Roosevelt dime facts for kids
| United States | |
| Value | 10 cents (0.10 US dollars) |
|---|---|
| Mass | .999 silver 2.537 g; .900 silver 2.500 g. Clad: 2.268 g |
| Diameter | 17.91 mm (0.705 in) |
| Edge | reeded |
| Composition | Silver: 90% Ag, 10% Cu (1946–1964 standard; 1992–2018 silver proof only) 99.9% Ag (silver proof, 2019 to present) Clad: 75% Cu and 25% Ni over pure copper core (1965–present) |
| Silver | Ordinary circulation dimes since 1965 contain no silver. For coins dated 1946 to 1964 and some collector's editions since 1992:
(. 900 silver, before 2019) 0.07234 troy oz |
| Years of minting | 1946 to present |
| Mint marks | P, D, S, W. Located from 1946 to 1964 on the lower reverse to the left of the torch, since 1968 on the obverse above the date. No mint mark used at Philadelphia before 1980 or at any mint from 1965 to 1967. |
| Obverse | |
 |
|
| Design | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Designer | John R. Sinnock |
| Design date | 1946 |
| Reverse | |
 |
|
| Design | Torch with branches of olive and oak |
| Designer | John R. Sinnock |
| Design date | 1946 |
The Roosevelt dime is the ten-cent coin used in the United States today. It has been made by the United States Mint since 1946. This coin shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the front. It was approved shortly after he passed away in 1945.
Roosevelt had polio, a disease that affects muscles. He was a big supporter of the March of Dimes, a group that fought against polio. The ten-cent coin was chosen because the Mint could change its design without needing a special law from Congress. Officials quickly decided to replace the old Mercury dime. The Mint's main designer, John R. Sinnock, created the new coin. Even though his first designs faced some criticism, he made changes, and the coin started being used in January 1946.
Since it was first made, the Roosevelt dime has been produced in huge numbers. In 1965, the Mint stopped making the coin with silver and started using a mix of other metals. The design is still mostly the same as when Sinnock first created it. Because there are so many of them, and most don't contain silver, these dimes are not as rare for coin collectors as some other modern U.S. coins.
Contents
Why Roosevelt Got on the Dime
President Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. He had led the United States through tough times like the Great Depression and World War II. Roosevelt had suffered from polio since 1921. He helped start and strongly supported the March of Dimes to fight this disease. Because of his connection to the March of Dimes, the ten-cent coin was a clear way to honor him.
On May 17, 1945, the Treasury Secretary announced that the Mercury dime would be replaced. The new coin would show Roosevelt and would be released by the end of the year. Most people supported this change. The old Mercury dime design had been used for more than 25 years. This meant the Bureau of the Mint could change it without needing a new law from Congress.
Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock was in charge of creating the new design. His assistant, Gilroy Roberts, also did a lot of the work. In October 1945, Sinnock sent his first designs to the Mint. These designs were then sent to the Commission of Fine Arts. This group gives advice on public artworks, including coin designs.
Sinnock's first designs showed Roosevelt's head on the front. On the back, there was a hand holding a torch with olive and oak branches. The Commission of Fine Arts did not like these designs. They said Roosevelt's head "needs more dignity." Sinnock then made a new design for the back. It was similar to the coin we see today, but without the hand. The commission liked this idea better.
Sinnock worked to improve Roosevelt's portrait. The Mint Director, Nellie Tayloe Ross, sent new pictures to the commission. They still rejected it and suggested a competition with other artists. However, the Mint was in a hurry to get the new coins ready for the March of Dimes campaign in January 1946. The new Treasury Secretary, Fred M. Vinson, also disliked the models at first. Sinnock made more changes, making Roosevelt's head larger and moving the word "LIBERTY."
Finally, the new designs were approved. On January 8, 1946, the Mint Director told the commission that production would start. Sinnock was ill at the time, and the March of Dimes campaign was already happening. So, the Mint decided to start making the coins without waiting for a full meeting of the commission.
What Does the Dime Look Like?
The front of the dime shows President Roosevelt's face. You can also see the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST." Sinnock's initials, "JS," are near the bottom of Roosevelt's neck, to the left of the date.
The back of the coin has a torch in the middle. This torch stands for liberty. On either side of the torch, there is an olive branch and an oak branch. The olive branch means peace, and the oak branch means strength and independence. The words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" (which means "out of many, one") are written across the coin. The name of the country and the coin's value are around the edge. This design on the back celebrates the end of World War II.
Some people have noticed that the Roosevelt on the dime looks similar to a plaque of Roosevelt made by sculptor Selma Burke. She believed Sinnock used her work to create the dime. However, Sinnock had drawn Roosevelt from life in 1933. He also used photographs to design the dime. It's hard to know for sure today if her work was used.
How the Dime is Made
The first Roosevelt dimes were made on January 19, 1946, at the Philadelphia Mint. They were released to the public on January 30, which would have been President Roosevelt's 64th birthday. People were very excited about the new coin.
When the dimes were first released, some people thought Sinnock's initials "JS" stood for Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union. They thought a communist supporter had put them there. The Mint quickly said this was not true. But the rumors continued for a while.
From 1946 to 1964, dimes were made with silver. In 1965, the Mint started making dimes from a mix of metals called "clad" metal. These coins are made from a sandwich of cupronickel (copper and nickel) around a core of pure copper.
For a few years (1965 to 1967), dimes did not have mint marks. Mint marks are small letters that show where a coin was made (like "P" for Philadelphia or "D" for Denver). The Mint stopped using them to try and stop people from collecting coins, which they thought was causing coin shortages. Mint marks started again in 1968.
In 1980, the Philadelphia Mint began putting a "P" mint mark on dimes. Sometimes, dimes were also made at the West Point Mint in New York. In 1996, special 1996-W dimes were made there for the 50th anniversary of the Roosevelt design. These were not for everyday use but were put into special sets for collectors.
In 2003, a politician suggested that former president Ronald Reagan should replace Roosevelt on the dime after he died. Reagan's wife, Nancy, did not like this idea. After Ronald Reagan passed away in 2004, the idea was not pursued.
A new law in 2021 allows for special one-year designs for coins in 2026. This will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. One of these designs will feature women.
Collecting Roosevelt Dimes
Because so many Roosevelt dimes have been made, most regular ones are not worth much more than their face value. This means they don't get a lot of attention from collectors.
However, some special dimes are valuable. For example, some dimes made in Philadelphia in 1982 were accidentally released without the "P" mint mark. These can sell for $50 to $75. Also, dimes from 1982 and 1983 that are in perfect condition are worth more because no official collector sets were made those years.
The most expensive Roosevelt dimes are those made by mistake in 1970, 1975, and 1983. These are "proof" coins (special coins made for collectors) that are missing the "S" mint mark. One of only two known 1975 dimes without the "S" mark sold for $349,600 in 2011!
See also
In Spanish: Moneda de 10 centavos de Estados Unidos de Roosevelt para niños
