What Are the 15 Most Valuable Dimes?

Discovering a valuable dime can be exciting. Often overlooked due to size, certain dimes are worth far more than ten cents. These rare coins, with historical context or unique production anomalies, offer a glimpse into coin collecting and potential discovery.

Factors Influencing Dime Value

Several attributes determine a dime’s market worth. Rarity, often linked to mintage figures, is a primary factor. Limited mintage or interrupted production makes dimes scarcer, increasing value. Production errors or varieties are also prized for their distinctiveness.

A dime’s physical condition, or “grade,” is significant. Coins with minimal circulation and original luster command higher prices than worn ones. Professional grading services assess preservation, assigning a grade that impacts market price. Slight differences in condition can vary value, emphasizing careful handling.

Mint marks indicate where a coin was produced. Dimes from branch mints like Denver (“D”) or San Francisco (“S”) can be more valuable than those from Philadelphia. Certain years or mint mark combinations are rare, making them “key dates” collectors pursue. These details contribute to a dime’s desirability.

Identifying Key Features and Preserving Your Dimes

Careful inspection determines a dime’s value, requiring attention to surface details. Examine the date, found on the obverse (front). Use a light source and jeweler’s loupe to read numerals and identify anomalies. This helps discern the mintage year and any overdates or repunched dates.

Locate the mint mark, indicating where the coin was struck. On Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, it’s usually on the reverse near the bottom rim, often left of the torch or above the date. On older Barber dimes, it’s on the reverse, beneath the eagle. A specific mint mark can alter a coin’s value, making accurate identification important.

Assess a coin’s condition by looking for wear, scratches, or environmental damage; professional graders provide definitive assessments. Avoid cleaning old or valuable coins, as cleaning can permanently damage the surface and reduce its worth. Handle coins only by their edges to prevent transferring oils, which can cause corrosion. Proper storage in inert holders, like non-PVC flips or slabs, protects coins from damage and degradation, preserving their value.

The 15 Most Valuable Dimes

1894-S Barber Dime

The 1894-S Barber Dime is one of the most valuable coins. Only 24 proof examples were minted at the San Francisco Mint, with merely nine confirmed to exist. Its extreme rarity makes it a premier collector’s item, commanding values from $1 million to over $2 million depending on condition.

1916-D Mercury Dime

The 1916-D Mercury Dime is a key date due to its low mintage of 264,000 coins at the Denver Mint. This limited production made it scarce and desirable. Many were circulated, making uncirculated specimens rare and valuable, with values ranging from $850 to over $39,000.

1942/41 Mercury Dime (Philadelphia)

This Mercury Dime has an overdate error, where the “2” in 1942 was struck over a “1” from the previous year. This Philadelphia Mint error created a distinct, sought-after variety. The clear visibility of the underlying “1” beneath the “2” distinguishes this rare variant, with values from $300 in circulated condition to over $26,000 for uncirculated examples.

1942/41-D Mercury Dime (Denver)

Similar to its Philadelphia counterpart, the 1942/41-D Mercury Dime has an overdate error, produced at the Denver Mint. The “D” mint mark on the reverse distinguishes it. This error resulted from a repunched die, leading to the visible “1” beneath the “2”, with values ranging from $325 in circulated condition to $16,000 for uncirculated coins.

1921 Mercury Dime (Philadelphia)

The 1921 Mercury Dime from the Philadelphia Mint is a semi-key date due to its low mintage of 1,230,000 coins. Reduced coin production in 1921 made this year’s issues scarcer. Surviving examples often show wear, increasing demand and value for higher-grade specimens. Values start around $40 for circulated coins and can reach $4,750 for uncirculated examples.

1921-D Mercury Dime (Denver)

The 1921-D Mercury Dime, struck at the Denver Mint, is a key date, rarer than its Philadelphia counterpart. With a mintage of 1,080,000, it is the second-lowest mintage in the Mercury Dime series, after the 1916-D. Its scarcity, especially in higher grades, makes it desirable to collectors. Circulated examples range from $60 to $1,350, while uncirculated specimens fetch up to $8,000.

1945-S Micro S Mercury Dime

The 1945-S Micro S Mercury Dime is a unique variety with an unusually small “S” mint mark on the reverse. This smaller mint mark was mistakenly used on about one-third of 1945-S dimes, making it a recognizable error. While not as rare as some key dates, finding it in high-grade condition, especially with full bands, increases its value. Values range from $5 in circulated condition to over $2,250 for uncirculated pieces with full bands.

1873-CC Seated Liberty Dime (No Arrows)

The 1873-CC Seated Liberty Dime without arrows is a rare and valuable coin from the Carson City Mint. The “No Arrows” designation means it lacks arrows flanking the date, added later in 1873 to signify a weight change. Its low mintage of 12,400 pieces, combined with attrition, makes surviving examples scarce. A specimen in mint condition has sold for $1,840,000.

1871-CC Seated Liberty Dime

Struck at the Carson City Mint, the 1871-CC Seated Liberty Dime is sought-after due to its limited mintage of 20,100 pieces. Carson City Mint coins are scarcer due to the mint’s short operating period and harsh Western conditions, leading to many coins being lost or worn. Surviving examples, especially in good condition, are prized, with values reaching up to $350,000 for mint state examples.

1872-CC Seated Liberty Dime

The 1872-CC Seated Liberty Dime, also from the Carson City Mint, had a slightly higher mintage of 35,340 coins than the 1871-CC, but remains rare. Like other Carson City issues, many were circulated or lost, making well-preserved examples hard to find. Demand for Carson City coinage contributes to its high value. This dime can be valued at $650 in good condition, with uncirculated examples fetching more.

1874-CC Seated Liberty Dime

The 1874-CC Seated Liberty Dime, featuring arrows at the date, is a key date with a mintage of 10,817 pieces. It is rare due to low production and extensive circulation, especially in the Western territories. Most surviving examples show wear, making high-grade specimens scarce and valuable. Values start around $5,000 in good condition and increase for higher grades.

1895-O Barber Dime

The 1895-O Barber Dime, struck at the New Orleans Mint, is a rarity within the Barber Dime series. While its mintage of 440,000 was not exceptionally low, its scarcity in higher grades makes it valuable. Many saw extensive circulation, and fewer were preserved by collectors. Values range from $385 in good condition to thousands of dollars for uncirculated examples.

1970-S No S Proof Roosevelt Dime

The 1970-S No S Proof Roosevelt Dime is a modern error coin lacking the “S” mint mark. This mark should be present on all San Francisco proof coins. This omission occurred due to a production error, releasing a small number of these dimes without their identifying mark. Its rarity and proof strike quality make it sought after, valued around $1,300.

1975 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime

Another modern error, the 1975 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime, also lacks the “S” mint mark. This mark is characteristic of San Francisco proof coins. Only a limited number were produced, making them rare and desirable among modern error collectors. The absence of the mint mark makes this coin a distinct, valuable anomaly, with some examples valued at $1,300 or more.

1822 Capped Bust Dime

The 1822 Capped Bust Dime is a rarity from early United States coinage. While exact mintage figures are unclear, its age and low survival rate contribute to its high value. These dimes predate branch mints, meaning all were struck in Philadelphia. A well-preserved 1822 Capped Bust Dime can be valued at $1,000 in good condition, with prices escalating for higher grades.