The 1975 Roosevelt dime is a rare 10-cent coin that has attracted a lot of attention in the numismatist community because of a wrong error made during its production process. This 1975 dime is one of the rarest coins in the 20th century and is only two of which are known to be struck without the characteristic “S” mint mark, indicating that it was struck at the San Francisco Mint. Without this, the coin is extremely valuable with recent auction sales of over $500,000.
The story behind the 1975 dime
The Roosevelt dime was introduced in 1946 to honor U.S. former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who significantly contributed to establishing the March of Dimes in order to fight polio. The Roosevelt dime was created by John R. Sinnock and bears Roosevelt’s profile on the obverse side and imagery representing peace and freedom on the reverse side. The 1975 dime, like all other Roosevelt dimes, is constructed from a copper core with an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The mistake: Omitting the “S” mint mark
The mint error making the 1975 dime so popular is that there is no “S” mint mark above the date in San Francisco’s proof coins. During the preparation of the proof sets, there was an error while preparing dies without the mint mark. Such coins exist in just two quantities, making them extremely rare and much sought after among collectors.
Design and composition
The 1975 Roosevelt dime contains the portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt on the obverse, and at the bottom of his neck, the inscription “IN GOD WE TRUST” and date. The reverse contains a torch, olive branch, and oak branch, which represent peace and freedom. The coin weighs 2.27 grams and has a diameter of 17.91 millimeters.
The scarcity of the 1975 no S proof dime is unmatched in today’s U.S. coins. With only two known specimens, coins have fetched high sums at auctions. One was sold for $506,250 in 2024, and the other was sold for $456,000 in 2019. The worth of these coins not only lies in their scarcity but that they are a part of history and were never meant to be consumed by the public.
How to recognize the 1975 no S dime
It takes close inspection to spot a genuine 1975 no S proof dime. The coin should have a mirrored finish, sharp relief, and otherwise immaculate condition, like proof coins. The lack of the “S” mint mark over the date is the identifier. Because this coin is so phenomenally scarce, any suspected example must be professionally graded by a company such as PCGS or NGC.
The latest auctioning of one such dime for a record $506,250 marked its position as a grail coin in modern American coins. It received bidding interest from everywhere in the world, making the coin popular worldwide and placing it among numismatic rarities.
The 1975 Roosevelt dime with no “S” mint mark is a reflection of the beauty and value that numismatic errors can add to a denomination. Its value and rarity make it one of the most sought-after collector’s pieces available, selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction. To the enthusiast and collector, the dime is a chance to own a part of numismatic history.
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