Did you know the rarest and most valuable US dime sold for $3,600,000?
The 1873-CC Liberty Seated Dime: No Arrows is at the top of the list of rare dimes, followed by the following dimes, all evaluated above $50,000:
- 1894-S Barber Dime – $1,997,500
- 1792 ‘Disme’ Early Dime – $998,750
- 1796 Early Dime – $881,250
- 1804 Early Dime: 14 Stars on Reverse – $632,500
- 1873 -CC Seated Liberty Dime: Arrows – $552,000
As the smallest US coins, rare dimes make the 10-cent denomination a much-coveted item among collectors. Their novelty, mint errors, silver content, and rich history add up to other factors to make them quintessential collectors’ items that rack up thousands of dollars at auctions.
What Makes A Dime Rare? What Dime is Worth Money By Current Valuation
A dime is worth its face value of $0.10 in normal circulation conditions. It weighs 2.268 grams, has a 17.91 mm diameter, features 118 reeds on the edge, is 1.35 mm thick, and currently comprises 91.67% copper & 8.33% nickel.
Here is the full list of what makes a dime rare, and thus, worth the most amount of money:
1. Composition
The first dimes were minted in 1796 as authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. The 1796 dimes were known as the Draped Bust Dimes, featuring an obverse design of the Draped Bust image of liberty, the reverse features a small eagle surrounded by a wreath.
These inaugural coins were made of about 90% silver and 10% copper. The composition changed after the Coinage Act of 1965 due to the high cost of silver at the time and the need to have a more cost-effective and sustainable metal composition. This change brought us to the current cupronickel composition.
Rare silver dimes are partly valuable because they contain precious metals. They are also rare because none has been minted for over 50 years, meaning any high-grade silver dime is bound to be rare and highly sought after.
According to PCGS and NGC Price Guides, rare silver dimes are worth more than $300 in MS60, above $1500 in MS65, $6,000 or more in MS67, and more than $18,000 in MS68 or higher.
2. Early Dimes (1796 – 1837)
Price Guides like NGC and PCGS’ evaluate Early Dimes above $70,000 in MS68 or higher – the highest valuation being the 1796 dime worth $1,150,000 in MS68.
Early Dimes are those made before 1837 when Seated Liberty Dimes were minted. Early dimes are not the same as the rare 1792 Silver Disme, the latter was created before the official minting of dimes started in the U.S.
PCGS evaluates these coins at $1,000 in MS60 and above $17,000 in MS66 or higher.
3. Mint Errors and Varieties
Mint errors increase the dime value from as little as $10 to as high as $1,000,000 at auctions and open marketplaces.
Some of the rarest and most valuable errors for dimes include the 1873-CC Seated Dimes: No arrows, worth more than $1 million, and the F-101 variety in the 1871-CC Seated Dime, worth $250,000 or more in MS65 or higher.
If you are looking for rare dimes in circulation then rare Roosevelt dimes are what you are looking for. An example is the 1975 Roosevelt Dime made in San Francisco which lacks an S mint mark creating a “No S” error. This has sold for more than $400,000.
4. High Grade/Condition
The most valuable dimes in any given year are those with the highest possible grades for that particular year.
MS65 or above (for circulation coins) and PR66 or above (for proof coins) are rare in dimes from the late 1700s and the 1800s. AU58 coins also sell extremely well (up to $630,000 at auctions) if they are from the 1790s and early 1800s.
Note that the price for these high-grade coins is higher when errors are included.
5. Low Mintage
The 1894-S Barber Dime is one of the rarest coins in US history and this is owed to its less than 30-coin mintage in San Francisco.
The rarest dimes usually have low mintage in their respective mints.
6. Combination of the Above Factors
A coin with all the above-combined factors will be rarer than any other dime. Many have sold for thousands due to a combination of mint errors and old age alone.
The more rarity factors a dime has the rarer the coin becomes.
