Roosevelt dimes, which were first minted in 1946 and are normally plain, have, nevertheless, had some obscure varieties and mistake coins in their series fetch high prices in auction. Listed below is a thorough examination of six of the most precious Roosevelt coins that collectors will need to look out for.
1. 1975 no-S proof Roosevelt dime
The 1975 No-S Proof Roosevelt dime is a very rare 20th-century coin. The San Francisco Mint did not strike the usual “S” mint mark on this dime, producing a stunning error coin. There are just two of this kind of dime.
- Record auction: One sold in October 2024 for $506,250 and the other in 2019 for $456,000.
- Why it’s worthwhile: The lack of the mint mark is a quirk of proof coin striking, an operation in which accuracy is the highest concern.
2. 1968 no-S proof Roosevelt dime
The second extremely valuable error coin is the 1968 No-S Proof dime. As with the 1975 version, this dime was supposed to have an “S” mint mark but was struck in error without it.
- Record auction: An error-graded PR68 Deep Cameo specimen brought $18,800 in March 2014.
- Why it’s valuable: The error is scarce and in high demand among mint error enthusiasts.
3. 1996-W Roosevelt dime
The 1996-W dime was produced at West Point to mark the 50th anniversary of the Roosevelt dime series. It was packaged in special mint sets and is valuable because it was produced in limited quantities.
- Auction record: One high-grade MS69 piece sold for $411 in 2014.
- Why it’s value: Although it’s not a misprint coin, it’s rare because it was made elsewhere and very few made it into circulation.
4. 1950 proof deep cameo Roosevelt dime
1950 proof dimes are some of the earliest proof coins in the Roosevelt dime series and very much in demand among collectors due to their quality and scarcity.
- Record price at auction: A PR68 Deep Cameo graded coin sold for $18,800.
- What makes it valuable: Deep cameo is an enhanced contrast between the mirror fields and frosted design details of the coin, which makes it more valuable.
5. 1949 San Francisco mint full bands dime
1949 pennies are particularly worth it when they possess “Full Bands” on the torch image on the back—a sign of good strikes and genuinely excellent preservation.
- Auction record: A Full Bands MS68 coin sold for $6,000 on eBay in 2022.
- Why it’s valuable: The full bands terminology is a sign of a well-struck coin, so coins like these are scarce and valuable.
6. 1982 no-mint mark strong strike Roosevelt dime
The No-Mintmark 1982 dimes were produced at the Philadelphia Mint but did not have the standard “P” mint mark as a result of a mintage mistake. Good strike examples of this coin are especially sought after.
- Record price: One realized $2,185 in a 2004 sale held by Heritage Auctions in an MS68 condition.
- Why it’s valuable: Good strike examples are more rare than bad strike examples, therefore they are more sought after by collectors looking for high-grade coins.
Why these coins are so valuable
These Roosevelt dimes are valuable because they are rare and old and have certain errors or designations like lack of mint marks or full bands on the reverse torch design. The coins are sought after by collectors not only for face value but because the coins document mintage anomalies and craftsmanship over many decades of mintage.
If you’re lucky enough to find one of these coins in your collection or during a coin hunt, it could be worth a significant sum at auction!
