The 1992 Roosevelt dime was issued more than 30 years ago. It is part of the Jefferson dime series and has become a popular addition to the collection of many coin enthusiasts. If you are looking for more information about the Roosevelt Dime struck in 1992, such as its historical significance, value, and design, you came to the right place.
What Is the 1992 Roosevelt Dime Made Of?
The 1992 Roosevelt dime is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. The dime was clad with nickel, and its core was copper. It has the following specifications as well:
- Value – 10 cents
- Diameter – 17.91 mm
- Mass – 2.268 grams
The Roosevelt dime was first issued in 1946. At that time, the dime was made of 90% silver and 10% copper until 1964. The US Mint transitioned to using base metals in 1965 to discourage hoarding and ensure the coins were well circulated.
The original version of the Roosevelt dime was designed by John R. Sinnock, the Mint’s Chief Engraver during that time. The Commission of Fine Arts repeatedly rejected his design. He modified his design multiple times until a design was finally chosen.
On the obverse, you’ll find the image of Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. On the reverse, you’ll find the Liberty torch flanked by olive and oak branches.
Since the US Mint started producing the Roosevelt dime, billions of them have already entered circulation. Because of the large number of dimes and no rare dates, the dime isn’t really that popular among collectors. Nevertheless, the 1992 dime is still important since it can potentially complete any collection.
1992 Roosevelt Dime Varieties
The 1992 Roosevelt dime is widely circulated. It is popular among the public as it represents the president who led the country through the Great Depression and World War II.
In 1992, there were four official varieties of the 10-cent coin. Here’s a table that shows you the 1992 Roosevelt dime varieties along with their mintage:
Variety | Mint Location | Mintage |
1992 D Mercury Dime | Denver | 616,273,932 |
1992 P Mercury Dime | Philadelphia | 593,500,000 |
1992 S Mercury Dime | San Francisco | 2,858,981 |
1992 S Proof Mercury Dime | San Francisco | 1,317,579 |
Total | 1,213,950,492 |
It’s time to take a deeper look at each of these varieties.
1992 D Mercury Dime
Year of minting: 1992
Mint Mark: D
Place of minting: Denver
Quantity produced: 616,273,932
Face Value: $0.10 (10 cents)
Price: $0.15 to $0.35 (circulated condition)
Mass: 2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Composition: 75% copper and 25% nickel
Diameter: 17.90 millimeters
The Denver Mint produced more than 616 million dimes in 1992. The Mint produced the most number of dimes back then. If you want to buy a 1992 D coin, you should be able to get one for less than one dollar if it is in circulated condition.
1992 P Mercury Dime
Year of minting: 1992
Mint Mark: P
Place of minting: Philadelphia
Quantity produced: 593,500,000
Face Value: $0.10 (10 cents)
Price: $0.15 to $0.35 (circulated condition)
Mass: 2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Composition: 75% copper and 25% nickel
Diameter: 17.90 millimeters
The 1992 P dime is the second most abundant variety for that year. You can easily know which coins were struck in Philadelphia by checking the mint mark on the obverse side. If you see a letter P, that’s from the Philadelphia Mint.
1992 S Mercury Dime
Year of minting: 1992
Mint Mark: S
Place of minting: San Francisco
Quantity produced: 2,858,981
Face Value: $0.10 (10 cents)
Price: $0.15 to $0.35 (circulated condition)
Mass: 2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Composition: 75% copper and 25% nickel
Diameter: 17.90 millimeters
The San Francisco Dime helped increase dimes circulation by producing more than 2.8 million 10-cent coins. Circulated 1992-S dimes can easily be bought for less than a dollar.
1992 S Proof Mercury Dime
Year of minting: 1992
Mint Mark: S
Place of minting: San Francisco
Quantity produced: 1,317,579
Face Value: $0.10 (10 cents)
Price: $7.19 or more (uncirculated condition)
Mass: 2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Composition: 75% copper and 25% nickel
Diameter: 17.90 millimeters
The San Francisco Mint also produced proof coins in 1992. There were more than 1.3 million of these 10-cent-proof coins issued.
Proof coins are more difficult and time-consuming to produce. Because it needs to be polished by hand and more details are added, the proof coins are not made for circulation but for collectors.
Thus, compared to its standard counterparts, the 1992 proof dime is more expensive.
