US Dimes

U.S. Dimes

The U.S. dime has been around since 1792. It is estimated that there are about 146 million of these coins in circulation. Many are freshly minted, but there is always a chance you will stumble upon a collectible gem in your pocket change.

These coins have never been 100% silver, but some are 90% silver. This includes the Mercury dimes and Roosevelt dimes produced during or before 1964. Since 1965, the Roosevelt dimes have been made of a copper core covered by a 75% copper and 25% nickel coating.

The 10-cent piece is the smallest and thinnest of all U.S. coins. It has a diameter of .705 inches and is .053 inches thick. These dimensions have stayed the same throughout the history of the coin. It weighs approximately 2.3 grams depending on how worn it is.

If you are a serious numismatist, you may be hunting down very specific coins. The most notable coins are examples from the 1800s through the early 1900s. The list of U.S. dimes that have been produced since 1792 is as follows:

• 1796 - 1807: Draped bust
• 1809 - 1837: Capped bust
• 1837 - 1891: Seated Liberty
• 1892 - 1916: Barber
• 1916 - 1945: Mercury
• 1946 - present: Roosevelt

Whether you collect as a casual hobby or have become very dedicated, there are a few aspects of these coins that are always important.

• Dates: Every style of the 10-cent piece was minted for a period of years. Some people like to find an example from every year that coin was made. Others may only want coins from the first year of every style. How you incorporate dates into your collection is up to you.
• Mint marks: Each U.S. mint stamps the coins it produces with a tiny letter. For example, all coins made in Denver are marked with a “D.” You may enjoy trying to find a dime made in Denver for each year they were produced.
• Errors: Coins that have an error in minting are at the top of every collector’s value list because they are so rare. Coins that are stamped off-center are one example of this type of error. Others may have no mint mark, or part of the outer layer of a Roosevelt dime may be missing, leaving the copper core exposed.
• Composition: Because the grade of the metal composition of these coins has changed over the years, this can be a dimension to use in your collection. For example, you may only want coins that are 90% silver or only those with copper cores.