Before 1965, U.S. dimes were minted with an alloy containing 90% silver. These coins, often called “junk silver,” derive their value primarily from their silver content rather than numismatic value.
Identifying Silver Dimes
The most straightforward way to identify a silver dime is by its minting date. All dimes dated 1964 or earlier are minted with 90% silver.
Additionally, when viewed from the side, silver dimes will have a solid silver appearance along the edge with no visible copper line. Modern clad dimes (post-1965) have a copper edge visible from the side.
Mercury Silver Dimes (1916-1945)
The Mercury Silver Dime was continuously minted by the U.S. Mint from 1916 until 1945. These coins feature Lady Liberty on the obverse wearing a Phrygian cap, which is often mistaken for the Greek God Mercury due to the winged hat.
- Design: The Mercury Dime, officially known as the Winged Liberty Head dime, features Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with wings on the obverse. This design is often mistaken for the Roman god Mercury, hence the name.
- Composition: Each dime contains 90% silver and 10% copper.
- Historical Significance: Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, the Mercury Dime is considered one of the most beautiful U.S. coins.
Mercury Dime Key Dates
1916-D
- Mintage: 264,000 Denver Mint
- Significance: Exceptionally low premier mintage of the Mercury dime from the Denver Mint.
- Value: Scarce and highly sought after by collectors. Coins in circulated but good condition can command up to $1,000. While graded Mint State 1916-D, Mercury Dimes can fetch over $35,000.
1921 and 1921-D
- Mintage: 1,230,000 (Philadelphia) and 1,080,000 (Denver)
- Significance: The 1921 and 1921-D are low mintage years due to reduced coin production during the post-World War I economic slump.
- Value: These dimes are scarce and command high prices, especially in uncirculated conditions.
1942/1 and 1942/1-D Overdates
Value: $50,000 to $60,000
- Mintage: Unspecified; these are error coins.
- Significance: These overdated coins show a “1” underneath the “2” in the date. They are rare and highly prized by error coin collectors.
- Value: Values can range significantly based on condition, often starting at several hundred dollars and going up into the thousands.
Silver Roosevelt Dimes (1946-1964)
The Roosevelt Silver Dime was introduced in 1946 and was minted with a 90% silver alloy until 1964. Beginning in 1965, the clad Roosevelt Dime, which is still in use today, was introduced.
- Design: Introduced in 1946, the Roosevelt Dime honors President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The obverse features his portrait, designed by John R. Sinnock.
- Composition: Like the Mercury Dime, it contains 90% silver and 10% copper.
- Introduction Reason: The dime was introduced shortly after Roosevelt’s death as a tribute to his legacy, particularly his role in founding the March of Dimes.
Roosevelt Dime Key Dates
1949-S
- Mintage: 13,510,000
- Significance: The 1949-S is a key date because of its relatively low mintage compared to other Roosevelt dimes.
- Value: In high grades, this coin can be pretty valuable.
1950-S
- Mintage: 20,440,000
- Significance: Another semi-key date due to its lower mintage and the demand from collectors.
- Value: Prices vary based on condition, but it is more valuable than most other dates in the series.
1951-S
- Mintage: 31,630,000
- Significance: This year’s mintage was higher than 1949-S and 1950-S, but it is still considered a key date due to collector demand.
- Value: Similar to the 1950-S, it holds a premium in higher grades.
Like all 90% silver U.S. coinage, silver dimes are sometimes called “junk silver.” This term is adopted from the coin-collecting industry for coins with little to no numismatic value. Their value lies strictly in the silver content.
Junk silver dimes are a great way to start investing in silver. They are fractional, and you can buy them close to the spot price.
Barber Dimes (1892–1916)
The Barber Dime is a historically significant ten-cent coin featuring a classic design minted by the United States Mint from 1892 to 1916. It is named after its designer, Charles E. Barber, who designed the Barber Quarter and Half Dollar. The U.S. Mint chose Barber’s design after a public competition failed to yield a winning design.
- Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
- Silver Content: 0.07234 troy ounces of pure silver
- The Barber Dime was minted from 1892 until 1916. It is named after its designer, Charles E. Barber.
Although not universally praised for its artistic appeal, the Barber dime became a staple of U.S. coinage during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Barber Design
The obverse features a profile of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and a laurel wreath. The inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” surrounds the portrait, with the minting year at the bottom.
The reverse has a simple design with the words “ONE DIME” in the center, surrounded by a wreath of agricultural products that include wheat, corn, and oak.
Barber Dimes are widely collected due to their historical significance and relatively short production run. While most dates are expected and affordable in circulated conditions, critical dates like the 1894-S and well-preserved coins in higher grades can be pretty valuable.
Modern Silver Proof Dimes
Since 1992, the U.S. Mint has produced silver Proof Sets containing 90% silver Roosevelt Dimes for collectors.
Modern Silver Proof Dimes are special edition coins that differ from the regular circulating dimes in terms of their metal content and production method. They feature a composition of 90% silver and are struck with a high-quality proof finish. These are produced at the San Francisco Mint and bear the “S” mint mark.
High-grade proof dimes graded PR69 or PR70 by professional services like PCGS or NGC are more valuable to collectors.
Silver Dimes in Circulation
The U.S. Mint debuted the Roosevelt Dime in 1946. Billions of silver dimes were minted up until the debasement began in 1965. While many have been smelted for their melt value over the years, plenty are still available in the wild.
The easiest way to tell if you have a silver dime is by looking at the date. All dimes that were minted prior to 1965 contain 90% silver content. If your dime is from 1964 or earlier, it is silver.
Coin roll hunting can be a great way to find silver dimes, depending on the availability of unsearched bankrolls in your area.
Silver Dime Values
At the very minimum, a silver dime is worth its weight in silver. A 90% silver dime has an overall gross weight of around 2.5 grams. Therefore, it has roughly .0715 ozt of silver. Based on the spot price, the intrinsic value of silver is far more than its face value, which is the primary reason the government stopped using silver and switched to clad coins.
An easy way to estimate the value of your silver dimes is to know that each $1.00 Face Value, or ten silver dimes, contains .715 troy ounces of silver. This is a commonly accepted weight that takes into consideration some wear and tear from circulation.
For more information about which silver dimes may be key dates and have some numismatic value.
You can easily compare online dealer prices for 90% silver dimes: