{"id":9814,"date":"2025-03-14T10:37:07","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T09:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=9814"},"modified":"2026-10-07T02:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T01:38:34","slug":"which-dimes-are-silver","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/en\/blog\/which-dimes-are-silver\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Dimes Are Silver? Silver Dime Years and Melt Value"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mrf-takeaways\">\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Silver dime years:<\/strong> every circulating US dime dated 1964 or earlier contains silver. From 1837 to 1964, dimes were 90% silver and 10% copper.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1965 and later dimes are not silver:<\/strong> the Coinage Act of 1965 replaced silver with copper-nickel clad, except in special proof dimes made for collectors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Silver content:<\/strong> a 90% dime weighs 2.5 grams and holds 2.25 grams, or 0.07234 troy ounces, of pure silver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Melt value:<\/strong> at a silver spot price of $60.52 on October 3, 2026, one 90% silver dime contained $4.38 worth of silver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No US dime was ever 40% silver:<\/strong> 40% silver was used for half dollars from 1965 to 1970, not dimes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Which dimes are silver? If you have ever found an old dime in your change, this is the first thing to check. The short answer: US dimes dated 1964 or earlier are silver, and those dated 1965 or later, apart from special proof coins, are not.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, we list every silver dime year by design, show how much silver is in each type, and calculate its melt value from the current silver spot price. You will also learn how to tell a silver dime from a clad one in seconds and which dates may be worth far more than their silver.<\/p>\n<h2>Which Dimes Are Silver: The Quick List<\/h2>\n<p>Here are the silver dime years at a glance:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>1796 to 1837:<\/strong> Draped Bust and Capped Bust dimes, 89.24% silver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1837 to 1891:<\/strong> Seated Liberty dimes, 90% silver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1892 to 1916:<\/strong> Barber dimes, 90% silver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1916 to 1945:<\/strong> Winged Liberty Head (&#8220;Mercury&#8221;) dimes, 90% silver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1946 to 1964:<\/strong> Roosevelt dimes, 90% silver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1992 to today:<\/strong> Roosevelt silver proof dimes with an &#8220;S&#8221; mint mark, sold only in collector sets. They were 90% silver through 2018 and .999 fine silver from 2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Are all dimes before 1965 silver? Yes, every regular US dime struck for circulation before 1965 contains silver.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mrf-chart\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 720 418\" role=\"img\" aria-labelledby=\"t-dtl d-dtl\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<title id=\"t-dtl\">US dime types and silver content, 1796 to today<\/title><desc id=\"d-dtl\">Timeline: Draped and Capped Bust dimes 1796 to 1837 at 89.24% silver; Seated Liberty 1837 to 1891, Barber 1892 to 1916, Mercury 1916 to 1945 and Roosevelt 1946 to 1964 at 90% silver; circulating Roosevelt dimes from 1965 contain no silver; silver proof dimes for collectors from 1992, 90% silver until 2018 and .999 silver from 2019.