1954 Roosevelt Dime Value Guide

The 1954 dime is a 10-cent coin the United States Mint issued in 1954. At the time of this writing, the 1954 dime was struck 69 years ago. It is part of the Roosevelt Dime series that started in 1946.

As a vintage coin, you might want to collect 1954 dimes. You should continue reading this post to learn more about its composition, design, history, and value. 

 What Is the 1954 Roosevelt Dime Made Of?

The 1954 Roosevelt dime is 90% silver and 10% copper. It has a reeded edge, a weight of 2.50 grams, and a diameter of 17.90 millimeters. Moreover, the actual silver weight (ASW) of the 1954 10-cent coin is 0.0723 oz, with a fineness of 0.90.

The design of the 1954 Roosevelt dime was prepared by John R. Sinnock, the Chief Engraver of the US Mint during the time when the Roosevelt dime was started.

Image source: USA Coin Book

The obverse of the 1954 dime is the 32nd president of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt. This was done to honor the late president for the many achievements he contributed to the country. During that time, there was also a growing trend to add historical figures on US coins instead of allegorical or mythical beings.

On the reverse, you’ll find the images with the following symbolisms:

• Olive branch – peace
• Liberty torch – enlightenment
• Oak branch – strength

The Roosevelt dime was first struck in 1946. From 1946 to 1964, the dime was made of silver. However, in 1965, the US Mint removed silver from all regular US coins to discourage people from hoarding coins. Plus, silver was beginning to be more expensive.

Today, the design of Sinnock seems to stand the test of time as his design is still being used after decades of minting the 10-cent coin.

1954 Roosevelt Dime Varieties

The main variety of the 1954 Roosevelt dime comes from the three mint centers, namely Denver, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. The US Mint produced more than 243,500,000 dimes in 1954, including proof coins.

Here’s how the mintage figure according to variety looked like in 1954:

Take a look at the 1954 dime varieties in greater detail below.

1954 D Roosevelt Dime

Photo Source: PCGS

The Denver Mint produced more than 106 million dimes in 1954. This production figure is lower compared to the previous year. Even in 1954, the mintage continued to decline.

Nevertheless, the Denver Mint was known in the 1950s as the mint center producing the most well-struck coins. That’s why, among the varieties, you’ll find more 1954-D dimes in Gem condition.

1954 S Roosevelt Dime

Photo Source: PCGS

The San Francisco Mint produced more than 22 million dimes in 1954, far less than the other mint centers produced. This production figure is also lower than the dime mintage of the San Francisco Mint in 1953 and continued to dip in 1955.

1954 P Roosevelt Dime

Photo Source: PCGS

The Philadelphia Mint produced more than 114 million dimes in 1954, which makes the 1954 P dime variant the most abundant variety in 1954. Finding a 1954 P with a grade of up to MS 66 should be relatively easy. However, MS 67 grades and above could be elusive.

1954 Proof Roosevelt Dime

Photo Source: PCGS

The Philadelphia Mint also produced proof coins in 1954 besides the regular struck coins. There were only 233,300 proof coins issued in 1954, considered the third lowest mintage figure of proof coins in the Roosevelt series.

Although finding a 1954 dime up to PR 68 condition is relatively easy, PR 69 dimes are almost impossible.

List Of 1954 Roosevelt Dime Errors

The 1954 Roosevelt dime has a fair share of error coins. Due to mechanical and human error, some dimes were not produced perfectly.

Here are some examples of the 1954 Roosevelt dime errors:

Die break error

Due to wear and tear, the die could break after multiple times of strikes. When that happens, the die cracks and this crack gets imprinted on the planchet as well.

Die break errors manifest themselves in various ways depending on where the crack is and how extensive it is.

Here’s an example of a die break error in a 1954 dime:

Image source: eBay

The die break happens on the upper lip of Roosevelt, making it look like he has a mustache.

Weak strike error

Sometimes, the strike is so weak that some portion of the coin doesn’t appear clearly. One example is this weak strike error on a 1954 dime:

Image source: NGC

Because of the weak strike, the designer’s initials, “JS,” are missing.

Repunched mintmark (RPM)

The mint mark is supposed to be only struck on the coin once. However, due to a mechanical error, the mintmark is repunched, causing the letter S or D to look doubled.

Here’s an example of an RPM error on a 1954 dime:

Image source: NGC

Doubled die error

When the die hits the planchet twice and creates a doubling effect on some of the engraved materials’ elements, it is called the doubled die error.

Here’s an example:

Image source: eBay

How Much Is 1954 Roosevelt Dime Worth Today?

