We all know that there are a lot of coins that are worth more money than the value printed on them, but for those who are not avid collectors it can be hard to identify which ones are worth keeping if we find them or purchasing if we have the chance to do so. This type of education would take years as there are many coin denominations and stories that can make some stand out, but if we should start with a type of coin, dimes are a good place to begin, as some of them have sold for more than seven figures.
Of course, finding one of these coins in your purse or between your couch cushions is unlikely, but some people have found them in attics, small coin jars and even in the walls of their home when renovating, so keeping an eye out for any piece that may stand out is not unreasonable and doing a bit of research after can be worth the time.
As some general history for those who do are not immersed in numismatics (the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals, and related objects), the majority of American coins are produced at the Mints in Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, with West Point having stopped minting coins in 2021. As a general rule when looking for valuable dimes, if you come across loose change or old coins it is worth setting aside any Roosevelt dimes dated before 1965 as these earlier dimes are composed of 90% silver, giving them a value well beyond their ten-cent face.
This does not mean that yours will be valued a lot more than its face value, after all the condition it is in matters and the more common it is the less value it will have, but it is still worth checking.
10 of the most valuable dimes that are still out there
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1965 Roosevelt Dime, No Mint Mark
These are quite common, but there is one specific set that was produced by the Philadelphia Mint without the standard mint mark. Since volume was high and there are still a fair amount running around, its value is not too high. Those in excellent condition can go for over $1,000, but most will just be worth 20 cents to $2.50. If you find one made of silver, those are valuable and can be sold for thousands of dollars depending on condition.
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1968-S No-S Roosevelt Proof Dime
These are a lot rarer since it was a proof error coin. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) has certified only 18 1968 No S Proof Dimes (without the mint mark), which is what makes them so valuable and rare. In 2008, Heritage Auctions sold one for over $40K.
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1970-S Roosevelt Dime, No Mint Mark
Another mistake with the mint mark, a few of these 1970-S Roosevelt Dimes were produced by mistake, and now they can be worth around $250 if they are in good condition.
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1972-S Roosevelt Dime
The 1972 Roosevelt dime typically holds the same value as its face amount and even those in uncirculated or mint condition might reach up to $36, which is not insignificant, but also not particularly valuable. That said, an exceptionally preserved proof version with a perfect MS 70 grade and a copper-nickel composition fetched $8,400 at auction back in 2008.
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1975 No-S Roosevelt Dime
This 1975 No-S proof Roosevelt dime is worth your time if you can find it. One of the most valuable of all modern coins, there are only two surviving specimens that we know of. They are so valuable that the last recorded sale was $456,000 due to how rare they are.
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1982 and 1983 Roosevelt Dimes, No Mint Mark
Certain Roosevelt dimes from 1982 and 1983 stand out due to missing mint marks. For example, the 1982 dime from the Philadelphia Mint that, due to a die error, lacks the usual “P” mark. These can typically sell for around $65, and uncirculated versions may command prices up to $175. As for the 1983-S dimes, these were exclusively produced as proof coins, giving them a distinct finish and a level of rarity not shared by standard issues from that era.
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1996-W Roosevelt Dime
The 1996-W Roosevelt Dime was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the coin’s design. With just 1.457 million minted, it remains relatively uncommon as these dimes were only available as part of that year’s uncirculated coin sets aimed at collectors. As an additional trivia that makes these coins valuable, they are the only non-bullion coin ever produced at the West Point Mint.
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1998-P Bonded Group of Roosevelt Dimes
While the regular dimes from this batch are not valuable at all, at most a couple of dollars, a minting error at some point in the run resulted in “a hefty group of approximately 32 distorted dimes bonded together as a result of a malfunction of a coinage press.” These are worth a lot, but they are accounted for.
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1999-D Roosevelt Dime
According to RobPaulsenLive.com, a “Type 2 Clad Regular Strike” error dime in pristine, uncirculated condition once fetched $14,375 at auction in 2009. However, similar coins in more typical, circulated condition usually sell for just a small amount.
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2020-D Roosevelt Dime
One of these coins was sold for $338 on eBay in 2021. The reason is the low number of them produced for obvious reasons, but the normal value is nothing close to that. Mint condition coins are usually sold for less than $15, and used are worth almost nothing.