How to Identify the Roosevelt Dime

What It Is

The Roosevelt Dime has been struck since 1946, the year after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death, replacing the earlier Mercury Dime. Designed by John R. Sinnock, it honored Roosevelt's association with the March of Dimes and the fight against polio.

Obverse (Front) Design

The obverse shows Roosevelt's profile facing left, with "LIBERTY" along the left rim, "IN GOD WE TRUST" to the right, and the date below the portrait. The designer's initials "JS" appear at the base of the neck truncation.

Reverse (Back) Design

The reverse centers on a lit torch, 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 across the middle in small letters, and "ONE DIME" sits at the bottom.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

From 1946 through 1964, dimes were struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 2.50 grams and measuring 17.9 mm across. Starting in 1965, the composition changed to a copper-nickel clad structure (pure copper core sandwiched between copper-nickel outer layers), with weight dropping slightly to 2.268 grams; the diameter stayed the same. All Roosevelt Dimes have a reeded edge, but a clad dime shows a visible copper-colored stripe on its edge, while a silver dime's edge is a uniform silvery-gray.

Mint Marks

On silver dimes (1946-1964), the mint mark sits on the reverse, to the left of the torch's base. No dimes were struck with mint marks from 1965 through 1967, since all coinage came from Philadelphia during the transition to clad composition. From 1968 onward, the mint mark moved to the obverse, just above the date.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

The clearest way to separate a silver Roosevelt Dime from a modern clad one is the edge: silver coins show no copper stripe, while clad coins do. Date alone is also a reliable guide, since 1965 marks the composition change. Be aware that a small number of special silver proof dimes have been struck in recent decades for collectors; these are usually marked "S" and sold in proof sets, not found in circulation.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Wear first appears on Roosevelt's hair curls above the ear and along the cheek, and on the torch's flame and the crossbands, or "bands," at the top of the torch. A dime with a fully separated, sharp set of torch bands and crisp flame detail is in notably better condition than one where these features blend together.

Authenticity Notes

Because pre-1965 dimes carry real silver value, some unscrupulous sellers may misrepresent a common clad dime's date or condition. Checking the edge for the copper stripe is the fastest way to confirm whether a dime is silver or clad. Weight can also help: a genuine silver dime weighs noticeably more per unit volume than a clad piece, though a simple postal scale is usually precise enough to catch major discrepancies.