Franklin Delano Roosevelt is widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents in American history. He not only led the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II but also made history as the only president to serve four terms. His impact was so significant that the U.S. limited future presidents to two terms.
Since 1946, Roosevelt’s face has been on the U.S. dime, and some of these coins are worth far more than their 10-cent face value. In fact, some rare Roosevelt dimes have fetched tens of thousands of dollars in auctions, with one even estimated to be worth over $500,000.
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Why Roosevelt Is on the Dime
Roosevelt’s connection to the dime goes beyond his legacy as a president. After he passed away in 1945, early in his fourth term, a nonprofit that was very dear to him—the March of Dimes—was influential in putting his image on the coin. This organization was dedicated to fighting polio, a disease Roosevelt himself battled. His work with the charity made him the perfect choice for the dime.
The U.S. Mint issued the first Roosevelt dimes in 1946. Originally, these dimes were made of 90% silver and 10% copper. However, due to the rising cost of silver, the composition changed in the 1960s to a mix of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
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Valuable Roosevelt Dimes
While most Roosevelt dimes are only worth their face value, a few rare ones can sell for thousands, sometimes even hundreds of thousands of dollars. These coins are prized for their errors or unique features, making them valuable to collectors.
Here are the 10 most valuable Roosevelt dimes according to CoinValueChecker:
- 1975 No S Proof Type 2 Clad Roosevelt Dime – Sold for $456,000 in 2019
- 1968 No S Proof Deep Cameo Type 2 Clad Roosevelt Dime – Sold for $47,000 in 2020
- 1951 Proof Deep Cameo Type 1 Silver Roosevelt Dime – Sold for $23,500 in 2014
- 1956 Proof Deep Cameo Type 1 Silver Roosevelt Dime – Sold for $19,975 in 2016
- 1950 Proof Deep Cameo Type 1 Silver Roosevelt Dime – Sold for $18,800 in 2014
- 1999-D Roosevelt Dime Type 2 Clad Regular Strike – Sold for $14,375 in 2009
- 1949 Type 1 Full Band Silver Roosevelt Dime Business Strike – Sold for $13,200 in 2018
- 1946 Type 1 Silver Roosevelt Dime Regular Strike – Sold for $12,650 in 2004
- 1966 SMS Special Strike Type 2 Clad Roosevelt Dime – Sold for $12,500 in 2021
- 1983 No S Proof Deep Cameo Type 2 Clad Roosevelt Dime – Sold for $10,560 in 2014
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Final Thoughts
If you have an old coin collection or come across any Roosevelt dimes, it’s worth checking to see if you own one of these rare coins. Some of them have fetched life-changing amounts of money. Even if you don’t have one of these high-value dimes, knowing their stories and what to look for can make collecting coins a fun and potentially rewarding hobby.