<\/desc>\n<rect width=\"720\" height=\"418\" fill=\"#ffffff\"\/>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"28\" font-size=\"15\" font-weight=\"bold\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">US dime types and silver content, 1796 to today<\/text>\n<line x1=\"192.1\" y1=\"45\" x2=\"192.1\" y2=\"378\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\"\/>\n<text x=\"192.1\" y=\"396\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">1800<\/text>\n<line x1=\"302.5\" y1=\"45\" x2=\"302.5\" y2=\"378\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\"\/>\n<text x=\"302.5\" y=\"396\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">1850<\/text>\n<line x1=\"412.9\" y1=\"45\" x2=\"412.9\" y2=\"378\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\"\/>\n<text x=\"412.9\" y=\"396\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">1900<\/text>\n<line x1=\"523.3\" y1=\"45\" x2=\"523.3\" y2=\"378\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\"\/>\n<text x=\"523.3\" y=\"396\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">1950<\/text>\n<line x1=\"633.8\" y1=\"45\" x2=\"633.8\" y2=\"378\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\"\/>\n<text x=\"633.8\" y=\"396\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">2000<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"75\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Draped\/Capped Bust<\/text>\n<rect x=\"183.2\" y=\"60\" width=\"90.5\" height=\"22\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/>\n<text x=\"279.8\" y=\"76\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"start\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">89.24% silver<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"119\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Seated Liberty<\/text>\n<rect x=\"273.8\" y=\"104\" width=\"119.2\" height=\"22\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/>\n<text x=\"399.0\" y=\"120\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"start\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">90% silver<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"163\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Barber<\/text>\n<rect x=\"395.2\" y=\"148\" width=\"53.0\" height=\"22\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/>\n<text x=\"454.2\" y=\"164\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"start\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">90%<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"207\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Mercury<\/text>\n<rect x=\"448.2\" y=\"192\" width=\"64.0\" height=\"22\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/>\n<text x=\"518.3\" y=\"208\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"start\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">90%<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"251\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Roosevelt<\/text>\n<rect x=\"514.5\" y=\"236\" width=\"39.8\" height=\"22\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/>\n<text x=\"560.2\" y=\"252\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"start\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">90%<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"295\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Roosevelt clad<\/text>\n<rect x=\"556.5\" y=\"280\" width=\"134.7\" height=\"22\" fill=\"#1f9d6b\"\/>\n<text x=\"550.5\" y=\"296\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">copper-nickel, 0%<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"339\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Silver proofs (S)<\/text>\n<rect x=\"616.1\" y=\"324\" width=\"75.1\" height=\"22\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/>\n<text x=\"610.1\" y=\"340\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">90%, .999 from 2019<\/text>\n<text x=\"20\" y=\"412\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Gray = silver alloy, green = no silver in circulating coins.<\/text>\n<\/svg><figcaption>Dime types and composition by metalsradar, based on US Mint history and PCGS CoinFacts specifications, checked October 3, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Why Did Dimes Stop Being Silver?<\/h2>\n<p>In the early 1960s, rising silver prices pushed the metal value of coins toward their face value, and the US faced a silver shortage. On July 23, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmint.gov\/learn\/history\/timeline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">US Mint timeline<\/a>, the act removed silver from circulating dimes and quarters and reduced the silver in half dollars.