What Dimes Are Worth Money?

Published October 17, 2026 · Last reviewed October 17, 2026 · 7 min read

A dime is small enough to disappear into almost anything. It gets buried under quarters in a cup holder, dropped into change jars, or handed back at a register without a second look. But some of the most valuable details in U.S. coin collecting can fit on that tiny piece of metal.

For a beginner, there is one year worth remembering before anything else: 1964.

What Year Dimes Are Silver?

Most U.S. dimes dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. That includes Mercury dimes, and Roosevelt dimes through 1964. Beginning in 1965, the U.S. Mint removed silver from regular circulating dimes and switched to the copper-nickel clad composition still used today.

That makes sorting an old jar of dimes surprisingly easy. Put aside anything dated 1964 or earlier first. A silver dime weighs 2.5 grams when new and contains about 0.0723 troy ounce of actual silver. Instead of using a fixed dollar amount that will become outdated as silver moves, you can estimate the metal value with a simple calculation:

Number of silver dimes × 0.0723 troy ounce × current silver spot price

You can check the live silver price at Kitco before doing the math.

Silver, however, is only the beginning.

Barber Dimes (1892–1916)

The Barber dime, made from 1892 through 1916, was designed by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. Common circulated examples often trade for more than their silver content because collectors still want them, but certain dates are in a completely different category. The most famous is the 1894-S Barber dime. Only 24 were struck at the San Francisco Mint, and just nine examples are currently known. Examples have sold for well over a million dollars at auction.

Seated Liberty Dimes (1837–1891)

Go back even further and you reach the Seated Liberty dime, made from 1837 through 1891. These coins show Liberty seated on a rock and can range from fairly obtainable circulated pieces to major U.S. rarities. The standout is the 1873-CC No Arrows dime from Carson City. Only one example is known to survive, making it the rarest U.S. dime according to PCGS.

Mercury Dimes (1916–1945)

For many people, though, the older dime they are most likely to recognize is the Mercury dime, struck from 1916 through 1945. Despite the nickname, the person on the front is not actually the Roman god Mercury. It is Liberty wearing a winged cap. The design simply reminded people of Mercury, and the nickname stuck.

If you find Mercury dimes, check the date and mintmark carefully. The biggest date to remember is 1916-D. Only 264,000 were made, making it the major key date of the series. The 1921 and 1921-D are also scarce, and collectors look closely for the 1942/41 overdate, where traces of a "1" can be seen underneath the final "2" in the date.

Silver Roosevelt Dimes (1946–1964)

Then there are Roosevelt dimes, which began in 1946. Most silver Roosevelt dimes are common, but a few dates deserve more attention. The 1949-S, with a mintage of 13,510,000, has long been considered one of the key circulation issues. The three 1955 issues from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco also had relatively low mintages compared with many other Roosevelt dimes.

Modern Dime Errors Worth Money

Modern dimes can be valuable too, although usually because something unusual happened during production rather than because of silver.

One beginner-friendly example is the 1982 No-P Roosevelt dime. Philadelphia dimes were supposed to carry a "P" mintmark by then, but a small number were struck without one. PCGS describes it as the first missing-mintmark error on a U.S. circulation coin. Thousands were discovered, particularly around Sandusky, Ohio, and genuine examples are worth much more than ten cents.

Proof dimes have produced even more dramatic mistakes. A tiny number of 1968 proof dimes were made without the expected "S" mintmark, and the 1975 No-S proof dime is even rarer, with only two known. These are not ordinary no-mintmark dimes found in circulation; they were specially made proof coins, which is an important distinction when checking something you saw online.

How to Sort Dimes at Home

If you are sorting dimes at home, keep it simple. Start by pulling out everything dated 1964 or earlier. Then separate Barber, Mercury, and Roosevelt dimes. After that, check dates and mintmarks before assuming every silver dime should be sold only for its metal content. A common 1964 Roosevelt dime and a 1916-D Mercury dime both contain roughly the same amount of silver, but collectors value them very differently.

And do not clean them. A dark or worn dime may not look impressive, but cleaning can permanently change the surface and reduce collector value.

Before You Sell Silver Dimes

If you decide to sell silver dimes, having them looked at individually can help separate ordinary silver from better dates and varieties. Haven Coin & Jewelry, at 2285 Whitney Ave in Hamden, Connecticut, offers free, no-obligation evaluations and can be reached at (203) 717-4921. Walk-ins are welcome Tuesday through Friday from 10am–5pm and Saturday from 10am–2pm. For larger collections, you can also book an appointment. Haven is a licensed Connecticut precious metals dealer, items are evaluated individually against current market information, and payment is made by check the same day, as Connecticut law requires.

Ten Cents Is Not the Interesting Part

A dime does not need to look impressive to deserve attention. Sometimes the important part is the silver inside it. Sometimes it is a tiny "D" beside the date, a missing mintmark, or one number struck over another. Most dimes will remain ordinary change. But once you know what to look for, ten cents can stop being the most interesting thing about the coin.

FAQ: Dimes

What dimes are worth money?

Pre-1965 silver dimes, scarce dates such as the 1916-D Mercury dime, older Barber and Seated Liberty designs, and certain modern errors can all be worth more than face value.

What year dimes are silver?

Regular U.S. dimes dated 1964 or earlier are generally 90% silver. Regular circulating dimes became copper-nickel clad beginning in 1965.

What is the rarest dime?

The 1873-CC No Arrows Seated Liberty dime is unique, with only one known survivor. The 1894-S Barber dime is another famous rarity, with only nine currently known.

How much is a silver dime worth?

It changes with the silver market. A 90% silver dime contains about 0.0723 troy ounce of silver. Multiply that amount by the live silver spot price to estimate its basic metal value. This does not include possible collector value.