How Much Does a Silver Dime Cost?

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The first coins made by US Mint were the dimes. In the United States, the minting started in 1792, when George Washington ordered the first coin issue. Though, the first silver dime made by the US Mint appeared in 1976. All coins minted after 1965 were made of nickel or copper, by the Coinage Act.

The highest-priced dimes are those in mint condition, with desirable and expected coloration changes. Moreover, dimes with production errors are much more expensive than you would expect.

Most valuable United States dimes

The USA Coin Book says that the most valuable US dimes are the following:

• Barber dimes
• Seated Liberty dimes
• Mercury dimes
• Roosevelt dimes
• Capped Bust dimes
• Draped Bust dimes

Also, this list includes the coins listed between 1796 and 2021.

Valuable dimes

There is no doubt that rare dimes are valuable collectibles and great investments. When you start your own dime collection, you should learn how to make the difference between rare and common silver dimes. Though, in both cases their cost is significantly higher than the face value, especially for the following:

Early dimes (between 1796 and 1837)

• Capped Bust dime, curl base 2 (1829) – $5,500
• Draped Bust dimes made before 1809 are worth more than $550
• Capped Bust dime, flat top 1 in 10C (1827) – $450
• Capped Bust dime (1809) – $490
• Capped Bust dime (1822) – $1,800
• Capped Bust dime, 11 over 09 (1811) – $230
• States Of America Capped Bust dime (1820) – $320
• States Of America Capped Bust dime (1814) – $320

Error dimes

The worth of the dimes with die breaks, broad strokes, and off-center strikes is anywhere between $8 and $30, in some cases even more.

Pre-1965 silver dimes

You might also like our articles on the cost of a penny, coin collecting, or credit cards.

The worth of a Mercury dime, Roosevelt dime, and Barber dime that is made of 90% silver is higher than $2.

Mercury dimes

• Mercury dime with 42 over 41 (1942) – $620
• Mercury dime (1916 D) – $1,100
• Mercury dime with 42 over 41 (1942 D) – $660

Roosevelt dimes

• Roosevelt dime, no-S (1983) – $510
• Roosevelt dime, no-S (1968) – $11,000
• Roosevelt dime, no-P (1982) – $145
• Roosevelt dime, no-S (1970) – $500
• Roosevelt dime, no-S (1975) – $303,000

Barber dimes

• Barber dime (1894 S) – $1 million
• Barber dime (1895 O) – $360
• Barber dime with 3 over 2 (1893) – $145

Dimes with semi-key dates

• Roosevelt dime (1996 W) – $13
• Mercury dime (1921) – $60
• Roosevelt dime (1950 S) – $5
• Mercury dime (1921 D) – $75
• Roosevelt dime (1950) – $5
• Roosevelt dime (1949) – $5
• Roosevelt dime (1949 D) – $5
• Roosevelt dime (1949 S) – $7

Liberty Seated dimes (between 1837 and 1891)

• Liberty Seated dime (1885 S) – $395
• Liberty Seated dime (1838 O) – $170
• Liberty Seated dime (1881) – $165
• Liberty Seated dime (1844) – $160
• Liberty Seated dime (1880) – $150
• Liberty Seated dime (1846) – $190
• Liberty Seated dime (1879) – $190
• Liberty Seated dime (1856 S) – $300
• Liberty Seated dime (1878 CC) – $150
• Liberty Seated dime (1858 S) – $155
• Liberty Seated dime (1874 CC) – $7,100
• Liberty Seated dime (1859 S) – $180
• Liberty Seated dime (1873 CC) – $2,800
• Liberty Seated dime (1859) with the obverse of 1859 with stars and the reverse of 1860 is worth a minimum of $5,100
• Liberty Seated dime, doubled die (1873) – $460
• Liberty Seated dime (1860 O) – $490
• Liberty Seated dime (1873 CC) – $1 million
• Liberty Seated dime (1861 S) – $140
• Liberty Seated dime (1872 CC) – $1,200
• Liberty Seated dime (1862 S) – $140
• Liberty Seated dime (1871 CC) – $2,800
• Liberty Seated dime (1863) – $570
• Liberty Seated dime (1870 S) – $220
• Liberty Seated dime (1864) – $260
• Liberty Seated dime (1867) – $530
• Liberty Seated dime (1866) – $690
• Liberty Seated dime (1865) – $420

Rarest existing dimes

Due to different reasons, some dimes are very rare. These would include:

• those remained after melting dimes for silver;
• production errors;
• small quantities produced.

As you would expect, the rarest existing coins are the most expensive coins you can find on the market.

Final words

Most saved silver dimes are worth much more than their face value, but some of these are crazy expensive. For example, the Seated Liberty dime without arrows (1873 CC) costs around $1.8 million at auction.

Though, this is not the most expensive silver dime in the world. The record is held by one with nine existing Barber dimes (1894 S) of 24 minted which cost $1,997,500 at auction.