Old Dimes Worth Money List – Mintmarks & Value Charts

The key to valuable Dimes is important to know if you are interested in coins value. Despite their small size and value, we cannot deny that 10 cent coins are very valuable in the numismatic market.

Do you know that sometimes the price of dimes can skyrocket? Let’s see a small guide to the most valuable dimes we can find this year.

Types of silver dimes – How to identify a one dime coin

As you’ll probably know, a dime is a US coin with a face value of 10 cents. It was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, although it was not put into circulation until a few years later, in 1796. It is still being minted today, so we are talking about a coin that is more than two centuries old.

The coin has evolved during so many years, and up to six different motifs have been used for silver dimes. The price of the dime coin can vary enormously between the most sought after; and the current ones, which are easily obtained as soon as they come into circulation, and there are no great rarities due to their extensive circulation.

Type 1 –  Draped Bust

The first type coined, used from 1796 to 1807, is the so-called ‘draped bust’.

Due to old manufacturing technologies, these dimes are often of poor quality, with many errors and variations. They are usually very rare coins and sought after by collectors. They comprise 89.2% silver and 10.8% copper.

Type 2 – Capped Bust

The second type, minted between 1809 and 1837, is the ‘capped bust’.

With the same composition as the ‘draped bust’, they are still rare and sought-after coins, holding a great numismatic value. Due to their antiquity, few pieces have arrived in a good state of conservation until today.

Type 3 – Seated Liberty

The third type, put into circulation between 1837 and 1891, is the so-called ‘seated liberty’. A keystone of silver dime editions.

This type has a theoretical weight of 2.67g, with 90% silver and the rest copper. It shows us on the obverse side a full-body allegory of Liberty sitting on a rock in neoclassical style.

Type 4 – Barber Dimes

The fourth type, used from 1892 to 1916, is the so-called ‘barber’.

This type, with a theoretical weight of 2.5g, made-up of 90% silver and 10% copper, was a return to the previous design. We can see that it is clearly inspired by the ‘capped bust’, but with slight changes and a modernization in style. The obverse also represents an allegory of Freedom touched by a Phrygian cap, although we see that it is represented by a male figure. The back is a continuous design, dispensing with elaborate engravings.

These coins are becoming quite common. Except for some mints and key dates, they are affordable for almost every collector’s pocket.

Type 5 – Winged Liberty Head Dime

The fifth type, between 1916 and 1945′ is the “Winged Liberty Head’.

We see again a total change of style. Another allegory of freedom is depicted, which is a recurrent theme in American numismatics. It is also called the ‘Mercury dime’, as the design seems to be inspired by the copper coins of the Roman Republic (here ancient roman coins post), which represented the god Mercury wearing a winged helmet.

List of Mercury dime record auctions.

This type is very common, and the coins that carry it will only have a significant value if they belong to a rare year or a scarce mint.

Type 6 – Roosevelt Dimes

The sixth and final variety, for now, minted from 1946 to the present, is the ‘Roosevelt’.

The Roosevelt type was first coined after World War II. After the death of President Roosevelt, who led the United States in the conflict, the commemorative coin was thought to honor his memory. Initially, like its predecessor types, it was 90% silver. From 1965 onwards, it was minted in an alloy of copper and nickel, following a policy of not using precious metals for circulating coins.

1965 Roosevelt dime Value chart.

If you want to know most valuable Roosevelt dimes, please keep reading…

How can you know the mint of your one dime coin?

The Mints that issued 10-cent coins are represented in the piece itself by a small die-cut letter. The guide to knowing the mint for minting dime is as follows:

• No mintmark: If it does not have a letter or has a ‘P’, it comes from the Philadelphia Mint, which is the main mint in the United States
• ‘S’ for San Francisco
• ‘O’ for New Orleans
• ‘D’ for Denver
• ‘CC’ for Carson City

We can see below the locations of the mint marks on the unique types minted on the Dime coins:

What dimes are worth money?

How much is a silver dime worth? Let’s put together a list of the most valuable dimes on the market. Small variations in the state of conservation or in the tone can make a dime multiply in value. This classification is intended as a guide to answer the question of what dimes are worth most money.

Dimes Worth Money value chart

Did you know that some dimes worth millions? Here is our list of most valuable 10 cent coins.

Dimes worth money List

Is it possible that a small dime can be worth up to 2,000,000 dollars? What characteristics must it have to to become so highly valued by coin collectors in the States? Keep reading.

#1. 1894 E Barber Dime – $1,000,000 – $2,000,000

In first position, we have the dime minted in San Francisco in 1894. Only 24 units were made. It is believed that these coins were produced only in PROOF status as a gift to great bankers in the area. Legend has it that the daughter of the Mint superintendent received three of these pieces from her father. One of them was used to buy an ice cream, and the other two were sold in the collector’s market in the 1950s. It is estimated that of the 24 original units, only 9 have survived.

