Coin Specifications

In 1916, new designs were introduced for the dime, quarter, and half dollar. The Mercury Dime replaced the previous Barber Dimes series, which had run from 1892 to 1916. The new coin was designed by Adolph A. Weinman, who had also provided the new half dollar design.

The Mercury Dime featured a portrait of Liberty wearing a winged cap. This image was mistaken for the Roman god of trade, profit, and commerce, who the coin is commonly named for. The reverse of the coin included a bundle of rods and an axe tied together, known as fasces. The coins carried the same composition and specifications as the prior series, but mintage only took place at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

The design would be replaced after 1945 with an image to memorialize the recently passed Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Mercury Dime Coin Specifications

dimes mercury

For the initial years of the Roosevelt Dime series, coins was issued with the same silver based composition that had been used for the two prior series issued for the denomination. This consisted of 90% silver and 10% copper with a weight of 2.50 grams. Each silver dime contains 0.07234 ounces of pure silver.

Between 1946 and 1964, circulation strike silver Roosevelt Dimes were produced at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver Mints. For these years of the series, the mint mark only the “D” and “S” mint marks were used, and these appeared on the reverse of the coin to the left of the base of the torch. Coins minted at Philadelphia did not use the mint mark. Mintages ranged from a low of 12,450,181 for the 1955 coin to a high of 1,357,517,180 for the 1964-D.

Starting in 1992, the US Mint began producing 90% silver Roosevelt Dimes for inclusion in an annual Silver Proof Set. These coins shared the same specifications as the original silver coins issued for circulation.

Silver Roosevelt Dime Coin Specifications

dimes Roosevelt

The Barber Dime was issued from 1892 to 1916, replacing the long running Seated Liberty Dime. The coin was designed by Charles E. Barber and features a rendition of Liberty facing left and wearing a Phygian cap. The reverse features an agricultural wreath bordering the denomination in the center. During the run of the Barber Dime series, coins were produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans, and San Francisco Mints. The scarcest coin is the 1894-S, which reportedly only had 24 coins produced. The coins were struck in the 90% silver composition that had been used for the previous design.

Barber Dime Coin Specifications

dimes barber