The 1954 Roosevelt dime is composed of silver. Thus, it could be more than its face value, which is 10 cents. The melt value of the 1954 dime is $1.6059, which can increase further if the market value of silver also increases. If you’re planning to buy a used 1954 Roosevelt dime, you’re looking at a price of $2.10 to $2.60.

These numbers may be low, but you should realize that 1954 10-cent coins are dramatically more valuable than their melt or face value.

Here’s a table of auction records for each variety to better appreciate the value of a 1954 dime:

How Does The Grading System Work?

The 1954 dime is graded based on its quality of strike, level of preservation, and luster.

Professional numismatists joined in the 1970s and established CoinGrading standards, known as the Sheldon Scale. These numismatists now assign grades at key places on the seventy-point scale, using the most regularly utilized numeric points in conjunction with the original adjective grade. The following are the most common coin grades:

• (P-1) Poor – Indistinguishable and probably damaged; if used, must have a date and mintmark; otherwise, rather battered.
• (FR-2) Fair – Nearly smooth, but without the damage that a coin graded Poor often possesses. The coin must have enough detail to be identified.
• (G-4) Fair – Inscriptions have merged into the rims in some areas, and important elements have been mostly erased.
• (VG-8) Very Good- A little weathered, but all primary design elements are visible, albeit faintly. There is little, if any, central detail left.
• (F-12) Good – The item is very worn, yet the wear is even, and the overall design details stand out clearly. Rims are almost completely isolated from the field.
• (VF-20) Very Fine – Moderately weathered, with some finer features still visible. The motto or all letters of LIBERTY are readable. Both sides of the coin have entire rims separated from the field.
• (EF-40) Extremely Fine – Gently used; all gadgets are visible, and the most important ones are bold. The finer details are bold and clear; however, light wear may be seen.
• (AU-50) Uncirculated – Slight evidence of wear on the coin’s design’s high points; it may have contact marks; eye appeal should be adequate.
• (AU-58) Uncirculated Choice – Slight traces of wear, no severe contact marks, almost full mint shine, and great eye appeal.
• (MS-60) Mint State Basal – Strictly uncirculated; no indication of wear on the coin’s highest points, but an unsightly coin with reduced luster, visible contact marks, hairlines, and other flaws.
• (MS-63) Mint State Acceptable – Uncirculated, but with contact scratches and nicks, little reduced shine, but otherwise appealing appearance. The strike is weak to average.
• (MS-65) Mint State Choice – Uncirculated with great mint shine, little contact blemishes, and exceptional eye appeal. The strike is unusually severe.
• (MS-68) Mint State Premium Quality – Uncirculated with superb luster, no obvious contact marks to the naked eye, and exceptional eye appeal. The strike is quick and appealing.
• (MS-69) Almost Perfect Mint State – Uncirculated with perfect brilliance, a sharp and appealing strike, and extremely good eye appeal. A near-perfect coin with minor imperfections in the planchet, strike, and contact markings (seen only under 8x magnification).
• (MS-70) Mint State Perfect – Under 8x magnification, no tiny imperfections are discernible; the strike is crisp, and the coin is perfectly centered on a beautiful planchet. Rarely seen on a coin, this coin is bright and whole, with original luster and exceptional eye appeal.

Moreover, a 1954 dime can be designated MS (Mint State) or Proof (PR). Mint State is given to beautiful coins that were originally made for circulation. PR is given to coins that were made as proof coins.

For the 1954 dime, the “Full Band” designation is also given to coins with high-quality strikes. The appraiser would look at the upper horizontal band of the Liberty Torch. If it is detailed, then the coin is deemed as Full Band.

Where To Buy Or Sell 1954 Roosevelt Dime?

The 1954 Roosevelt dime is available on the Internet and in coin shops. Depending on your needs, preference, and budget, both buying and selling methods can be a great choice.

If you want a quick and easy way to find 1954 Roosevelt dimes, you can use the Internet. With just a few clicks of a button, you should easily sell and buy your dime.

If you want to see and touch the coin you want to buy physically, then coin shops and other local stores would be ideal. Aside from that, you can quickly receive the coin you bought if you buy it in person, which is not the case with buying online as you need to wait for shipping.

FAQs

Is a 1954 dime silver?

Yes, the 1954 dime is silver. It is made of 90% silver and 10% copper.

Where is the mint mark on a 1954 dime?

The mint mark on a 1954 dime is found at the lower left tip of the Liberty Torch. The mint mark can be a letter S or D, depending on where the coin was struck. If there’s no mint mark, the coin was struck in the Philadelphia Mint.