Roosevelt Silver Dime (1946–1964)
The Roosevelt dime is still struck today, but only the coins dated 1946 through 1964 are 90% silver. Those silver issues are among the most widely held American coins: plentiful, easy to identify and almost all common, so for circulated coins the silver content does most of the work in setting value.
This page covers why Roosevelt replaced the Mercury dime, how to tell silver from clad, how the coin is graded, the few dates worth a closer look, and how silver Roosevelt dimes trade on Changes Hands.
Quick facts
| Years | 1946–1964 (silver issues; clad from 1965) |
|---|---|
| Designer | John R. Sinnock |
| Denomination | 10 cents |
| Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper (0.0723 troy oz silver) |
| Weight | 2.50 g |
| Diameter | 17.91 mm |
| Mints | Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), San Francisco (S); mint mark on the reverse left of the torch base |
| Edge | Reeded |
History: a dime for the March of Dimes
Franklin D. Roosevelt died in April 1945. The dime was a natural choice to honor him: Roosevelt, who had polio, founded the organization that became known through its March of Dimes fundraising campaigns, which asked Americans to send in their dimes. The new coin was released on January 30, 1946, which would have been his sixty-fourth birthday.
The designer was John R. Sinnock, the Mint's Chief Engraver. His initials, JS, sit below the neck, and a persistent rumor at the time claimed they stood for Joseph Stalin. They did not. The Coinage Act of 1965 ended silver in the dime, and from 1965 the coin has been made of copper-nickel clad over a copper core.
The design
Roosevelt faces left on the obverse, with LIBERTY in front of his face and IN GOD WE TRUST below his chin. The reverse shows a torch flanked by an olive branch on the left and an oak branch on the right, symbols of liberty, peace and strength. E PLURIBUS UNUM runs across the field. Through 1964 the mint mark appears on the reverse just left of the bottom of the torch.
How to grade a silver Roosevelt dime
Wear begins on the cheek, the ear and the hair above it, and on the reverse at the torch, flame and leaves. Under the Changes Hands Grading Standard the bands that have their own markets require, on both sides:
- Very Fine: separated strands in the hair above the ear, all vertical lines on the torch visible, a detailed flame and some leaf veins.
- Extremely Fine: wear only on the cheek and hair above the ear; sharp torch lines with the horizontal bands visible; fully detailed leaves.
- About Uncirculated: only trace friction on the cheek, the hair above the ear and the top of the torch, with mint luster on at least half of each side.
Why worn dimes trade as silver
Coins in Good to Fine are usually worth their silver and nothing more, so they are routed to the 90% silver dime class rather than graded into a band. In uncirculated grades, PCGS designates Full Torch coins whose horizontal bands on the torch are complete; Changes Hands does not assign that designation itself.
Silver or clad: how to tell
The date is the first check: 1964 and earlier means silver. The edge confirms it. A silver dime has a solid silver-gray edge, while a clad dime shows a copper-colored stripe between its outer layers. Clad dimes also weigh less, about 2.27 grams against 2.50 grams. A clad coin with a date altered to look like 1964 or earlier fails both the edge check and the scale.
Proofs and Special Mint Set dimes removed from their holders sometimes turn up in circulated lots. Their mirror-like fields set them apart, and they are referred for certification instead of being pooled.
Buying and selling Roosevelt dimes on Changes Hands
Silver Roosevelt dimes trade in house-graded pools by band: Very Fine, Extremely Fine and About Uncirculated. Any date and mint from 1946 to 1964 that meets the band can be delivered, so you buy a grade, not a date. Every coin is weighed, measured and metal-tested before two independent graders assess it.
Buyers pay no fees; sellers pay 3% plus a one-time grading fee when the coin sells. Because the coins are cheap, keeping them vaulted and reselling here is usually more economical than shipping a few home at $35 per shipment plus $3 per coin. The what is junk silver guide explains how bulk silver coins are valued.
Key dates
| Date | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 1949-S, 1950-S and 1951-S | The lower-mintage San Francisco dates of the early years, more sought after in uncirculated grades. |
| 1955, 1955-D and 1955-S | Lower mintages across all three mints; in circulated grades they still trade close to silver value. |
| 1964 doubled dies | Doubled-die varieties attributed by specialists with reference images. Excluded from the pools. |
| Full Torch coins | Uncirculated coins with complete torch bands are condition rarities on many dates. |
Roosevelt Silver Dime markets
- Roosevelt Silver Dime, Silver dates 1946–1964, Very Fine
- Roosevelt Silver Dime, Silver dates 1946–1964, Extremely Fine
- Roosevelt Silver Dime, Silver dates 1946–1964, About Uncirculated
Frequently asked questions
Are Roosevelt dimes silver?
Only those dated 1946 through 1964. They are 90% silver and 10% copper and contain about 0.0723 troy ounces of silver. From 1965 on, Roosevelt dimes are copper-nickel clad with no silver, apart from special silver proof issues.
How can you tell if a dime is silver?
Check the date (1964 or earlier) and look at the edge. Silver dimes have a uniform silver edge, while clad dimes show a copper stripe. A scale helps too: a silver dime weighs 2.50 grams and a clad one about 2.27 grams.
Which silver Roosevelt dimes are worth more than melt?
In circulated condition, very few. Uncirculated coins of the lower-mintage dates, coins with Full Torch designations, proofs and certified varieties such as the 1964 doubled die can carry premiums. This is general information, not investment advice.
What does JS on the Roosevelt dime stand for?
John R. Sinnock, the Mint's Chief Engraver, who designed the coin. A rumor in the 1940s claimed it stood for Joseph Stalin, but it has always been the designer's initials.