What Dimes Are Worth Money?
Dimes are the smallest coins still used in American currency, but there’s a ton of history behind these small, thin discs! Indeed, many dimes are worth far more than $0.10 — some are worth thousands of dollars and of incalculable value to coin collectors.
Let’s take a deep dive into what US dimes could be worth a lot of money. That way, you’ll know how to begin your dime collection or expand your numismatic collection.
A Brief History of Dimes
Dimes were first created by the US Mint in 1796. These small, silver coins did actually have real silver in their material compositions back in the day. Between the years of 1796 in 1837, each dime showed lady liberty on the obverse side. The reverse side featured an eagle.
In 1837, the reverse side switched to show a wreath design instead of an eagle, while Lady Liberty got to keep her place on the obverse side until 1946. At that point, the profile of Franklin D Roosevelt replaced Lady Liberty, marking the beginning of the so-called “Roosevelt dimes.”
Between the years of 1916 and 1945, the US Mint also made a Mercury dime series designed by Adolph A. Weinman. Lady Liberty’s profile was on the obverse side for this dime series. The series got its odd name because Lady Liberty looked somewhat like Mercury, a Roman god. The reverse side featured fasces and an olive branch.
It was only in 1965 that the Mint stopped adding silver to dimes. After that point, each dime was made with a copper-nickel clad to prevent rust. Dimes have the same face values they always have, but many are worth more at auctions and elsewhere. Coin grading, errors, and how many the United States Mint made of a particular coin can affect a coin’s value.
Eight Rare Dimes To Look Out For
Dimes have been around for a while, but only some of them have achieved “valuable” status. Ever fewer are classified as truly rare. Here are eight rare dimes you should watch out for as you search for new pieces for your collection — some are among the most valuable coins ever.
1. 1796 Draped Bust Dime
The 1796 Draped Bust Dime is a true rarity, produced in quantities of over 22,000 by the Philadelphia Mint just four years after the Mint began production in general. These extremely rare coins have sold for between $2000 and $50,000, depending on their condition.
The highest-valued 1976 Draped Bust Dime was sold for over $881,000 in 2014. The coin is technically classified as a specimen strike because you cannot see any imperfections from the planchet due to its age.
2. 1894-S Barber Dime
The 1894-S Barber Dime is highly expensive, and for a good reason: it’s one of the 24 early silver dimes made by the San Francisco Mint. It was struck in 1894 using a Charles E. Barber design.
At the time of this writing, only nine of these dime specimens exist, so it is one of the rarest and highest-value US coins ever made. Auction prices have historically reached approximately $2 million in the past.
3. 1916-D Mercury Dime: Winged Liberty Head
The 1916-D Mercury Dime has the historically lowest mintage of any coin in the Mercury Dime series. Only about 254,000 of these coins were minted, so they’re quite rare and valuable as a result.
The coins were minted at the Denver Mint. Production of these coins ceased shortly after it began since the Denver Mint was ordered to concentrate on minting quarter dollars and half dollars for the rest of the year. These coins are now worth anywhere between $850 and $13,000 — pristine versions have historically sold for nearly $40,000.
4. 1942/1 and 1942/1-D Overdate Mercury Dimes
The 1942/1 and 1942/1-D Mercury Dimes are amazing finds. There are over 41 of these overdate error dimes. They feature a major error of the Silver Mercury Dime series: The year “1942” punched distinctly over the year “1941.” These errors occurred at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, although the error coins from the Philadelphia Mint are a little more noticeable.
You can tell that you have one of these coins if you notice a “1” on the left-hand side of the “2” in the years on the bottom of the coins. These rare dimes have sold for almost $17,500 in uncirculated condition.
Top Roosevelt Dimes
Roosevelt dimes are those struck after 1946, so named because they display the profile of Pres. Franklin D Roosevelt on the obverse side. These dimes were authorized shortly after the president’s death in 1945. While they may not be as old as the dimes above, many of the top Roosevelt dimes are just as rare and valuable for different reasons.
5. 1975 No-S Proof Roosevelt Dime
The 1975 No-S Proof Roosevelt Dime was not struck in Philadelphia, despite being a proof coin for comparison and testing. True to the mint mark, these dimes came from the San Francisco Mint.
Ultimately, this is one of the most well-respected and valued coins ever, partially because not many are left. The original owner of these dimes purchased five proof sets, two of which came without the S mint mark. These two points are the only ones that have been found to date, and they have been sold for prices as high as $456,000.
6. 1982 No Mint MarkRoosevelt Dime
On your search for the rarest dimes, you might come across the 1982 no-mint markRoosevelt dime. This was the first US business strike coin that accidentally left the US Mint without containing the right mint mark. It’s now worth much more than it would be normally because of this error.
These dimes were first discovered in 1982 in December (and most of them were discovered in Ohio). It’s theorized that tens of thousands of these coins exist. However, many coin collectors have had difficulty getting their hands on these dimes, despite searching in the original areas where they were first discovered.
7. Honorary Mention: Pre-1965 Roosevelt Dimes for Silver Content
Prior to 1965, all dimes in the US were minted with material compositions containing 90% silver. Thanks to this precious metal, they are a little more valuable for melting compared to their modern counterparts.
Therefore, if you can find a pre-1965 Roosevelt dime, odds are it has a good quantity of silver as opposed to its post-1965 iterations.
You can determine whether a Roosevelt dime was made prior to 1965 by:
- Looking for the year of issue on the dime
- Looking for a faint white luster on the dime’s surface. This is characteristic of silver alloy
- An image of Young Liberty or Pres. Roosevelt, either of which may be present on this unique dime varietal
- Asking for a professional coin grader. Organizations like the NGC and the PCGS can determine if your pocket change is worth anything.
Resources for Coin Collectors
As you can see, there are plenty of rare dimes for you to pursue as you build or round out your coin collection. But whether you’re a novice coin collector or experienced, you need a great resource to find rare dimes and other valuable coinage.
Bullion Shark is the go-to online coin marketplace for collectors. Check out our selections of historical coins, ancient coins, and much more today!
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