Do you have a spare dime? It could be worth more than $1 million. Here's what to know

Miguel Legoas
·2 min read

Need some extra money for the holidays? It might be worth checking your piggy bank or the spare change rattling around in your car's console.

While it may not be a secret that $2 bills are rare and valuable, it's not the only currency worth more than its face value. Dimes, America's smallest coin, can be worth some big bucks. Here's a closer look at some of the most valuable dimes and what you should be looking for:

What is the most valuable dime?

The crown jewel of all dimes is the 1894-S Barber Dime. According to Gainesville Coins, the story goes that the San Francisco Mint had an accounting shortfall of $2.40 in 1894. So, the mint superintendent reportedly had a tiny sum of 24 proof dimes bearing the 1894 date, and “S” mintmark, struck to balance the books. He then gave many of these dimes to his close friends and associates, including three to his daughter.

Only nine 1894-S proof Barber dimes are accounted for today, and all realize more than $1 million when they cross the auction block. According to Bankurapolice, in 2016, one such dime sold for $1.9 million.

More: Rare coin sells for over $500K after sitting in Ohio bank vault for 46 years

What are some more valuable dimes?

  • 1874-CC Liberty Seated Dime: $5,000

  • 1914-D Mercury Dime worth more than $3,000.

  • 1916-D Mercury Dime worth more than $10,000.

  • 1968-S no-S proof Roosevelt Dime worth $7,500.

  • 1975 no-S Roosevelt Dime sold for about $450,000.

How to determine if my coin is valuable

Obviously, the older a dime is, the more valuable it is. So, definitely be on the look out for any from the 19th or early 20th centuries.

Gainesville Coins says to keep an eye out for all pre-1965 Roosevelt dimesbecause they contain a 90% silver composition and are worth much more than the face value. Currency with mistakes can also be worth a lot, so be on the lookout for modern dimes without the S mark.

Here are some more tips from Gardening Soul:

  1. Use a magnifying glass to inspect the date, mintmark, and overall condition of the coin.

  2. Consult a coin expert for a professional evaluation.

  3. Reference Online Resources: Websites like the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or PCGS CoinFacts can help you assess a coin’s value.

  4. Get It Graded: Send your coin to a certified grading service to determine its official condition and market value.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Dimes could be worth millions, according to coin collectors

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