Starting in the year 1965, the silver content was taken out of the Roosevelt Dime. For the years 1946 to 1964, the coins had been struck in 90% silver. The new composition was copper-nickel clad. This consisted of an inner core of pure copper with outer layers composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. The overall composition of the coins resulted in 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.
For the first three issues after the composition change, no mint marks were used on Roosevelt Dimes. This was done in an effort to prevent hoarding by collectors. The mint marks were restored in 1968 for Denver and San Francisco mint issues. Philadelphia began using a mint mark in 1980.
The obverse design of the Roosevelt Dime features the head of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The reverse features a lit torch with branches of olive and oak to either side.
Clad Roosevelt Dime Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1965-present |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
|
San Francisco |
| Composition: |
91.67% copper |
|
8.33% nickel |
| Weight: |
2.27 grams |
|
0.07 ounces |
| Diameter: |
17.91 mm |
|
0.71 inches |
dimes Roosevelt
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
| Dates: |
1946-1964, 1992-present (silver proof only) |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
|
San Francisco |
| Composition: |
90% silver |
|
10% copper |
| Weight: |
2.50 grams |
|
0.08 ounces |
| Diameter: |
17.91 mm |
|
0.71 inches |
dimes Roosevelt