10 Rare Dimes Worth Thousands to Collectors

While many collectible coins are considered valuable because they are extremely rare or hard to come by in good condition, some coins worth thousands are common enough that you might have one or two sitting around in an old change jar at home. Collecting and reselling valuable coins is both a hobby and, for some, a fun way to earn extra cash and help pay for your bills.

Knowing what makes a coin valuable, though, is key. Check your change jar for these 10 dimes, which may look average, but have sold for thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

Editor's note: All auction record data come from the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), unless otherwise stated.

1872-CC seated Liberty dime

Auction record: $480,000

Though they are extremely hard to come by, finding an 1872 dime minted in Carson City in any condition will net you a small fortune. Only about 35,000 dimes, which feature a seated Lady Liberty on the obverse, were minted in Carson City that year, and finding them in mint-state condition is nearly impossible.

The $480,000 auction record was for a rare coin graded MS63. Even coins with obvious signs of age and wear have sold for upwards of $10,000.

1975 Roosevelt proof - no S

Auction record: $506,250 (GreatCollections)

Proof coins minted in San Francisco in 1975 that are mistakenly missing the "S" label are extremely valuable, but also extremely hard to find. Some 1975 Roosevelt dimes have no mark because they were minted in Philadelphia, where the missing "P" was intentional.

The San Francisco dimes were supposed to feature an "S" and did not. Only two of these dimes have been discovered to date, and the auction record is over half a million dollars.

1938-S Mercury dime

Auction record: $364,250

Mercury dimes are known as such because the obverse features a portrait of Liberty wearing a winged cap, which many say makes her look like the Roman god Mercury.

Finding one of these dimes from 1938 in good condition is extremely rare, and the auction record is a whopping $364,250 for an MS68+ graded coin. In grades MS66 or less, they only tend to be worth a few hundred dollars, if that.

1942/1 Mercury dime

Auction record: $90,000

Another rarity in the Mercury series came in 1942, when a minting error resulted in a faint 1941 being visible under the coin's actual minting year on the obverse.

Even in less than mint condition, these coins, which are 90% silver, tend to sell for thousands. The auction record $90k payout was for an MS67+ graded coin.

1968 Roosevelt proof - no S

Auction record: $40,250

Shiny proof dimes from 1968 with no mint marks are worth keeping an eye out for, as this is another example of coins minted in San Francisco that were mistakenly missing their "S" mint mark.

Though these are not quite as rare as the 1975 variety, the coins do sell for tens of thousands of dollars when they do appear. The auction record coin was graded PR67.

1916-D Mercury dime

Auction record: $31,720

In 1916, the Denver mint produced a significantly smaller number of Mercury dimes compared to both the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. These 90% silver dimes aren't exactly uncommon but are extremely hard to find in good condition. Anything graded MS62 and over tends to sell for more than $10k.

The auction record was for a coin graded MS64+.

1965 Roosevelt dime - silver planchet

Auction record: $13,200

The U.S. Mint was supposed to stop producing dimes made of silver after 1964. However, some 1965 dimes were mistakenly struck on 90% silver planchets from the previous year, and that mistake is incredibly valuable these days.

According to Heritage Auction records, one of these dimes graded MS61 sold for more than $13,000 in 2023.

1956-P Roosevelt dime

Auction record: $3,450

More than 100 million Roosevelt dimes were minted in Philadelphia in 1956, and they are common and thus not worth much, up to an MS66 grade.

Dimes graded MS67 and above have garnered payouts ranging from less than $100 to more than $3,000.

1983-P Roosevelt dime

Auction record: $2,233

Though hundreds of thousands of Roosevelt dimes were struck in Philadelphia in 1983, it is extremely rare to find the coins in excellent condition. To be truly valuable, these dimes must be labeled "full band," which means that the two horizontal bands featured on the torch on the coin's reverse are clear and well-struck.

The auction record for one of these coins graded MS68 exceeded $2,200.

1931-S Mercury dime

Auction record: $270,250 (Legend Rare Coin Auctions)

Dimes minted in 1931 in San Francisco are considered valuable for two reasons: coin production was way down that year due to the Great Depression, and it's extremely rare to find one of these Mercury dimes in good condition with a "full band" designation for the reverse design.

The auction record for one of these coins was set in 2019, when an MS67+ FB (Full Bands) graded example sold for $270,250, a price driven almost entirely by that top-tier strike quality rather than by the coin's date alone.

Bottom line

While selling collectible coins can be a fun way to earn extra money, it is important to understand the factors that determine value, such as rarity and the coin's condition. If you happen to find one of the dimes listed above or another potentially valuable coin in your collection or while out and about, consider getting the coins professionally graded by a service like PCGS to ensure you're listing them for a fair price.

You May Also Like

5 Ways You Could Make Real Money Without Quitting Your Job

By FinanceBuzz Editors

6 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially

By FinanceBuzz Editors

7 Clever Ways to Crush Your Debt

By FinanceBuzz Editors

Hands Down The Laziest Ways People Are Making Extra Cash

By FinanceBuzz Editors

7 Moves If You Want to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

By FinanceBuzz Editors

25 Legit Ways to Make Extra Cash

By Team FBZ

Earn Free Cash Within Minutes — Up To $1,000

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Freecash Benefits

• Earn Free Cash Within Minutes — Up To $1,000
• Has paid out over $100 million to users since 2019
• You choose the offers you want to complete and stack for rewards
• Multiple cash-out options
• “Excellent” Trustpilot Rating (54,000+ reviews, 4.6/5 stars)

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Download Freecash

---

Subscribe Today

Learn how to make an extra $200

Get vetted side hustles and proven ways to earn extra cash sent to your inbox.

or

Subscribe Now →

By submitting this form you agree to receive emails from FinanceBuzz and to the privacy policy and terms