50 Most Valuable Dimes Worth Money


The most valuable dimes worth money have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It pays to know what dimes are worth money and which dimes are pocket change. Someday, you might have a treasure fall right into the palm of your hand.

Dimes are ten-cent coins initially introduced in the U.S. in 1796, during the early years of the United States Federal Mint.

The United States Mint is the government department responsible for manufacturing approved coinage for the U.S. The first mint was the Philadelphia mint, founded in 1792.

1897 barber silver dime
The 1897 Barber Silver Dime

The History of Dimes

Because of their long history, dimes are an important part of coin collecting. It pays to know which dimes are worth money and which are just pocket change and worth only face value.

Let’s take a numismatic look at the different types of dimes and their defining features.


The Draped Bust Dime

The first dimes were silver and featured a design known as the “Draped Bust” on the obverse (the front of the coin).

The Draped Bust depicted Lady Liberty with her hair flowing down her back, the word “Liberty” above her, and stars around her. The reverse featured an eagle and “10C” on the back to indicate the value of the coin.

1804 Draped Bust Dime
The 1804 Draped Bust Dime. This coin sold at a Heritage auction for $632,500 in 2008.

From 1796 to 1797, the eagle was rendered as small. However, in 1798, the design was changed to appear more majestic, with its wings outstretched, taking inspiration from the U.S. Great Seal.

In 1796, there were 15 stars representing the current number of states in the Union. In 1797, two versions of the dime were issued, one with 13 stars and the other with 16. The mint ended up sticking with the 13-star design.

most valuable draped bust dimes

Draped Bust Dime Key Dates

Key dates for the Draped Bust dime that are most valuable are:

  • 1798 “8 over 7,” 13 Stars: The1798-1787 variety of the Draped Bust Dime features “1798” stamped over “1797” in such a way that the “7” is visible under the “8”
  • 1797 Small Eagle, 13 Stars: There were limited quantities of these rare dimes, making them quite valuable collectibles

The Draped Bust dime remained in circulation until 1809 when it was replaced by a new design.

Draped Bust Dime 1804
Reverse of the record-setting $632,500 Draped Bust Dime from 1804.

The Capped Bust Dime

In 1809, the Draped Bust made way for the Capped Bust, which featured a portrait of Liberty wearing a pointed cap (known as the “Phrygian Cap”) on her head.

This cap was styled after the ones worn in Ancient Greece and was an important symbol of freedom in America during the Revolutionary War.

1822 Capped Bust Dime Small Date
1822 Capped Bust Dime Small Date – $149,500

On the Capped Bust design, 13 stars surround Liberty, representing the 13 original colonies of the United States.

On the reverse is an eagle with its wings outstretched, a shield on its breast, and arrows and an olive branch beneath it. The reverse is inscribed with “E Pluribus Unum,” a Latin motto meaning “out of many, one.”

valuable capped bust dimes

Capped Bust Dime Key Dates

Important dates for the Capped Bust rare coins include:

  • 1824 “4 over 2” – Pointy “1”: These elusive error coins display the “4” stamped over the “2”; The “1” on the coin also has a pointed top rather than a flat one.
  • 1829 Curl Base “2” Liberty Cap Dime: This dime is classified as rare because it was only produced for a short time, and only a few examples exist today. In good condition, it can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
  • 1822 10C: This dime is popular because it was produced in limited quantities. Only 100,000 coins.

The Capped design was used from 1809 to 1837 before the debut of the Seated Liberty Design.

1822 Capped Bust Dime Small Date
1822 Capped Bust Dime Small Date – $149,500

The Seated Liberty Dime

The Liberty Seated dime design features a seated depiction of Liberty holding a staff with a cap on the obverse.

1871-CC Liberty Seated Dime
This 1871-CC Liberty Seated Dime MS63 sold for $270,250

The reverse shows an eagle wearing a shield and holding arrows with olive branches in its talons.

most valuable seated liberty dimes

Seated Liberty Dime Key Dates

Some of the key dates for valuable coins of the Seated Liberty dime are:

  • 1871- and 1873-CC: These dimes were minted in Carson City, Nevada, coin values are high, as these are some of the rarest dimes. Only 12,400 1873-CC dimes were minted, while only 20,100 1871-CC dimes were produced.
  • 1872-S: This dime was minted in San Francisco and was also produced in limited quantities, making it quite rare.

In 1891, the Barber design replaced the Seated Liberty design, which was named after its designer, Charles E. Barber.

1871-CC Liberty Seated Dime
The reverse of the record-breaking 1871-CC Liberty Seated Dime that sold for $270,250.

