Dime (United States coin)

Dime (United States coin)
source
Country	United States
Denomination	Dime
Value	0.10 United States dollar
Mass	2.268 g
Diameter	17.91 mm
Thickness	1.35 mm
Edge	118 reeds
Composition	Current (1965–present): 75% copper, 25% nickel clad over pure copper core., 1946–1964: 90% silver, 10% copper.
Years of minting	1796–present
Obverse design	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Obverse designer	John R. Sinnock
Obverse design date	1946
Reverse design	Olive and oak branches flanking a torch.
Reverse designer	John R. Sinnock
Reverse design date	1946

Dime (United States coin). The dime is a ten-cent coin issued by the United States Mint and is the smallest in both diameter and thickness of all U.S. coins currently produced for circulation. Since 1946, its obverse has featured the profile of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, while its reverse depicts a torch flanked by an olive branch and an oak branch. As a fundamental unit of United States currency, the dime has a history spanning from the late 18th century, with its specifications and metallic composition undergoing significant changes, most notably the shift from silver to a copper-nickel clad in 1965.

History

The first dimes were authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, with production beginning at the Philadelphia Mint in 1796 as part of the early Draped Bust design series. Throughout the 19th century, the coin's design evolved through periods like the Capped Bust and Seated Liberty types, the latter introduced by Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht. A major redesign occurred in 1946, following the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when the Mercury dime was replaced by the current Roosevelt dime to honor his founding of the March of Dimes and his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II. The Coinage Act of 1965 subsequently eliminated silver from circulating dimes, changing their composition to a copper-nickel clad.

Design

The obverse of the modern dime, designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, features a left-facing profile of Franklin D. Roosevelt, with the inscriptions "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the year of minting. The reverse, also by Sinnock, displays a torch symbolizing liberty, flanked by an olive branch for peace and an oak branch for strength and independence, along with the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." This design replaced the Winged Liberty Head dime (often called the Mercury dime) by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, which featured an allegorical Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap.

Composition and specifications

From its inception until 1964, the dime was composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, with a mass of 2.5 grams. The Coinage Act of 1965 mandated a change to a clad composition, eliminating silver from circulating coinage due to rising bullion values. Since 1965, the dime has been struck on a planchet of pure copper core clad with outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel, giving it a total mass of 2.268 grams. Its physical dimensions are a diameter of 17.91 mm, a thickness of 1.35 mm, and a reeded edge containing 118 ridges.

Production and mintage

Dimes are produced annually at the Philadelphia Mint, Denver Mint, and San Francisco Mint, with mint marks indicating their origin ("P," "D," or "S") located above the date on the obverse. The West Point Mint has also struck dimes, primarily for proof sets and special issues. Annual production figures fluctuate based on Federal Reserve demand, with billions of coins often minted; for example, the Philadelphia Mint produced over 2.6 billion dimes in 2000. Notable low-mintage issues include the 1894-S Barber dime, of which only 24 were struck, and the 1916-D Mercury dime, which is highly sought after by collectors.

Collecting

Dimes are a popular series for numismatists, with key dates and varieties commanding high premiums. Significant collector coins include the 1796 Draped Bust dime, the 1873-CC Seated Liberty dime with arrows, and the 1916-D Mercury dime. Error coins, such as the 1982 no-mintmark dime struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and modern issues like those from the West Point Mint in 1996, are also prized. The professional grading services PCGS and NGC authenticate and grade dimes, with top-condition specimens of rare dates often selling for substantial sums at auctions conducted by firms like Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers Galleries.

Category:Coins of the United States Category:1796 establishments in the United States