<\/p>\n<p>At the signing, President Johnson tried to calm fears that the old coins would vanish:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cOur present silver coins won&#8217;t disappear and they won&#8217;t even become rarities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States, remarks at the signing of the Coinage Act, White House, July 1965<\/cite>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It did not work out that way. As silver prices rose, people kept pre-1965 coins for their metal, and today you rarely find a silver dime in change.<\/p>\n<p>The Philadelphia Mint began striking the new clad dimes on December 6, 1965. Today&#8217;s dime has an outer layer of copper-nickel bonded to a pure copper core. Its overall composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel, and it weighs 2.268 grams, per US Mint coin specifications.<\/p>\n<p>So what about 40% silver dimes? They do not exist. The 40% silver alloy was used for Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970, and later for collector versions of the Eisenhower dollar and the 1976 Bicentennial coins. It was never used for dimes.<\/p>\n<h2>How Much Silver Is in a Dime?<\/h2>\n<p>A pre-1965 90% silver dime weighs 2.5 grams. Nine tenths of that is pure silver:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Silver content = 2.5 g \u00d7 0.90 = 2.25 g<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>2.25 g \u00f7 31.1035 g per troy ounce = 0.07234 troy ounces<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The same figure applies to Barber, Mercury and 1946 to 1964 Roosevelt dimes, as well as Seated Liberty dimes from 1873 onward. Older dimes were struck to slightly different standards, as the table shows.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mrf-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Dime type<\/th>\n<th>Years<\/th>\n<th>Weight<\/th>\n<th>Fineness<\/th>\n<th>Pure silver<\/th>\n<th>Melt value*<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Draped Bust and Capped Bust<\/td>\n<td>1796 to 1837<\/td>\n<td>2.70 g<\/td>\n<td>89.24%<\/td>\n<td>0.07747 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Seated Liberty<\/td>\n<td>1837 to early 1853<\/td>\n<td>2.67 g<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<td>0.07726 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.68<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Seated Liberty<\/td>\n<td>1853 to 1873<\/td>\n<td>2.49 g<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<td>0.07205 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Seated Liberty<\/td>\n<td>1873 to 1891<\/td>\n<td>2.50 g<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<td>0.07234 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Barber<\/td>\n<td>1892 to 1916<\/td>\n<td>2.50 g<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<td>0.07234 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mercury (Winged Liberty Head)<\/td>\n<td>1916 to 1945<\/td>\n<td>2.50 g<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<td>0.07234 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Roosevelt<\/td>\n<td>1946 to 1964<\/td>\n<td>2.50 g<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<td>0.07234 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Roosevelt silver proof (S)<\/td>\n<td>1992 to 2018<\/td>\n<td>2.50 g<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<td>0.07234 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Roosevelt silver proof (S)<\/td>\n<td>2019 to today<\/td>\n<td>2.537 g<\/td>\n<td>99.9%<\/td>\n<td>0.08148 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Roosevelt clad<\/td>\n<td>1965 to today<\/td>\n<td>2.268 g<\/td>\n<td>0%<\/td>\n<td>0 oz<\/td>\n<td>$0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>*Melt value = pure silver (oz) \u00d7 silver spot price of $60.52 per troy ounce, October 3, 2026 (metalsradar price service). Weights and fineness: PCGS CoinFacts, US Mint coin specifications and 2019 Silver Proof Set specifications. Pure silver = weight \u00d7 fineness \u00f7 31.1035.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>How many silver dimes make an ounce?