The Barber Dime

The Barber Dime design depicts Liberty crowned with an eagle on the reverse and a laurel wreath on the obverse. This design is sometimes called the “Liberty Head Dime.”

1895-O Barber Dime
This 1895-O Barber Dime sold for $58,756 at a Heritage auction in 2017.

Barber Dime Key Dates

Key dates for the Barber dime include:

  • 1894-S Barber Dime – Minted in San Francisco, only 24 of these dimes were ever known to exist, making it one of the rarest dimes and one highly prized by collectors — in 2007, an 1894-S dime was sold for $1.9 million

In 1916, the Barber dime was replaced by the Mercury dime.

barber dimes

The Mercury Dime

Adolph A. Weinman designed the Mercury dime. Though it features a portrait of Liberty wearing a winged cap, it received its name because the figure is often mistaken for the Roman god Mercury.

A 1916-D MS-65 Mercury dime, or winged liberty head dime, sold for $30,000 at a Stack’s auction in 2007.

1916-D Mercury Dime
This 1916-D Mercury Dime MS65 sold for $29,900 at a Stack’s auction in 2007.

Mercury Dime Key Dates

The rarest Mercury dimes include:

  • 1916-D: minted in Denver. With a silver content of 90% and a low mintage of only 264,000, 1916-D Mercury dimes are rare and valuable coins.
  • 1921-D: minted in Denver
  • 1926-S: minted in San Francisco

The Mercury dime was in production until 1946, when the Roosevelt dime took over.

mercury dimes worth money

Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes

The Roosevelt dime was first introduced in 1946 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945. This dime has a fascinating history.

The design features a portrait of President Roosevelt on the obverse, along with the inscriptions “Liberty” and “In God We Trust.”

On the reverse are a torch, an oak branch, and an olive branch. These are the same symbols as several other U.S. coins intended to represent Liberty, peace, and strength.

roosevelt dime reeded edge
The reeded edge of a Roosevelt dime.

Roosevelt Dime Controversy

The design of the Roosevelt dime was controversial for various reasons.

One of them involves rumors that the dime’s designer, John Sinnock, copied the likeness of President Roosevelt from sculptor Selma Hortense Burke.

Other rumors claim that Sinnock used a photo taken by photographer Marcel Sternberger.

Despite the controversy, the Roosevelt dime quickly became popular and remains in circulation today. There have been some small changes to the layout over the years, but the basic design has remained the same.

1946 roosevelt silver dime
1946 Roosevelt Silver Dime in Uncirculated Condition.

Roosevelt Dime Key Dates

Although this dime is still circulating today, some Roosevelt dimes worth money can still make great collectibles.

Are Roosevelt dimes silver coins? From 1946-1964, Roosevelt dimes were struck at the U.S. mint with 90% silver composition. That’s a silver Roosevelt dime with .07234 ounces. The other 10% is copper.

1946 roosevelt silver dime
Another look at the 1946 uncirculated Roosevelt silver dime.

In 1965, Roosevelt dimes changed their composition to copper-nickel, 25% nickel clad over a 75% copper core.

  • 1975 No “S” – produced at the San Francisco U.S. Mint, this dime has no mint mark; only two are confirmed to exist.
  • 1968 No “S” – Another dime produced at the San Francisco mint missing a mint mark.
  • 1980 was the year the Philadelphia mint started using the “P” mint mark for the P Roosevelt dime.
  • 1996-W Roosevelt dime – Coin collectors scrambled to gather up dimes from 1996. It was a limited release in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Roosevelt U.S. dime. Only 1.4 million 1996 Roosevelt dimes were struck at the West Point Mint.
  • 1965 90% Silver Roosevelt dime error – Exactly how many silver transitional error coins exist is unknown. Still, when the Roosevelt dime changed its composition from silver to copper-nickel at the end of 1964, a few 1965 dimes were made with silver before the planchets were changed. In excellent condition, the value of a 1965 Roosevelt silver dime error is $9,000.
roosevelt dime
The Roosevelt Dime

Tips for Looking for Valuable Dimes Worth Money

When hunting for valuable dimes, there are three main characteristics you’ll want to look at closely: the coin’s year, which will tell you if it’s silver or not, the condition, and the mint mark.

Mint Mark

The mint mark indicates where a coin is minted. Different mint marks can mean different mintages and degrees of rarity, which can impact the value of the coin.

Valuable Dimes Worth Money – Proof Sets

There are a few amazing dime proof sets that you need to be aware of. The 1975 Proof Set ‘No-S’ Roosevelt Dime sold for more than $300,000.