Top 19 Most Valuable Dimes: Rare Dimes
Below is a top rare dime list curated from the highest auction prices realized for dimes throughout history. The included grades are the highest, rarest, and most valuable of each dime:
| Dime | Grade | Highest Auction Price Realized | Year | Current Valuation |
| 1873-CC Seated Liberty Dime: No Arrows | MS65 | $3,600,000 | 2023 | $4,250,000 |
| 1894-S Barber Dime, BM | PR66 | $1,997,500 | 2016 | $2,450,000 |
| 1792 P ‘Disme’ Early Dime | AU58 | $998,750 | 2016 | $900,000 |
| 1796 Early Dime | MS67 | $881,250 | 2014 | $1,000,000 |
| 1804 Early Dime: 14 Star Reverse | AU58 | $632,500 | 2008 | $325,000 |
| 1873 -CC Seated Liberty Dime: Arrows | MS65 | $552,000 | 2022 | $290,000 |
| 1872-CC Seated Dime: F-101 | MS63 | $480,000 | 2022 | $237,500 |
| 1975 Roosevelt Dime: No S | PR68 | $456,000 | 2019 | $525,000 |
| 1822 Bust Dime | PR66 Cameo | $440,625 | 2014 | $167,500 |
| 1797 Early Dime: 13 Stars | MS65 | $402,500 | 2008 | $525,000 |
| 1800 Early Dime | MS66 | $352,500 | 2014 | $455,000 |
| 1803 Early Dime | MS64 | $322,000 | 2008 | $235,000 |
| 1827 Bust Dime: Pointed Top 1 | SP68 | $312,000 | 2021 | $57,500 |
| 1841 Seated Dime: No Drapery | PR67+ | $312,000 | 2022 | $60,000 |
| 1871-CC Seated Dime: F-101 | MS65 | $270,250 | 2014 | $350,000 |
| 1874-CC Seated Dime: Arrows F-101 | MS63 | $264,000 | 2021 | $190,000 |
| 1798 Early Dime: Small 8 | MS66 | $253,000 | 2008 | $180,000 |
| 1919-D Mercury Dime: Full Bands | MS66 | $218,500 | 2000 | $127,500 |
| 1916-D Mercury Dime: Full Bands | MS67 | $195,500 | 2010 | $225,000 |
1. 1873-CC Seated Liberty Dime: No Arrows – $3,600,000
The #1 rarest dime is a survivor of a potential 12,400-piece mintage. Minted in Carson City (CC), the coin is rare because only a handful are estimated to exist, and the coin is unique due to a ‘No Arrows’ error where the reverse design of the coin has missing arrows close to the date.
The absence of arrows was meant to combat counterfeiting, a revolutionary idea at the time. The coin sets itself apart with its unique historical significance, rarity, and low mintage. It is a true rarity that ignited bidding wars.
In 2017, a single example fetched a staggering $1.89 million!
Highest auction prices:
- $3,600,000 in 2023 at Heritage
- $632,500 in 1999 at Heritage
- $1,880,000 in 2012 at Stack’s Bowers
2. 1894-S Barber Dime, Branch Mint (BM) – $1,997,500
Before an auction for this coin, the Co-Founder of PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) noted: “There’s a couple of iconic rarities in the rare coin market. A couple of coins have been known among the rarest of the rare for 100 years and this is one of those numismatic icons.”
Only 24 of these Proof coins were ever minted in San Francisco and just 9 are confirmed to exist. Of these nine, only three are of Gem Quality, and this (PR66-graded) is one of them. It is a true rarity, a collector’s holy grail, recently selling for a mind-boggling $1,997,500 in 2016.
It is labeled as one of the Big Three of American numismatics (the most coveted coins in the U.S. pinnacle of collecting) along with the 1913 Liberty nickel and 1804 silver dollar.
Highest auction sales include:
- $1,500,000 in 2020
- $1,035,000 in 2005.
- $1,552,500 in 2007
- $1,440,000 in 2020
- $1,320,000 in 2019.
3. 1792 P ‘Disme’ Early Dime – $998,750
Known as a ‘Disme’ instead of a dime, this coin was minted before the US Mint was functional. It is considered the first United States coinage struck under the authority of the Coinage Act of 1792.
The coins were produced in or around July 1792 at the private facilities of local craftsman John Harper. It is believed that between 2,000 and 3,500 specimens were produced, and approximately 10% of these survive today, making it an absolute rarity.
The highest auction prices include:
- $998,750 in 2016
- $705,000 in 2016
- $329,000 in 2016.
4. 1796 Early Dime (Draped Bust Dime) – $881,250
Only 22,135 of these dimes were minted in 1796. They were the first official dimes ever struck by the U.S. Mint for circulation in the United States.
They comprised of 89.2% silver and 10.8% copper, a reeded edge, 2.70 grams, 19.80 mm diameter, and designed by Robert Scot. The obverse featured a draped bust of Liberty and the reverse depicted an eagle resting on a twig looking to the right, wings wide spread and a wreath surrounded the eagle.
Highest auction prices:
5. 1804 Dime: 14 Stars On Reverse – $632,500
This dime, with 14 stars representing the number of states at the time, is shrouded in mystery. While none were officially minted in 1804, a handful of genuine examples exist, likely struck using leftover planchets from earlier years. Their rarity and intrigue drive their value, exceeding $250,000.
Highest auction prices:
- $632,500 in 2008
- $367,187.50 in 2013
- $184,000 in 2007
6. 1873 -CC Seated Liberty Dime: Arrows – $552,000
While overshadowed by its “No Arrows” brother, this 1873-CC dime with arrows is still a scarce and valuable piece. Its low mintage (12,000) and historical context make it a gem for collectors, with high-grades fetching over $250,000.
Highest auction prices:
- $552,000 in 2022
- $199,750 in 2014
- $180,000 in 2021
7. 1872-CC Seated Dime: F-101 – $480,000
This dime boasts both rarity and a fascinating error. Only 50 were struck before the mint discovered a cracked die, creating a unique “double face” effect. This error adds significant value, with top-graded examples exceeding $100,000.