List Of 1992 Roosevelt Dime Errors
There were billions of 10-cent coins produced in 1992. You can imagine the increased chances of producing error coins. Thus, it is unsurprising that the 1992 Roosevelt dime had its fair share of coins made with errors.
Here are some of them:
Off-center strike
The off-center strike error happens when there’s an improper alignment between the die and the blank coin. Because of the misalignment, the die hits the planchet at the wrong angle, leading to an off-center strike.
Here’s an example of a 1992 Roosevelt dime with an off-center strike error:
Improper annealing process
Annealing is the process of adding a luster and a bright look to a coin. Sometimes, this doesn’t happen as it should. Here’s what the 1992 dime looks like without the right annealing:
Strike-through errors
The strike-through errors happen when a foreign material gets between the die and the planchet. When the die hits the planchet, the die strikes through foreign material, such as grease, metal clippings, and dust.
Die break error
The die hits the planchet multiple times each day. Due to wear and tear, there comes a time when the die breaks. When this happens, the die forms a crack, which is engraved on the planchet. Coins with a die break error have unusual but small lines on their surface.
How Much Is 1992 Roosevelt Dime Worth Today?
The 1992 Roosevelt dime has a face value of 10 cents. Its melt value is $0.0243. The usual price of a 1992 Roosevelt dime in a circulated condition is between $0.15 and $0.35.
Looking at these numbers, the 1992 Roosevelt dime seems unimportant. However, don’t let that fool you. There are still some 1992 Roosevelt dimes that could be sold for hundreds of dollars.
To appreciate its value, you can take a look at this table that shows you the auction record for each variety:
Coin | Condition | Grade | Sold date | Sold by | Value |
1992 P Roosevelt Dime | Uncirculated – Full Band | MS 61 | January 3, 2012 | Heritage Auctions | $1,610 |
1992 S Proof Roosevelt Dime | Perfect Uncirculated – Deep Cameo
|
PR 70 | May 1, 2004 | Heritage Auctions | $564 |
1992 D Roosevelt Dime | Superb Gem Uncirculated | MS 67 (Full Steps) | September 10, 2018 | eBay | $425 |
As you can see, the 1992 dime can still be valuable if it is pristine and has rare characteristics.
Moreover, you also need to remember that error coins can be astronomically more valuable than their face value. If you have unique error coins, they can be sold for hundreds of dollars.
How Does The Grading System Work?
Grading the 1992 Roosevelt dime is the same as grading other US coins. Today, professional grading is done by coin grading service providers. The most recognized and respected companies include the following:
- Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
- Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)
- Independent Coin Graders (ICG)
- American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS)
Having your coin officially graded can dramatically increase its value.
Today, coin grading includes adjectives and a 70-point numeric scale. The adjectives used would depend on the range of the pointing system. Here are some examples:
- 1 – Poor
- 2 – Fair
- 8-10 – Very Good
- 20-35 – Very Fine
- 67-69 – Superb Gem Uncirculated
The better the condition of your coin, the higher its grade. Currently, 1992 proof dimes receive a PR 70 grade. This means that the coin is perfectly in good condition. Flaws are invisible to the naked eye.
Where To Buy Or Sell 1992 Roosevelt Dime?
You can buy 1992 Roosevelt dimes on the Internet. You can use Google with keywords such as “Buy 1992 Roosevelt Dime” or “Sell 1992 Roosevelt Dime.” You should instantly get a lot of relevant links.
You can visit websites like Amazon, eBay, and USA Coin Book.
While looking for your needed coin on the Internet is easy and fast, remember that you won’t be able to examine the coin physically. You would need to rely on videos or photos. You would also need to wait a few days to get your ordered item.
If the Internet doesn’t work, you can visit coin shops, antique stores, and auction houses. These places are known to sell and buy 1992 dimes.
FAQs
How much does a 1992 dime weigh?
The 1992 dime weighs 2.27 grams.
Is a 1992 P dime worth anything?
The 1992 P dime isn’t made of precious metals. There are also way older coins compared to it. So, it isn’t much if you’re basing the value on its intrinsic and face value. However, 1992 P dimes in superb good condition can be more valuable. For example, an MS-61 graded 1992 P dime was sold for $1,160 in January 2012.
How much is a 1992 gold dime worth?
The dime is not made of gold. It is rather made of copper and nickel. If you find a 1992 gold dime, it could be worth thousands of dollars.