<\/h3>\n<p>It takes 13.8 uncirculated 90% silver dimes to make one troy ounce of pure silver (1 \u00f7 0.07234 = 13.82). Fourteen dimes contain about 1.013 ounces, slightly more than one ounce.<\/p>\n<p>Circulated coins have lost a little metal to wear. That is why many US dealers price 90% silver at 0.715 troy ounces per $1 face value (10 dimes), instead of the theoretical 0.7234 ounces.<\/p>\n<h3>How much does a silver dime weigh?<\/h3>\n<p>A 90% silver dime weighs 2.5 grams in total, about 0.080 troy ounces. A clad dime weighs 2.268 grams. That difference of about 0.23 grams is easy to see on a small digital scale.<\/p>\n<h2>How Much Is a Silver Dime Worth Today?<\/h2>\n<p>For common dates in circulated condition, a silver dime is worth about its melt value plus a small dealer premium. Melt value follows the silver spot price:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Melt value = 0.07234 oz \u00d7 silver spot price<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At $60.52 per ounce on October 3, 2026, that is <strong>$4.38 per dime<\/strong>, or about 44 times its 10-cent face value. You can run the numbers for any coin with our <a href=\"\/en\/silver-melt-value\/\">silver melt value calculator<\/a> and check the live <a href=\"\/en\/charts\/silver-price\/\">silver price chart<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mrf-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Quantity<\/th>\n<th>Face value<\/th>\n<th>Silver at 0.7234 oz per $1<\/th>\n<th>Melt value<\/th>\n<th>Silver at 0.715 oz per $1 (worn)<\/th>\n<th>Melt value<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1 dime<\/td>\n<td>$0.10<\/td>\n<td>0.0723 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.38<\/td>\n<td>0.0715 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4.33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>10 dimes<\/td>\n<td>$1<\/td>\n<td>0.7234 oz<\/td>\n<td>$43.78<\/td>\n<td>0.715 oz<\/td>\n<td>$43.27<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Roll of 50 dimes<\/td>\n<td>$5<\/td>\n<td>3.617 oz<\/td>\n<td>$218.89<\/td>\n<td>3.575 oz<\/td>\n<td>$216.36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>100 dimes<\/td>\n<td>$10<\/td>\n<td>7.234 oz<\/td>\n<td>$437.80<\/td>\n<td>7.15 oz<\/td>\n<td>$432.72<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1,000 dimes<\/td>\n<td>$100<\/td>\n<td>72.34 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4,377.97<\/td>\n<td>71.5 oz<\/td>\n<td>$4,327.18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Calculation by metalsradar at a silver spot price of $60.52 per troy ounce, October 3, 2026. Dealer buy and sell prices differ from melt value.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>How much silver dimes have moved in a year<\/h3>\n<p>Because the value is tied to silver, it moves every day. Over the past year, the melt value of one 90% silver dime ranged from $3.41 on October 2, 2025 to a high of $8.46 on January 29, 2026, when silver touched $116.92 per ounce. On October 3, 2026, it stood at $4.38.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mrf-chart\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 720 380\" role=\"img\" aria-labelledby=\"t-dimeUSD d-dimeUSD\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<title id=\"t-dimeUSD\">Melt value of one 90% silver dime, USD (Oct 2025 to Oct 2026)<\/title><desc id=\"d-dimeUSD\">Line chart of the melt value of one pre-1965 90% silver dime (0.07234 troy ounces of silver) from October 2, 2025 to October 3, 2026. It rose from $3.41 to a high of $8.46 on January 29, 2026 and stood at $4.38 on October 3, 2026.<\/desc>\n<rect width=\"720\" height=\"380\" fill=\"#ffffff\"\/>\n<line x1=\"70\" y1=\"330.0\" x2=\"700\" y2=\"330.0\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n<text x=\"62\" y=\"334.0\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">$3.00<\/text>\n<line x1=\"70\" y1=\"281.7\" x2=\"700\" y2=\"281.7\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n<text x=\"62\" y=\"285.7\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">$4.00<\/text>\n<line x1=\"70\" y1=\"233.3\" x2=\"700\" y2=\"233.3\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n<text x=\"62\" y=\"237.3\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">$5.00<\/text>\n<line