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Roosevelt Dime

The 1946-1964 Roosevelt Silver Dime is a U.S. coin minted as a tribute to President Franklin D. Roosevelt following his death in 1945. The dime, made from 90% silver and 10% copper, replaced the Mercury dime and was issued during the transition from silver to copper-nickel coinage.

Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, and the first Roosevelt dime was released on January 30, 1946, less than a year after his death, which coincided with what would have been his 64th birthday.

The dime was designed by John R. Sinnock, the U.S. Mint's Chief Engraver at the time. His initials "JS" appear on the coin's obverse below Roosevelt's neck. Sinnock used Roosevelt's image from a plaster model for the design.

Features of the Roosevelt Dime

• Obverse (Front): A profile of Franklin D. Roosevelt, symbolizing his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II.
• Reverse (Back): Depicts an olive branch (peace), a torch (freedom), and an oak branch (strength), embodying Roosevelt's ideals.
• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper (.900 fineness)
• Weight: 0.0715 oz 2.5 grams
• Diameter: 0.705 in. 17.91 mm
• Thickness: 1.35 mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Number of Reeds: 118

Silver content: As the last regular-issue U.S. dimes to contain silver, they have inherent bullion value. Rarity: Low-mintage and error varieties make specific Roosevelt dimes particularly valuable for collectors.

Roosevelt Silver Dime Value

The intrinsic value and numismatic value of a Roosevelt silver dime are two different aspects of the coin's worth, and they are important to understand for collectors and investors alike.

The intrinsic value is the melt value of the coin, or the value of the metal it contains. For a Roosevelt silver dime minted between 1946 and 1964, the intrinsic value comes from its silver content. These coins were each minted with 2.5 grams of pure silver. Circulated coins might weight slightly less, depending on the amount of wear. For example: A common-date, worn common date Roosevelt dime might only have its intrinsic value (melt value). However, a rare date Roosevelt dime, error coin or one in uncirculated condition would have numismatic value collectors.

Collectibility & Numismatic Value

The numismatic value refers to the collectible value of the coin, based on factors such as rarity, condition and demand among collectors.

The Roosevelt dime commemorates a beloved president who led the U.S. through crucial moments in the 20th century. While the same design is used for the ten cent coin today, the 1946-1964 Roosevelt Silver Dime is a coin with historical significance to both collectors and silver investors. Issued the year after his death, this coin is an everyday symbol of Roosevelt's legacy.

Additionally, the transition from silver coinage to modern clad is of strong interest to collectors of rare coins. The Roosevelt coins series has a number of key dates, rare issues, error coins, and high-grade specimens that are sought after for their combination of numismatic and intrinsic silver value.

For silver dimes, any numismatic value is in addition to the intrinsic value.

Rare and Valuable Roosevelt Silver Dimes

• 1949-S - The 1949-S is considered one of the key dates and more challenging coins for collectors to find due to its lower mintage compared to other years.
  Mintage: Only 13,510,000 dimes were minted in San Francisco that year, making it one of the lower mintage Roosevelt dimes, which increases its appeal to collectors. The value of a 1949-S dime depends largely on its condition. A coin in worn or circulated condition will be worth its melt value. However, in Good Condition, these coins have some numismatic value and can be worth $2 to $5. Coins with full "bands" on the torch can fetch even higher premiums. In uncirculated condition, these coins are usually worth $15 to $30. Coins in certified mint state, such as MS65 or MS66, can be worth significantly more to collectors.
• 1955 - The 1955 Roosevelt Dime is a staple for collectors. While not the rarest dime in the series, well-preserved examples with Full Bands are worth $6 to $10.
  Mintage: 12,828,381. In mint state (MS 65) condition are generally worth $15 to $30. The highest price paid at auction for a 1955 Roosevelt Dime was $9,300 in 2020.
• 1950-S Full Bands - High grade examples of this coin are extremely scarce, making this dime valuable to collectors. The "Full Bands" designation, which refers to the sharpness of the horizontal bands on the torch, significantly boosts its value. Certified 1950-S Full Bands dimes have sole in recent auctions for $400 to $700. In uncirculated condition these coins can be worth $30 to $50.
• 1964 Roosevelt Dime (Silver, Doubled Die) - Some 1964 dimes feature a doubled die obverse, which is a very desirable variety. Depending on the grade, these dimes can fetch between $400 and $2,000.