Roosevelt dime value: silver dates, errors and the coins worth finding

Roosevelt dimes dated 1946 to 1964 are 90% silver and worth at least their silver value. Dimes from 1965 on are copper-nickel clad and mostly worth face value, with a few exceptions: the 1982 dime missing its P mint mark, the 1996-W, and the ultra-rare No-S proofs.

By the Coin Scanner team · Updated 2026-10-13

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From Mercury to Roosevelt

Soon after Franklin D. Roosevelt's death, the U.S. Mint released a dime bearing his portrait on January 30, 1946, his birthday. The Mint notes the choice suited him because he had backed the March of Dimes, which raised money to fight polio. The reverse shows a torch flanked by olive and oak branches, standing for liberty, peace and strength. Both sides are the work of John R. Sinnock, whose initials JS appear near the neck.

The design has run with only minor changes since then. One recent exception: according to the Mint, the 2026 dime uses an "Emerging Liberty" design for the nation's 250th anniversary, with Roosevelt scheduled to return in 2027.

Silver years and the 1965 switch

From 1946 through 1964 the dime was 90% silver and 10% copper and weighed 2.50 grams, the same standard as the Mercury dime before it. As silver grew more expensive, the Coinage Act of 1965 changed the composition, and the Mint removed silver from the dime that year. Clad dimes have outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core, and the Mint's specification is 2.268 grams. The difference is easy to see on the edge: a silver dime is the same color all the way through, while a clad dime shows a copper-colored stripe.

A 90% silver Roosevelt dime holds 2.25 grams of silver, about 0.0723 troy ounce. Multiply that by the day's spot price for its melt value, which sets the floor for worn silver dimes. See how to tell if a coin is silver for the full method.

Where the mint mark is

On silver Roosevelt dimes the D or S mint mark sits on the reverse at the lower left of the torch; Philadelphia coins have none. The U.S. Mint says no mint marks were used from 1965 to 1967, that mint marks moved to the obverse in 1968, and that Philadelphia began using a P on the dime in 1980. On modern dimes, CoinWeek places the letter above the last digit of the date.

Key dates, errors and mintages

Mintages are as listed by PCGS CoinFacts.

1982 no-P dime

By 1982 every Philadelphia dime was supposed to carry a P. PCGS describes the no-P dime as the first U.S. business-strike coin to leave the Mint without its intended mint mark. Examples were found in December 1982, mostly around Sandusky, Ohio, where thousands reportedly turned up. Two forms are recognized: a sharply struck "strong" version and a weaker strike. Check above the date for the P; if it is missing, compare the coin's strike with certified examples and have it authenticated.

1996-W

To mark the series' 50th anniversary, the West Point Mint struck dimes with a W mint mark, the first dime ever to carry one. PCGS notes they were sold only in the 1996 Mint sets, and the mintage of 1,457,000 is lower than any silver Roosevelt business strike. Because they were never released for circulation, any 1996-W found in change came out of a set.

No-S proof dimes

Since 1968, proof dimes have been struck at San Francisco with an S. PCGS explains that proof dies were prepared at Philadelphia and had the S added, and a few dies escaped that step, producing No-S proof dimes dated 1968, 1970, 1975 and 1983. The 1975 is the rarity, with only two known. PCGS lists its auction record as $456,000 for a PR68 sold by Heritage in September 2019. The other No-S dates are scarce but far more available.

Other things worth checking

CoinWeek notes that rare 1965 dimes exist on leftover silver planchets. A 1965 dime that weighs about 2.50 grams instead of 2.268 and shows no copper stripe on the edge deserves professional attention. Full Bands (the PCGS term; NGC uses Full Torch), meaning the horizontal bands on the torch are fully separated, add value to uncirculated coins; PCGS says the 1955 with Full Bands is much harder to find than an ordinary high-grade 1955.

How to check your Roosevelt dime

1. Read the date. 1964 or earlier means silver.
2. Look at the edge. A solid silver-colored edge points to silver; a copper stripe means clad.
3. Find the mint mark using the locations above. For 1982, confirm whether the P is present.
4. Weigh suspicious coins on a scale reading to 0.01 g, especially 1965 dimes.
5. Check strike and condition: torch bands, luster and any signs of cleaning.

Coin Scanner can read the date and mint mark from photos of both sides and return an estimated value range, which is a fast way to sort a pile of dimes.

What drives value

For 1946-1964 dimes in worn condition, silver content sets the price. For everything else, it is grade, strike (Full Bands), genuine errors and certification. Many supposed errors are post-mint damage or ordinary wear, and prices quoted here are records for exceptional coins. Any estimate, including the app's, is a guide; for a 1982 no-P, a heavy 1965 or anything that looks like a proof rarity, get a professional opinion from a grading service.

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