Highest auction prices:
8. 1975 Roosevelt Dime: No S – $456,000
Only two of these coins are known to exist. They have a rare error on a proof coin, the lack of an S mint mark denoting the San Francisco mint.
The most expensive is a PR68-graded dime sold for $456,000 in 2019 and another sold at Stack’s Bowers for $349,600 in 2011.
9. 1822 Bust Dime: JR-1 Dime – $440,625
This is one of only two PR66 dimes of its kind. It is a JR-1, R.3, R.8 as a Proof variety from the 1822 Bust Dime series.
This variety, unlike other 1822 dimes, was struck with just one set of dies. This makes it quite rare and adds to its historical significance.
The upper serif on the “1” in the denomination is defective, appearing shorter than usual. This feature helps identify genuine JR-1, R.3 coins.
While most JR-1, R.3 dimes were released for regular use (circulation strikes), a tiny handful (2-3 known) exist as proof coins, exhibiting sharper details and higher mint quality.
Highest auction prices:
- $440, 625 in 2014
- $99,000 in 2022
- $79,312.50 in 2012
10. 1797 Early Dime: 13 Stars JR-2 – $402,500
Similar to the 1796 Draped Bust dime, this early piece offers a glimpse into the early days of US coinage. However, this 1797 dime has a unique error where only 13 stars are depicted on the obverse.
It is also the final variety of the Small Eagle type, marking the end of an era in American coinage.
The highest grade ever recorded is MS65, with a high auction record of $402,500 realized in 2008.
11. 1800 Early Dime – $352,500
1800 Early Dime is rare in its high grades.
The turn of the century coin is rarer at high grades due to the amount of time it has been in circulation. Numismatic professionals have noted that the coin is rarer at public auctions compared to any other date between 1796 and 1837.
The highest auction price was for an MS66-graded coin sold for $352,500 in 2014.
12. 1803 Early Dime – $322,000
This dime is rare for its high-grade condition. After more than 200 years, the 1803 Early Dime in MS64 is the best-known grade, making it a coveted item in the collector’s market.
The highest auction price was $322,000 in 2008 at Heritage Auctions.
13. 1827 Bust Dime: Pointed Top 1 – $312,000
This dime offers a subtle but significant variety: a pointed “1” in the date. This minor difference adds value to an already rare coin, with high-grade specimens fetching over $50,000. It’s a testament to the allure of even the smallest variations for dedicated collectors.
The highest auction price is $312,000 realized in 2021 at Heritage Auctions.
14. 1841 Seated Dime: No Drapery – $312,000
The No Drapery error on the 1841 Seated Dime stands out for its missing drapery on Lady Liberty’s arm. While not officially issued, a handful of examples exist, likely struck as trial pieces. Their rarity and historical context make them highly desirable, with top grades exceeding $55,000.
Highest auction prices:
15. 1871-CC Seated Dime: F-101 – $270,250
This dime’s value lies not in its mintage but in a unique error: a double face created by a cracked die. Only 25 are known, making them highly sought-after. Top grades can fetch over $100,000 due to the error, early dime age, and unique history.
Highest auction prices:
- An MS65-graded sold for $270,250 in 2014 and another of the same grade sold the same year for $264,000.
16. 1874-CC Seated Dime: Arrows F-101 – $264,000
This dime boasts both rarity and an intriguing error.
Only 30 were struck before the mint discovered a cracked die, creating a “double face” effect alongside the arrows. This unique combination makes it a valuable collector’s item, with high grades exceeding $100,000.
Auction prices:
17. 1798 Early Dime: Small 8 – $253,000
This dime’s distinguishing feature is a subtle one: a smaller “8” in the date compared to the standard variety. While still relatively common among 1798 issues, the small 8 adds a premium for collectors, with high grades reaching over $150,000.
Highest auction prices:
18. 1919-D Mercury Dime: Full Bands – $218,500
1919 Dimes made in Denver are common in circulated grades but are rarer in their highest Mint State conditions. This valuable dime is worth more than $100,000 in MS65 or above, the best grade known being an MS66 coin.
Highest auction prices:
19. 1916-D Mercury Dime: Full Bands – $195,500
1916 dimes made in Denver were minted in low numbers (264,000). The low mintage makes it rare but what makes it rarer than other dimes is the Full Band reverse die variety.
The finest certified 1916-D Mercury Dime in existence is an MS-67 FB (Full Bands) and the most valuable ones sold for more than $100,000 are MS66 or above. Only 10% of uncirculated examples reach the Gem level and above, making this coin a true standout.
Highest auction prices:
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Conclusion
All in all, the rare dimes are those made before the 1900s, and the rarest are those with a combination of rare factors such as oldest age, silver content, and valuable mint errors.
If you are looking to make a big profit in collecting dimes, start by looking for dimes from the 1700s and 1800s with unique mint errors like no arrows, no stars, and missing mint marks.
