Worth ten cents, the dime is not ten times bigger than the penny. In fact, it's actually smaller! Thus, the dime had to be rather small, since it only had one-tenth the amount of silver that the dollar coin had. Eventually, other coins, such as nickels and pennies, were needed to make transactions easier.
The standard 2020 Roosevelt dimes are made of a clad composition that contains copper and nickel. Clad proof dimes and silver proof dimes were also minted and they sell for more money. Keep reading to learn more about these coins.
Silver dimes (90% silver) were minted until 1964. The US Mint switched from silver to a copper-nickel alloy in 1965. This alloy remains in use today.
Mercury Head DimeThe Winged Liberty Head dime is most commonly referred to as a mercury dime. Most people assume the coin contains an image of mercury the greek messenger and god of trade.
The dime is a US coin worth ten cents. Ten dimes make a dollar. One dime can be written 10¢ or $0.10.
a very attractive person; "a perfect ten". Frequently, attractiveness is rated on "a scale of 1 to 10." In the United States, a dime is worth 10 cents. Hence, a "dime" is one whose attractiveness rates 10 on the scale.
What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc. ):
| Good (G-4) | Very Good (VG-8) | Uncirculated (MS-65) |
|---|
| Good (G-4) | Very Good (VG-8) | Uncirculated (MS-65) |
|---|
| - | - | $2.22 |
One of the most valuable Mercury dimes ever sold at public auction commanded its price in large part due to the presence of FB details. This specimen, a 1938-S Mercury dime graded Mint State-68 FB by Professional Coin Grading Service, took an astounding $364,250.
The man on the nickel is President Thomas Jefferson, who took his place there in 1938. The building on the back of many nickels is called “Monticello,” a large home that Jefferson designed and built for himself. But change can change! Check out the designs of the Westward Journey Nickel Series™.
The 1944 dime value is $1.92 for a coin that is circulated, priced close to its worth in silver value. Old Mercury dimes are widely collected however and there is potential of higher value.
Most wheat cents (wheat pennies were minted between 1909 and 1956) are worth about 4 to 5 cents. Those in better condition can have double-digit value. Special examples (especially those in near perfect condition) can be worth much more. Indian Head pennies from 1859 to 1879 are generally worth more than $10.
Winged Liberty Head dimes, also known as Mercury dimes, are highly scarce. They do, however, turn up from time to time in circulation. There are a few rare business strikes, such as the 1916-D, 1921, and 1921-D. There are also some other scarce varieties, including the 1942/1 and 1942/1-D overdates.
The 1942 dime value is $1.94 - helped by the price of silver it contains. A majority of 1942 Mercury dimes, if circulated are at this price. Collectors and dealers begin to attach a premium value to coins in "uncirculated" condition, coins that have remained well preserved and appear as if brand new.
The dime was established by the Coinage Act in 1792, but in the act it was called a “disme.” Disme (pronounced dime) was an old word, from French, for tenth, which came from the Latin decima. The more common spelling even at that time was “dime” and that was what people used as soon as it was minted.
The wheat penny is a classic iconic early 21st century American coin with a face value of 1 cent that was minted from 1909 to 1956. The coin is made out of mostly copper, but steel versions of the coin were issued during World War II. In 1909 there were V.D.B. and Non V.D.B.
The 1894-S Barber dime is a dime produced in the United States Barber coinage. It is one of the rarest and most highly prized United States coins for collectors, along with the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty Head nickel. One was sold in 2005 for $1.3 million, and another for $1.9 million in 2007.
While most of the darker-colored pennies out there have some form of damage (usually corrosion), keep your eyes out for steel cents and off-metal planchet errors! Some have signs of heavy corrosion — often appearing dark brown to almost black in color.
CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1964 Roosevelt Dime value at an average of $3.00, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $10.
10 of the Rarest Dimes in Existence
- 1798 Large 8 Draped Bust Dime.
- 1859 S Seated Liberty Dime.
- 1874 CC Liberty Seated Dime with Arrows.
- 1798 Small 8 Draped Bust Dime.
- 1916 D Full Band Mercury Dime.
- 1894 S Barber Dime.
- 1871 CC Seated Liberty Dime Mint Condition.
- 1872 CC Liberty Seated Dime Mint Condition.
CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1969 Roosevelt Dime value at an average of 10 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $6.
Uncirculated 1965 dimes (the kind that have never been spent as money) are worth about 30 cents and up. SMS 1965 dimes (included in the 1965 Special Mint Set) are worth about $1.50 or more.
CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1977 D Roosevelt Dime value at an average of 10 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $3.
These are the 20 most valuable dimes, and they are worth a combined $6.1 million.
- 1945 S Micro S Full Band Mercury Dime.
- 1860 Liberty Seated Dime.
- 1968 No S Roosevelt Dime Proof.
- 1856 S Seated Liberty Dime.
- 1844 Seated Liberty Dime.
- 1860 O Seated Liberty Dime.
- 1874 Seated Liberty Dime With Arrows Proof.
The Top 10 Most Valuable Nickels
| Type | Year | Estimated Value |
|---|
| 1. Liberty Head V Nickel | 1913 | $3,737,500 |
| 2. 7-D Buffalo Nickel | 1918 | $350,750 |
| 3. S Buffalo Nickel | 1926 | $322,000 |
| 4. Buffalo Nickel | 1916 | $281,750 |
Generally speaking though, these coins are affordable for most any type of collector simply because so many still exist. On the open market today, you can expect to find Roosevelt Dimes ranging in price from as little as $1 to as much as $4 in absolutely pristine condition.
This transitional error coin was struck when the United States Mint was moving from the production of 90% silver Roosevelt dimes to making the ten-cent coin from copper-nickel clad. The 1964 clad Roosevelt dime is a rare coin with only a handful of specimens, and these are worth four figures or more.
Junk Silver Dime Prices
| Silver Price Per Ounce | 90% Silver Dime Value |
|---|
| $12 | 87¢ |
| $14 | $1.01 |
| $16 | $1.16 |
| $18 | $1.30 |
25 Most Valuable US Pennies
- 1.) 1944 Steel Wheat Penny - Worth $110,334.
- 2.) 1943 Copper Wheat Penny - Worth $85,782.
- 3.) 1856 Flying Eagle Penny - Worth $25,000.
- 4.) 1873 Indian Head Penny - Worth $10,000.
- 5.) 1858 Flying Eagle Penny - Worth $10,000.
- 6.) 1857 Flying Eagle Penny - Worth $7,000.
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CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1966 Roosevelt Dime value at an average of 10 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $8. (see details)
