1975 Dime Value Guide (Incld. Rare Varieties)

What Is A 1975 Roosevelt Dime Made Of?

The 1975 Roosevelt Dime is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. The core of the dime is made of solid copper while a mixture of copper and nickel covers the surface. Its mass is 2.268 grams with a diameter of 0.705 inches or 17.91 millimeters. The face value of the dime is 10 cents or $0.10.

On the obverse, the 1975 Dime features the image of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The bust is facing the left with the word “LIBERTY” in front of him. Under Roosevelt’s chin, you’ll find the inscription, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

Under the neck of Roosevelt is the year 1975 and between the year and his neck is the mint mark, which can be “D,” “S,” or no mint mark at all.

photo source: PCGS

On the reverse, you’ll find a torch, which represents liberty, at the center of the coin. The torch is flanked by an olive sprig, which symbolizes peace, and oak, which represents independence and strength.

The US Motto, “E Pluribus Unum” stretches from left to right. At the bottom, the value “ONE DIME” is added. On top is the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”

One interesting element you’ll also find is the “JS” initials at the cutoff of the bust and near the year, “1975.” JS stands for John Sinnock. He was the Chief Engraver at the time of the dime’s creation in 1945. Sinnock’s designs were repeatedly rejected until he came up with the final one.

The first Roosevelt dime went into circulation in 1945. Since its release, the Roosevelt dime was mass-produced in huge numbers. At first, the dime was made of silver. However, in 1965, the coin transitioned to base metal. The design of Sinnock remained essentially unchanged until this day.

1975 Roosevelt Dime Varieties

The 1975 Roosevelt dime has at least three official varieties. The main difference is their mint mark, which indicates where the coin was made.

The varieties include the following:

• 1975 P or No mint mark Roosevelt Dime
• 1975 D Roosevelt Dime
• 1975 S Roosevelt Dime
• 1975 Roosevelt Dime errors

Please note that Philadelphia Mint traditionally doesn’t add a mint mark on the coins they make. Thus, if you find a coin with no mint mark, although it has no “P,” it is understood to have been made in Philadelphia.

The “D” stands for Denver and “S for San Francisco.

Here’s a quick look at the varieties:

1971 D Half Dollar

photo source: UCoin

1975 D Roosevelt Dime

photo source: Amazon

1975 S Roosevelt Dime

photo source: Amazon

1975 Roosevelt Dime errors

Like other coins, there’s always a chance that an error can occur from the planchet to the die, from the strike to the release.

For the 1975 dime, there’s not much error reported. However, errors can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. There are coins with errors that can be sold for more than their face value. Because how the error made the coin rare, its value increases.

There was one type of error that produced a super rare 1975 dime. This was the genuine 1975-S Roosevelt coin Proof with No S mint mark dime.

photo source: Coin World

This is among the most expensive dime ever sold. In 2019, the said dime was sold for $456,000.

What Makes A 1975 Dime Rare?

What makes a 1975 dime rare is its uniqueness. As you may imagine, millions if not billions of coins are made each year. The majority of them look the same and if something is different, that coin is rare.

Time can also make a dime rare. 1975 is already decades ago. You can’t create any coin the same as what was made in 1975. So, that makes a coin rare nowadays.

Finally, the number produced makes a dime rare. If only a few of a certain variety existed, then that coin is rare.

The rarest 1975 dime is the Proof 1975-S Roosevelt, no S dime. As of the time of this writing, there are only two of these dimes that were authenticated by the American Numismatic Association Certification Service.

How Do You Identify A 1975 No-S Dime?

Now, if what you just read interests you, you are probably asking, how do I know if a dime is the 1975 no-S rare coin?

This is an important question that should be answered. A lot of Roosevelt dimes are being sold online. The sellers claim that their dimes are rare and it is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Because of the prevalent scam and fraud out there, it is best that you know what you’re getting. It is always wise to get as much information as possible.

So, the first thing you need to understand is the difference between proof coins and business strikes. Remember that the rare dime is a proof coin.

An authentic rare 1975 no-S dime should look more attractive because it is a proof coin. As a proof coin, it should have a shinier appearance. Moreover, the coin has this mirrored background that makes the bust and other elements pop out. There is also a degree of cameo or frost on the design elements that add a more dramatic effect.

Here’s a close-up look of the authentic 1974 no-S dime that is worth thousands of dollars:

photo source: Coinweek

The United States Mint used a special process to ensure that a proof coin would receive maximum details on both sides of the coin.

Proof coins are usually not added to circulation and are specially made for collectors who pay a certain amount of money to own them.

On the other hand, business-struck coins are the standard and ordinary coins that go into circulation. These coins, while flashy, shiny, and lustrous when released, eventually lose their beauty as they are used in various transactions.

To give you an idea, here’s a side-by-side comparison of a proof coin.

At first glance, you can easily see that the coin on the right side is shinier and has more details. This is the proof coin as opposed to the business-struck coin on the left side.

If you see your coin to be unusually beautiful and attractive, you need to bring it to the experts of authentication. Your coin would remain ordinary unless and until it is checked.

Two of the most popular coin graders are Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) in Florida and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) in California.

Most believe that the super rare 1975 dime was produced when the mint mark on the die failed. Once the Mint inspectors discovered the error, they immediately stopped the minting process and corrected the problem. Most of the error dimes were never released while some probably have made it into circulation.

How Much Is A 1975 Roosevelt Dime Worth Today?

Most 1975 Roosevelt dimes are worth $0.10 to $7. Its melt value is around $0.10. Some can have a higher price depending on their rarity and condition.

As mentioned above, the rare 1975 no-S dime was sold in an auction for $349,600 in Illinois on August 18, 2011. Later, the coin was sold again at Heritage Auctions Long Beach for $456,000 in 2019.

How Does The Grading System Work?

The Sheldon Scale is used by numismatists to provide a numerical value to coins. The Sheldon Scale goes from poor (P-1) to perfect mint state (P-1) (MS-70). Coins were originally evaluated using words to reflect their condition (Good, Fair, Excellent, Etc.). Unfortunately, coin collectors and dealers had different ideas about what each of these terms represent.

Professional numismatists joined together in the 1970s and established CoinGrading standards. 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:

1. 1. • (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 of the 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 that are 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; 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, very 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, there are no tiny imperfections 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.

Where To Buy Or Sell 1975 Dimes?

Buying or selling 1975 dimes is now easier thanks to the World Wide Web. By doing a search on the Internet, you can quickly find people who may buy your coins or sell you coins.

Aside from the Internet, you can go to coin shops, antique stores, and coin collectors. They should be able to help you do business with your 1975 dimes.

FAQs

How can you tell if a dime is a proof?

You can look at the general appearance of the dime. A proof coin is shinier and more beautiful in appearance. Even though it’s an old coin, you can still see how detailed its various elements are. Plus, proof coins are more likely to be in the hands of collectors and never circulated to the public.

Where is the mint mark on a 1975 dime?

The mint mark of a 1975 dime is found between the cutoff of Roosevelt’s bust and the year 1975.

What is the rarest dime?

One of the rarest dimes in the United States is the 1894-S Barber dime. This dime is so rare that two of them were sold for $1.3 million and $1.9 million a piece.