How to Identify the 1949-S Roosevelt Dime

What It Is

The Roosevelt dime debuted in 1946, designed by John R. Sinnock and honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt shortly after his death, in part because of his association with the March of Dimes campaign against polio. The 1949-S is a lower-mintage San Francisco issue from the early silver era of the series, struck at a time when San Francisco's dime output was relatively modest.

Obverse Design

Roosevelt's profile faces left. "LIBERTY" arcs along the upper left rim, "IN GOD WE TRUST" sits in the field to the left of the portrait, and the date is at the lower right. The designer's initials "JS" appear at the base of the neck truncation, a detail worth checking on any Roosevelt dime to confirm it matches the standard design.

Reverse Design

A lit torch stands in the center, flanked by an olive branch on the left, symbolizing peace, and an oak branch on the right, symbolizing strength and independence. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arcs around the top, "E PLURIBUS UNUM" runs in small letters near the left rim, and "ONE DIME" sits at the bottom.

Size, Weight, Metal & Edge

Like all pre-1965 dimes, it measures 17.9mm across, weighs 2.5 grams, and is struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, with a reeded edge.

Mint Mark Location

The "S" mint mark appears on the reverse, to the left of the torch's base and just above the "ONE DIME" lettering. This is the same position used for mint marks on every Roosevelt dime through 1964.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

Compare it to the 1949 Philadelphia issue, which has no mint mark, simply by checking for the "S." To distinguish it from post-1964 clad Roosevelt dimes, examine the edge: a silver dime's edge is a uniform silver-gray color all the way through, while a clad dime shows a visible thin copper-colored stripe sandwiched between the outer nickel layers.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Look at the two horizontal bands crossing the torch on the reverse. Fully separated, sharp bands, sometimes described informally as "Full Bands," indicate a well-struck coin with less wear, while worn examples show the bands merging or fading, along with flattening in Roosevelt's hair curls and the ridges of his ear on the obverse.

Authenticity Red Flags

Because it is a semi-key, lower-mintage date compared to other dimes of the era, check for an added "S" mint mark on what would otherwise be a common 1949 Philadelphia dime. Look for irregular mint mark shape, uneven serifs, or surface disturbance around the letter, and confirm the coin has the expected silver-gray edge rather than a plated or clad appearance, which would indicate a later coin altered to look like the earlier silver issue.