You’ve handled thousands of these tiny coins—maybe even tossed one aside today. But what if I told you one ordinary-looking dime sold for $456,000? Or that a 1965 dime found in a grandfather’s album fetched $8.5 million? Roosevelt dimes (minted 1946-present) hide astonishing rarities that rewrite numismatic rules.
As a coin specialist with 20+ years experience, I’ve tracked these treasures from dusty attics to record-breaking auctions. Here’s your insider guide to the 15 most valuable Roosevelt Dimes examples—and how to spot them.
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Why the Roosevelt Dime? A Legacy Cast in Silver
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s portrait landed on the dime in 1946 as a tribute to his leadership through the Great Depression and WWII, his founding of the March of Dimes to combat polio (the disease that paralyzed him), and overwhelming public demand to honor the president who hid his wheelchair from cameras.
The choice was strategic: Hollywood withdrew polio funding after FDR’s death, and placing him on America’s smallest coin revived donations.
Despite some controversy from critics who argued Lincoln and Washington had “earned” their coin portraits, 90% of citizens demanded Roosevelt’s likeness.
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The Crown Jewels: 5 Dimes Worth Life-Changing Money
1. 1975 No-S Proof Dime
- Value: $456,000 (PR 68)
- The Flaw: Missing “S” mintmark (all San Francisco Proofs should have this)
- Backstory: Only two confirmed specimens exist. One surfaced in a collector’s proof set—likely untouched since 1975.
2. 1965 Silver Planchet Error
- Value: $8.5 million (MS 68)
- The Mistake: Struck on 90% silver instead of copper-nickel during the 1965 transition
- Discovery: Found in a Pennsylvania grandfather’s coin album. Only 5–10 exist.
3. 1968 No-S Proof Deep Cameo
- Value: $47,000 (PR 68 DCAM)
- Key Detail: Another missing “S” mintmark. PCGS has certified only 18 specimens.
4. 1983 No-S Proof
- Value: $10,560 (PR 70 DCAM)
- Pattern: San Francisco accidentally released proofs without mintmarks. Rare in top grades.
5. 1949-S Full Band Business Strike
- Value: $13,200 (MS 68 FB)
- The “FB” Secret: “Full Band” dimes show complete horizontal lines on the torch. Under 1% qualify due to weak strikes.
Silver Transition Errors: When “Wrong” Metal Creates Millions
6. 1965 Copper-Nickel Clad on Silver Planchet
- Value: $5,000–$10,000+
- Why Valuable: Accidental use of 90% silver blanks during the 1965 composition change. Verify by weight: silver = 2.50g, clad = 2.27g.
7. 1964-D Doubled Die Reverse
- Value: $1,375 (MS 65 FB)
- Key Feature: Doubling on torch/flame details. The last silver year adds historical premium.
Condition Rarities: Where Perfection Pays
8. 1951 Proof Deep Cameo
- Value: $23,500 (PR 68 DCAM)
- Why Valuable: Early silver proofs with “Deep Cameo” frost (mirror fields + frosted devices) are scarce. Only 3% achieve this contrast.
9. 1956 Full Band (FB) Business Strike
- Value: $9,988 (MS 68 FB)
- The FB Premium: Requires perfectly aligned dies to show fully separated torch bands. Most dimes have blurred bands.
10. 1946 Type 1 Silver Dime
- Value: $12,650 (MS 69)
- Historic Significance: First year of issue. Controversial design—sculptor Selma Burke accused engraver John Sinnock of plagiarism.
Modern Marvels: 21st-Century Treasures
11. 1998-P “Bonded Group” Error
- Value: $9,200
- The Flaw: 32 dimes fused into a 72.3g lump by a malfunctioning press. A one-off sculptural oddity.
12. 1996-W Roosevelt Dime
- Value: $20–$100
- Key Fact: Only West Point Mint dime ever struck for circulation (1.457 million made). Found exclusively in 1996 Mint Sets.
13. 1999-D Regular Strike
- Value: $14,375 (MS 65)
- Surprise Factor: Modern clad dime worth 143,750x face value. Value comes from pristine condition or off-center errors.
Hidden Circulation Gems: What’s in Your Pocket?
14. 1982 No-P Dime
- Value: $2,185 (MS 68)
- The Error: Philadelphia dimes gained “P” mintmarks in 1980. A few 1982 coins skipped this step—a mint worker’s $2,000+ oversight.
15. 1970-S No Mint Mark
- Value: $250+
- Rarity: Handful struck without “S.” Often found in West Coast circulation.
3 Simple Checks to Spot Goldmine Dimes
- Edge Test: Silver dimes (pre-1965) have solid silver edges. Clad coins show copper stripes.
- Magnet Check: Silver isn’t magnetic. If a dime sticks, it’s clad or counterfeit.
- Torch Inspection: Use a 5x loupe. Full horizontal bands = “Full Band” premium (MS 60+ only).
“Finding a rare dime is like holding history in your palm—a 1946 coin carries FDR’s legacy; a 1965 error reveals the chaos of the silver crisis.”
Why Your Dime Might Be Worth $10,000+
- Mint Errors Rule: Missing mint marks, off-center strikes, or wrong planchets dominate top values.
- Grade is Everything: An MS 69 dime can be worth 100,000x more than a circulated one. Never clean coins—it erases surfaces.
- Full Band Premium: FB-designated dimes command 3–5x more than non-FB equivalents.
- Silver Bonus: All pre-1965 dimes contain $2.50 in silver melt value—but collectors pay premiums for keys.