Collectors flock to proof sets, and there’s a good reason. Certain dime proof sets can truly be worth a fortune.

mercury dime edge
The worn edge of the 1916 Mercury dime.

Valuable Error Dimes Worth Money

Valuable dime error coins include missing mint marks, double striking die, clipped planchets, off-center strikes, and blank planchets.

1982-P Roosevelt dime missing “P” mint mark error – Roughly 15,000 missing P mint mark coins exist, are in good condition and can be valued at $400 or more.

1983-S Roosevelt Proof dime missing “S” mint mark error – Proof dime errors missing mint marks are rare and can be worth $2,000 or more.

Full Bands – It might not be considered an “error,” but full-band Roosevelt dimes command a hefty premium in value compared to a similar coin without full bands.

Check the reverse side and look at the top and bottom of the torch. You might be able to see detailed bands. A 1963 Full Band Roosevelt dime sold at Heritage auctions for $645 in 2014.

1916 mercury silver dime
A close-up view of the 1916 Mercury silver dime.

Condition For Dimes Worth Money

The condition of a dime is one of the most critical factors in determining its value. Collectors and coin dealers look for dimes in excellent condition, with minimal damage and wear.

Well-preserved dimes are worth more than those heavily circulated or damaged.

For example, a 1954 Roosevelt dime in uncirculated condition can be worth several hundred dollars, while the same coin in well-worn condition might only be worth ten cents.

Coins are graded from 1–70 on a scale known in the coin industry as the Sheldon grading scale.

Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), both use the Sheldon scale, with “1” being the worst possible condition and “70” indicating perfect mint condition.

  • 1: Poor — The coin’s design is barely discernible
  • 2: Fair — The type and date are somewhat discernable, but the coin is excessively worn or damaged; major identifiable details aren’t discernable
  • 3: About Good — The type and date are discernable, but other spots are quite worn
  • 4: Good (G) — The primary features of the coin are discernable via outlines, but the coin is heavily worn
roosevelt dimes
Roosevelt Dimes worth about ten-cents each. These dimes are worn, and have been around the world at least ten times.
  • 6: Good-Plus (G+) — The features of the coin are clearly outlined, and major devices are easy to identify
  • 8: Very Good (V.G.) — Most legends on the coin are clearly legible, and it has a full rim with identifiable features and devices, but it’s still significantly worn
  • 12: Fine (F) — Clear devices show some level of detail, but the whole coin is moderately worn
  • 20: Very Fine (V.F.) — The coin is legible, the legends are lightly worn, the devices still show good detail, and the rims of the coin are clean, but there’s moderate wear on the high points
  • 30: Good Very Fine (V.F.) — Similar to Very Fine, with the high points lightly worn.
1897 barber silver dime
The 1897 Barber Silver Dime
  • 40: Extremely Fine (X.F.) — Sharp legends, precise devices, slight yet noticeable wear on high points
  • 45: Choice Extremely Fine (X.F.) — Similar to Extremely Fine, but with slight wear
  • 50: About Uncirculated (A.U.) — The coin is in excellent condition, with slight traces of wear on the highest points; some amount of mint luster remaining on the coin
  • 55: Good About Uncirculated (A.U.) — Similar to About Uncirculated, but the remaining mint luster must be on at least half the coin
  • 58: Choice About Uncirculated (A.U.) — The coin appears virtually uncirculated, with nearly all the mint luster present
  • 60–70: Mint State Basal (M.S.) — The coins are in mint condition with no visible wear
1916 mercury silver dime reverse
Reverse of the 1916 Mercury silver dime.

Are Your Dimes Worth More Than 10 Cents?

Take the time to evaluate the condition of your dimes and do a little research to determine the design, mint mark, and condition.

Because of their small size, dimes don’t get the attention of a larger coin like a half dollar or silver dollar. Even quarters worth just a few dollars seem to get more attention than the tiny shiny dime.

We know from finding wheat pennies worth hundreds of dollars there are dimes out there worth just as much, if not more, just waiting to be discovered.

One of those seemingly worthless coins in your pocket change could be worth much more than 10 cents.

1916 mercury silver dime

How Do I Sell My Coins? —> Top 7 Best Places to Sell Coins Online

Additional Resources –

The United States Dime – U.S. Mint

Rare Coin Values – PCGS

mercury dime
mercury dime
A few more shots of my favorite Mercury dime.
1897 Barber Silver Dime
A circulated 1897 Barber Silver Dime in average condition. This coin is valued at around $20.
1897 barber silver dime
Reverse of the 1897 Barber Silver Dime.

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