Roosevelt Dime

Country of Origin: United States of America

Year of Issue: 1965-Present (Modern Clad Era)

Denomination: One Dime (10 Cents)

Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel cladding over a pure copper core

Roosevelt Dime

Brief Description

A dark, heavily toned or environmentally damaged small silver-colored coin featuring the profile of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Historical Significance

The Roosevelt dime was introduced in 1946 to honor President Franklin D. Roosevelt following his death; he was the founder of the March of Dimes. This specific cladding (copper-nickel) replaced the 90% silver composition in 1965 due to rising silver prices.

Estimated Value

$0.10 in circulated condition; $1-$5 in high Mint State (MS-65+)

Care Instructions

Do not clean the coin as it can damage the surface and reduce collector value. Store in a PVC-free flip or archival-safe holder to prevent further environmental damage.

Mint Mark

P (Philadelphia), D (Denver), or S (San Francisco). Modern P marks are above the date.

Mintage & Rarity

Common; billions produced annually. This is one of the most common coins in US circulation.

Weight & Diameter

2.27 grams; 17.91 mm

Edge

Reeded (118 reeds)

Apparent Grade

Circulated / Heavily Toned. The coin shows significant surface darkening (environmental damage) which obscures fine detail, though the strike appears relatively intact.

Obverse (Front)

Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt facing left. Legends: LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date with the designer's initials 'JS' (John Sinnock).

Reverse (Back)

A torch representing Liberty, flanked by an olive branch (peace) and an oak branch (strength). Legends: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and ONE DIME.

What Drives This Coin's Value

Most cladding-era dimes are only worth face value unless they are in exceptional Mint State condition, have a Full Torch (FT) designation, or possess a rare error.

Similar Coins

1946-1964 Roosevelt Dimes (90% silver, distinguished by a silver edge and ringing sound) and Canadian dimes (different reverse design).

Authenticity & Counterfeit Red Flags

Check the edge for the visible copper stripe (sandwich look) common to clad coins. Counterfeiting of common modern dimes is extremely rare due to low value.

Notable Varieties & Errors

1982 No P Mint Mark, 1996-W (West Point mint), and various doubled die errors or off-center strikes. The 'Full Torch' (FT) detail on the reverse is highly sought in high grades to determine value premium.

Created At: 2026-06-18T15:56:16.533922