Are Your Dimes Worth Money?

The following is our Coinfully list of dimes worth money:

1. Pre-1917 Dimes
2. Mercury Dimes
3. Roosevelt Dimes (1946–1964)
4. No-S Roosevelt Dimes
5. 1996-W Roosevelt Dimes
6. Error Dimes: Doubled Dies

Dimes, the ten-cent US coins, are known for their small size, but some dimes have prices that are far from being small by a great deal. The idea of finding dimes worth money is exciting because you could literally be sitting on or flipping your next payday.

While this may come across as surprising to unsuspecting owners, experienced coin collectors would surely find it easier to identify rare dimes as the valuable collectibles that they are.

There are different features that make certain dimes special. Some are very rare and can almost never be found in circulation, while others show up once in a while. The question, though, is: how do you even recognize these dimes when you see them?

To somewhat even the playing field if you’ve happened upon or inherited coins you do not know what to do with, this article gives premium information on finding, identifying, appraising, and selling rare dimes worth money.

Generally, U.S. dimes made after 1964 are not worth much more than their face value. However, dimes minted before 1965 can be worth significantly more due to their silver content and rarity.

What’s the story?

Well, earlier dimes were made predominantly of silver until the 1965 Coinage Act, which replaced silver with a nickel and copper combination. However, some silver remained in coins for a short time, adding to their value.

Similarly, silver half dollars saw their silver content reduced to 40% after the Coinage Act and were entirely removed of silver in 1970, making rare U.S. half dollars highly valuable.

Aside from minting dates, errors and condition also influence a dime’s value. Whether a dime is circulated, uncirculated, lightly worn, or heavily worn plays a significant role in determining its worth.

The dimes mentioned in this list may not always be rare investment pieces worth thousands, but they can still fetch a decent amount of money. If you’re hoping to find valuable dimes in circulation, from a collector, or in an inherited collection, these are the coins to look out for!

1. Pre-1917 Dimes

These dimes are basically made from 90% silver. They are characterized by the image of Lady Liberty in a full profile or bust form. They could be:

• Bust dimes
• Barber (Liberty Head) dimes
• Liberty Seated dimes

These classic dimes are incredibly hard to find in circulation today, making them highly valuable. If you happen upon one, consider yourself lucky—it could be worth anywhere from $2 to $100 or more, depending on its condition. Some of the most valuable Barber dimes have fetched incredible prices.

2. Mercury Dimes

These iconic dimes, featuring Lady Liberty with a winged cap, were first minted in 1916 and are often called “Mercury dimes” because people mistakenly thought the design depicted the Roman god Mercury.

Most valuable Mercury dimes are well-worn and typically worth $2-$5, though certain key dates can be worth thousands.

3. Roosevelt Dimes (1946–1964)

Roosevelt dimes minted before 1965 have significant silver content and are worth more than face value. While they are relatively common, the worn dimes from this period tend to hold more value.

To determine the exact worth of a Roosevelt dime, consider getting it appraised by an expert at Coinfully. These dimes typically range from $1 to $2, but rare varieties can fetch much more.

Some of the rare and valuable dimes include error dimes, No-S Roosevelt dimes, and West Point Mint dimes.

4. No-S Roosevelt Dimes

These dimes were minted without an ‘S’ mark and made in the San Francisco Mint between the 1960s to 1980s. They seem similar to the Philadelphia Mint dimes made pre-1980. However, unlike the business-strike dimes that carry face value, these No-S Roosevelt dimes are only in proof sets.

They are pretty rare and can be worth a lot of money ranging from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars.

5. 1996-W Roosevelt Dimes

West Point Mint carries a ‘W’ mint mark on these special dimes. The Roosevelt dime had its 50th anniversary in 1996, and this ‘W’ marked it. While they were only shared as 1996 uncirculated sets, some were removed and circulated. The former is worth about fifteen dollars, while the latter is worth five to ten dollars.

6. Error Dimes: Doubled Dies

Most times, people are rarely searching for the Roosevelt dimes with double dies (light or drastic). Careful searching for these scarce collectibles could reward you with a dime worth $25-$50 and more. While some double dies require a lot of magnification, some can be seen with the naked eye. The clearer this error is, the more valuable the dime.

A Comprehensive List of Rare Dimes Worth Money

The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) are the organizations that certify coins and proclaim them to be in mint state. Some of the most valuable coins are those that survive to date in mint condition (including coloration). Rare dimes worth money usually fall into this category.

