1968 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime

The 1968 No S proof dime was the first instance of a missing-mintmark error in the modern era of San Francisco proof coinage, which had just begun using the 'S' mintmark that year. A small number of dimes were struck from a die lacking the mintmark and distributed in proof sets before the mistake was noticed.

It remains a well-known and desirable error variety, though it survives in greater numbers than the extremely rare 1975 No S dime, making it a more attainable, though still costly, entry point into this category of error collecting.

1968 marked the reintroduction of proof coin production after a several-year hiatus, with proof coinage moved to the San Francisco Mint and identified for the first time with an 'S' mintmark. In the process of preparing new dies for this changeover, at least one working die for the dime was finished without the mintmark being added.

Coins struck from that die were sold to the public inside 1968 proof sets, and the error was discovered by collectors examining their sets, sparking interest in checking proof coinage for similar mintmark omissions in later years.

The coin has the mirrored, cameo-like fields typical of proof strikes, with Roosevelt's portrait on the obverse and the torch-and-branches reverse. The key identifying feature is the absence of the 'S' mintmark on the reverse, in the area to the left of the torch's base where it would normally appear on a proof dime from this era.

Collectors should confirm the coin exhibits full proof characteristics, not just a weakly struck mintmark, since a genuine No S error should show a smooth, mintmark-free surface rather than a filled or polished-out digit. Third-party certification is strongly recommended given the coin's value and the existence of altered fakes.

The 1968 No S dime is considered scarce, with an estimated few hundred genuine examples believed to exist, making it valuable but more obtainable than the 1975 or 1970 varieties. Certified examples in gem proof condition have sold for several thousand dollars, with prices varying based on certification and eye appeal.

As the value is heavily dependent on authenticity, buyers should insist on certification from a major grading service rather than relying on a seller's description alone.