#2. 1873-CC Seated Liberty Dime (No arrows) – $1,880,000

This Carson City coined dime, with a print run of only 12,400 units, was sold at a Stack’s & Bowers public auction in 2012 for nearly $2 million.

#3. 1804 Draped Bust Dime – 14 stars

The reason for this error is not exactly known. In the original coin, it is 13 stars instead of 14 – one for each original state. The record price for such a dime is $632,500 in a 2008 sale.

#4. 1871 CC Seated Liberty Dime – $270,250

This currency has a record of more than $270,000, sold by Heritage Auctions in 2014. Even units that are hard to recognize due to wear and tear are usually priced at over $1,000. Their circulation is only 20,100 units.

#5. 1872 CC Seated Liberty Dime – $184,000

We can see that the coins minted in Carson City have an exceedingly high value due to their very low circulation. Just in the intermediate year of the two previous ones in this ranking, with 35,480 units, an encapsulated copy in MS63 was sold at Stack’s & Bowers in 2012 for $184,000.

Value chart of the next most Valuable Dimes

Here are the subsequent rankings of most valuable dime pieces, making up the top 50 positions.

1939 Dime value

The 1939 Dime is part of the Mercury Dime series, which was produced from 1916 to 1945. The Mercury Dime features a portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a winged cap (often mistaken for a depiction of the Roman god Mercury, hence the coin’s nickname) on the obverse (heads) side, and a fasces (a bundle of rods with a projecting axe blade) on the reverse (tails) side.

The value of a 1939 dime depends on its condition and mint mark. Assuming your 1939 dime is a regular-issue coin from the Denver Mint (mint mark “D”), which is one of two varieties of the 1939 dime, its value is primarily based on its condition and current market demand.
The highest auction price paid for a 1939 Mercury Dime was $12,650. This particular coin was a Proof-68 grade specimen sold by Heritage Auctions in August 2000.

1956 Dime value

A 1956 Roosevelt Dime in proof condition is generally valued between $10 and $20, but it’s possible for it to be worth more or less depending on its specific grade, rarity, and market demand.

It’s worth noting that a proof coin is a specially-made coin that is struck using polished dies and planchets, resulting in a highly reflective, mirror-like surface and sharp details. Proof coins are typically produced in smaller quantities and are often more desirable to collectors.

The highest auction price paid for a 1956  Dime was $19,975. This particular coin was a Proof-69DC grade specimen sold by Heritage Auctions in March 2016. 

1964 Roosevelt Dime value

Beyond its small face value, a Roosevelt dime may have great value to coin collectors.

In order for that to be the case, it is very likely that the coin has to be in a state close to Mint. Coins in this condition are the most valuable, given their impressive beauty. It was in 1964 when the Mint issued the last dime coins with 90% silver.

1964 one dime value chart

The price of a Roosevelt Dime in circulation is its bullion value – the value given according to the amount of precious metal in the coin’s composition. If we consider that each coin has 0.07234 troy ounces of pure silver, we can determine its value.

(F.V.= Face value, B.V.=Bullion value)

1967 Dime value

Just like 1965 Dimes, the 1967 Dime is part of the Roosevelt Dime series, which was first introduced in 1946 to honor President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who passed away in 1945. The Roosevelt Dime features a portrait of President Roosevelt on the obverse (heads) side, and an olive branch, torch, and oak branch on the reverse (tails) side.

The 1967 Dime, like all other Roosevelt Dimes minted after 1964, is made of a copper-nickel alloy and has a diameter of 17.9mm and a weight of 2.27 grams.

The value of a 1967 dime depends on its condition and mint mark. Assuming your 1967 dime is a regular-issue coin from the Denver Mint (mint mark “D”), the most common variety of the 1967 dime, its value is primarily based on its condition and current market demand. A circulated 1967 D dime typically sells for its silver melt value, around $1.30 based on the current silver spot price. However, if your dime is in uncirculated condition, it may be worth more to collectors.

However, some of them in mint state can reach much higher prices. Here is a list of the most expensive 1967 dimes:

References and sources

• Heritage auctions
• NGC
• The Official Red book 2023: A Guide Book of United States Coins.

Javier Mercado

Numismatic Expert & Writer. BA in History and BS in Computer Science. He’s a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and write in several digital media specialized in collecting, auctions and antiques reviews.

Expertise

He is an active investor and a member of the coin collecting community, specializing in antique United States coins. He uses this expertise to disseminate knowledge and interest in coins among the broad audience of Coin Collectors through both simple and high-level articles.

Features in Other Publications

Important publications and media outlets, such as El Español, El Economista, Diario de Navarra, or Ideal de Granada, acknowledge Javier Mercado’s expertise in the field of ancient coins. Below, you can find some of the most recent interviews and contributions:

 

El Español

El Economista

Ideal

Diario de Navarra

 

Experience

Javier has been an active member of the coin collecting community for approximately 15 years. He has gained extensive experience during this time and wishes to share it with his readers.

Education

He completed a Bachelor’s degree in History from UNED and a degree in Computer Science from the University of Cádiz.