However, many of them could be rare for a wealth of other reasons like silver content, and small production quantity. These coins range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. It also runs into millions for some very rare dimes. In a bid to assist newbie coin collectors and extremely lucky coin owners, listed below are rare dimes worth money arranged by their year or production.

Some rare and valuable dimes to look for are:

1. Bust Dimes Worth Money

• Draped Bust dimes: Pre-1809
• Capped Bust dime: 1809
• 11 Over 09 Capped Bust dime: 1811
• STATESOFAMERICA Capped Bust dime: 1814
• STATESOFAMERICA Capped Bust dime: 1820
• Capped Bust dime: 1822
• 4 Over 2, Pointed 1: 1824
• Flat Top 1 in 10C. Capped Bust dime: 1827
• Large Date, Curl Base 2: 1828
• Curl Base 2 Capped Bust dime: 1829

2. Liberty Seated Dimes Worth Money (1843-1885) – Many most valuable Seated Liberty dimes are rare and command high prices. Examples include:

• 1843-O Liberty Seated dime
• 1844 Liberty Seated dime
• 1846 Liberty Seated dime
• 1856-S Liberty Seated dime
• 1858-S Liberty Seated dime
• 1859-S Liberty Seated dime
• 1859, Obverse of 1859 with Stars, Reverse of 1860 Liberty Seated dime
• 1860-O Liberty Seated dime
• 1861-S Liberty Seated dime
• 1862-S Liberty Seated dime
• 1863 Liberty Seated dime
• 1864 Liberty Seated dime
• 1865 Liberty Seated dime
• 1866 Liberty Seated dime
• 1867 Liberty Seated dime
• 1870-S Liberty Seated dime
• 1871-CC Liberty Seated dime
• 1872-CC Liberty Seated dime
• 1873-CC Liberty Seated dime
• 1873 doubled die Liberty Seated dime
• 1873-CC Liberty Seated dime
• 1874-CC Liberty Seated dime
• 1878-CC Liberty Seated dime
• 1879 Liberty Seated dime
• 1880 Liberty Seated dime
• 1881 Liberty Seated dime
• 1885-S Liberty Seated dime

3. Barber Dimes Worth Money (1893-1895)

• 1893 3 Over 2 Barber dime
• 1894-S Barber dime: over a million dollars and there were only 24 of these dimes minted.
• 1895-O Barber dime

4. Mercury Dimes Worth Money (1916-1942)

• 1916-D Mercury dime
• 1942, 42 Over 41 Mercury dime
• 1942-D, 42 Over 41 Mercury dime

Tips on How To Look For Valuable Dimes

For dimes in circulation, there are things you can do that have proved fruitful over time.

• Searching through regular transaction coins.
• Looking through bank rolls, boxes, and bags from the bank. These are usually gotten at face value from the banks.

For rare dimes, you can add the tips for valuable dimes in circulation to the ones mentioned below.

• Check the reject bins of machines that convert loose change to cash
• Look through your local coin dealers sets
• Look through old proof sets

American Dimes Price Range

Older and collectible American dimes worth money can sell from anywhere between two dollars all the way to thousands of dollars.

Old dimes are worth money beyond their face value. For any dime with silver content, their lowest price is their melt value, which is dependent on the price of silver at the time, but would be around two dollars.

Several factors play into what makes a dime worth thousands of dollars. We cannot tell you what year dimes are worth money without at least knowing what type of dime it is, what the mint mark is, and what grade it is in.

Most Expensive Dime Ever Sold

The most expensive dime ever sold was an 1894-S Barber Dime. In the last twenty years, two different 1894-S Barber Dimes sold for over one million dollars.

An extremely rare coin with only 24 Barber dimes minted in San Francisco in 1894, all were proof coins. Of those 24, there are only 9 known 1894-S Barber Dimes, making it a key date to own.

In 2016, Heritage Auction sold the finest known example of an 1894-S Barber Dime for $1,997,500.

How To Sell Dimes For Money

1. Get a professional appraisal—knowing your coin’s true value ensures you don’t get lowballed. You can get a free coin appraisal online from Coinfully.
2. Choose where to sell—valuable dimes can be sold:
   • Online through reputable dealers.
   • To private collectors or coin shops.
   • Through auction houses for high-value coins.
3. Sell through Coinfully—if you want a hassle-free experience, sell your coins online with Coinfully. Our team offers fair prices and fast payments.

If you suspect your dimes might be valuable, don’t leave money on the table. Get a free, zero-pressure appraisal today to find out their true worth.

Get a free coin appraisal online and discover how much your dimes are worth!