Old Rare Dimes: In the world of American numismatics, dimes frequently garner outsized scrutiny given their small stature. These dimes have created some of the most popular and desirable coins in American numismatic history.
Whether early Draped Bust type or the storied 1894-S Barber, these small coins are the embodiment of history, artistry and extreme rarity – a powerful trend if there ever was one!
Table of Contents
Old Rare Dimes: creation of the American Dime-Draped Bust Rarities
The dime denomination was given approval in the Coinage Act of 1792 but not introduced until 1796. Neared its inception, this was the first dimes design issued and the representatives of the type, struck from a design by Robert Scot bearing the Draped Bust obverse with a small eagle reverse, marked the beginning of the denomination.
And with a total quantity of only 22,135 struck between all type varieties, any Draped Bust/Small Eagle dime is, of course, scarce.
The 1797 16 Stars is really something special. Tabulated when the number of stars on coins was supposed to correspond with the number of states in the Union, this oddball variety boasts 16 stars instead of the renditionally proper 15 – or soon thereafter 13.
With under 100 copies thought to exist in all grades combined, a high-grade example can reach the $50,000 mark.
The small eagle reverse design, introduced in 1798, portrayed an heraldic eagle behind a striped shield with a 13-symbol escutcheon in its grip.
Of these, the 1804 dime emerges as an extreme rarity with just 8,265 pieces produced and less than 500 recorded survivors.
High-grade examples of the coin, a product of early-Republic era when the fledgling government began issuing its own coins as soon as it gained the power to do so, often realize six figures at auction.
Seated Liberty Half Dimes: The Hidden Gems
The longest-running dime design in United States history is the Seated Liberty, which was used from 1837 until 1891. Now, in such a large series some dates stand out as true keys:
One of the rarest is the 1844 dime from the short-lived Dahlonega Mint (which is identified by use of the “D” mintmark). At just 7,500 coins struck and today 30-40 examples believed surviving, this Southern mint issue is regularly bid to north of $75,000 in the most nominal of states.
Another notable rarity is the 1846 dime of just 31,300 coined, and so few existing today. The 1860-O dime, one of the most famous of all New Orleans double dimedimes, holds not only the weight of its first year Civil War date, but notable rarity, as the New Orleans Mint would be closed within a matter of months of losing this facility to Confederate forces.
Most famous of all such dimes is the 1874-CC with arrows at the date (a sign of a minor weight adjustment in the silver). It had an extremely low mintage of just 10,000 pieces, and we estimate that far fewer than 50 examples are known to collectors today.
Such is the rarity of this date when offered at public auction and they generally sell for in excess of $100,000 in circulated condition.
The Piece De Resistance: 1894-S Barber Dime
Old Rare Dimes- Any talk of rare dimes would omit one of the greatest-ever rarities the 1894-S Barber dime. A mere 24 pieces were minted at San Francisco Mint making this coin one of the most well known American numismatic rarities, along with the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty Head nickel.
The amusing backstory behind this tiny mintage is that San Francisco Mint Superintendent John Daggett is said to have directed the production of 24 dimes to square the books at $2.40 on the fact of $2.40 in the mint’s yearly accounts. Of these 24 specimen, 9-10 are known to exist today.
Also contributing to the mystique of the coin is a story about Daggett’s daughter, Hallie, who purportedly received three of these dimes from her father and was told to hold on to them until she was older.
According to numismatic legend, she bought an ice cream with one on her way home — a choice that would be astronomically expensive today as examples have traded in the $1.5-2 million range.
The 1894-S is when all things numismatic converge: extreme scarcity, top-quality preservation for the vast majority, a legendary back story and the endorsement of America’s foremost professional coin grading services authenticating each and every genuine specimen.
Mercury Dimes: Inexpensive Icon Even Hidden Gems
The Adolph Weinman designed “Mercury” Dime (although this is actually a representation of Miss Liberty) struck between 1916-1945 includes some of the most beautiful silver coinage the U. Although the majority of issues in this series are relatively common, there are some better dates to be aware of, those which are truly rare:
The key date is the 1916-D, which saw but 264,000 produced as the Denver Mint concentrated on quarters. A near perfect mint state example commonly brings $25,000+ while premium quality pieces easily top the $100,000 mark.
The 1921 and 1921-D, coins produced during a recession with mintages of 1.2 million and 1.1 million, respectively, are often encountered in well-circulated condition.
Uncirculated coins of these dates, if in mint condition, and especially if they have full bands (completely horizontal lines on the fasces on the reverse), are worth quite a lot more.
The 1942/1 overdate (P & D) resulted from working down the 1941 dies and repunching the date 1942, leaving clear parts of both dates behind. These interesting mint errors continue to be the most popular varieties in the series.
Roosevelt Dimes Modern Rarities They learn here how to identify it and what kind of premium a beginning coin collector should save.
Even within the more contemporary Roosevelt dimes, introduced in 1946 and still being minted, there are few rarities. The 1949-S doubled die obverse displays readily apparent doubling on Roosevelt’s profile and the date, imparting a bold visual impact.
The 1968 “no S” proof dime resulted from proof dies that were produced without the usual mintmark. With less than 20 known examples, that modern rarity typically realizes $20,000 or more at auction.
Old Rare Dimes: Collecting Considerations
And for collectors intrigued about rare dimes, paint authenticity is still the key issue. Clever imitation and alteration of mintmarks (in particular, the addition of the valuable “D” to 1916 dimes and the removal of mintmarks on issues to simulate the rare “no S” proofs) require expert authentication for any substantial purchase.
The rarest dimes of yesteryear will remain in demand and realize record prices from the connoisseurs of numismatics who know that sometimes immense value comes in small packages.
