable places where you can look:
If you need help with identifying or finding some particular coin you can always post a question on the Coin Community forum.
FAQ
What are the most valuable dimes?
All dimes produced before 1965 have some value since they are made from silver. However, if you want to score a big deal make sure you look for the following pieces:
- 1894-S Barber dimes
- 1796 Draped Busted dimes
- 1804 Draped Busted dimes
- 1975-S Roosevelt dimes
- 1822-P Capped Bust dimes
- 1938-S Mercury dimes
- 1975 No S Roosevelt dimes
- 1873-CC Liberty Seated dime
What are most sought-after Roosevelt dimes that we can find in the circulation nowadays?
To be honest, finding these dimes in your pocket change or on the bank curb in your street is very unlikely, but it is still possible. Look for the following:
- Roosevelt 1949-S – there are 13 million of these coins minted, the rarest ones are with the S mint mark.
- Roosevelt 1955 – they have low mintage and theta re great collectible. The most sought-after is one with the P mint marking or the uncirculated version in MS-62 or higher condition.
- Roosevelt 1996-W – extremely rare, and this one you won’t be able to find in your pocket change since most are uncirculated. They were minted in 1996 as a part of a proof set.
- Roosevelt 1946 – this one is pretty easy to find compared to the other 4 specimens listed here.
- Roosevelt 1982 No P marking – very rare, and valuable due to its minting error – missing the P mint marking.
Why there is no mint mark on dimes minted in Philadelphia?
Since dimes weren’t such valuable coins most of them that were produced in the Philadelphia Mint didn’t have marks. Mostly because this mint was overcrowded with work and before the ‘80s mint marks were hand punched, so you get the point.
However, in the 1980s Philadelphia mint began applying mintmarks to dimes. The good thing about having no mint mark is the value. Some coins that are produced in Philadelphia and don’t have mint marks are scarce variety nowadays, like 1982 Roosevelt dimes.
So Toos A Coin Or Not?
After reading this article I’m sure you all changed the way you look at your dimes. I’m sure some of you even went to check what they have in your wallet while in the middle of reading this article.
Now that we learned that dimes are common coins that can bring you up to a few thousand dollars, you understand why they are so highly appreciated by collectors. Imagine having a 10-cent coin that you can sell for approximately $2 million. This is a shocking price considering its face value and material composition. That is what I call a good and smart investment!
Remember rare and valuable coins are a great way to invest your savings since these collectibles and rarities are not subject to inflation!
Also Read: 15 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes (1975-S Roosevelt Dime No-S PR68 Sold in 2019 For $456,000.00)