x1=\"70\" y1=\"185.0\" x2=\"700\" y2=\"185.0\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n<text x=\"62\" y=\"189.0\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">$6.00<\/text>\n<line x1=\"70\" y1=\"136.7\" x2=\"700\" y2=\"136.7\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n<text x=\"62\" y=\"140.7\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">$7.00<\/text>\n<line x1=\"70\" y1=\"88.3\" x2=\"700\" y2=\"88.3\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n<text x=\"62\" y=\"92.3\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">$8.00<\/text>\n<line x1=\"70\" y1=\"40.0\" x2=\"700\" y2=\"40.0\" stroke=\"#d9dee7\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n<text x=\"62\" y=\"44.0\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"end\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">$9.00<\/text>\n<text x=\"70.0\" y=\"350\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Oct 25<\/text>\n<text x=\"173.3\" y=\"350\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Dec 25<\/text>\n<text x=\"280.0\" y=\"350\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Feb 26<\/text>\n<text x=\"381.6\" y=\"350\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Apr 26<\/text>\n<text x=\"486.6\" y=\"350\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Jun 26<\/text>\n<text x=\"591.6\" y=\"350\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Aug 26<\/text>\n<path d=\"M70.0,310.0 L71.7,308.6 L73.4,307.1 L75.2,307.0 L76.9,305.3 L78.6,306.4 L80.3,304.2 L82.0,302.3 L83.8,300.0 L85.5,300.1 L87.2,300.1 L88.9,294.4 L90.7,293.3 L92.4,290.9 L94.1,288.1 L95.8,289.3 L97.5,293.3 L99.3,293.3 L101.0,292.4 L102.7,300.0 L104.4,305.4 L106.1,303.8 L107.9,305.3 L109.6,304.9 L111.3,305.0 L113.0,308.8 L114.8,311.4 L116.5,307.5 L118.2,306.1 L119.9,304.0 L121.6,304.7 L123.4,304.7 L125.1,305.0 L126.8,308.3 L128.5,307.7 L130.2,306.2 L132.0,305.5 L133.7,306.0 L135.4,306.0 L137.1,300.6 L138.9,296.8 L140.6,292.5 L142.3,288.3 L144.0,293.4 L145.7,298.1 L147.5,298.0 L149.2,297.5 L150.9,299.0 L152.6,295.1 L154.3,296.6 L156.1,300.7 L157.8,300.0 L159.5,299.9 L161.2,298.7 L163.0,295.4 L164.7,291.4 L166.4,288.6 L168.1,283.6 L169.8,277.6 L171.6,277.6 L173.3,273.6 L175.0,273.5 L176.7,270.6 L178.4,273.8 L180.2,271.7 L181.9,270.8 L183.6,270.8 L185.3,271.4 L187.0,268.1 L188.8,261.2 L190.5,255.5 L192.2,254.1 L193.9,258.3 L195.7,258.3 L197.4,253.2 L199.1,253.4 L200.8,244.5 L202.5,244.3 L204.3,243.4 L206.0,240.0 L207.7,239.9 L209.4,234.2 L211.1,229.7 L212.9,223.3 L214.6,223.2 L216.3,210.1 L218.0,197.4 L219.8,197.0 L221.5,212.7 L223.2,211.6 L224.9,222.3 L226.6,224.3 L228.4,218.7 L230.1,220.1 L231.8,220.1 L233.5,209.4 L235.2,197.9 L237.0,198.4 L238.7,207.7 L240.4,201.1 L242.1,195.4 L243.9,195.2 L245.6,179.6 L247.3,172.8 L249.0,156.5 L250.7,158.1 L252.5,159.5 L254.2,159.3 L255.9,159.2 L257.6,147.2 L259.3,144.5 L261.1,146.2 L262.8,144.8 L264.5,125.7 L266.2,113.7 L268.0,113.5 L269.7,93.6 L271.4,89.6 L273.1,75.0 L274.8,66.2 L276.6,126.1 L278.3,176.4 L280.0,177.0 L281.7,195.1 L283.4,176.1 L285.2,166.4 L286.9,203.9 L288.6,213.8 L290.3,202.5 L292.0,202.2 L293.8,189.1 L295.5,189.5 L297.2,182.3 L298.9,191.9 L300.7,203.7 L302.4,203.8 L304.1,204.0 L305.8,206.9 L307.5,214.8 L309.3,208.6 L311.0,201.5 L312.7,192.0 L314.4,178.6 L316.1,178.4 L317.9,169.9 L319.6,168.6 L321.3,159.9 L323.0,166.7 L324.8,155.6 L326.5,146.7 L328.2,146.4 L329.9,151.4 L331.6,178.1 L333.4,179.5 L335.1,183.6 L336.8,181.7 L338.5,179.2 L340.2,179.7 L342.0,180.1 L343.7,164.4 L345.4,171.7 L347.1,175.7 L348.9,186.0 L350.6,192.9 L352.3,193.0 L354.0,194.3 L355.7,193.5 L357.5,202.2 L359.2,221.3 L360.9,226.0 L362.6,237.5 L364.3,237.2 L366.1,239.7 L367.8,232.5 L369.5,220.4 L371.2,232.8 L373.0,232.2 L374.7,230.7 L376.4,231.0 L378.1,228.9 L379.8,218.2 L381.6,212.5 L383.3,222.5 L385.0,219.2 L386.7,219.2 L388.4,219.6 L390.2,220.4 L391.9,221.1 L393.6,209.1 L395.3,213.4 L397.0,209.4 L398.8,209.2 L400.5,209.9 L402.2,213.5 L403.9,201.7 L405.7,197.0 L407.4,196.9 L409.1,194.1 L410.8,192.0 L412.5,192.4 L414.3,195.6 L416.0,201.4 L417.7,202.1 L419.4,208.9 L421.1,210.6 L422.9,209.9 L424.6,210.1 L426.3,210.2 L428.0,217.5 L429.8,221.2 L431.5,218.7 L433.2,213.5 L434.9,211.1 L436.6,211.0 L438.4,215.9 L440.1,218.5 L441.8,206.9 L443.5,197.2 L445.2,193.9 L447.0,193.6 L448.7,193.8 L450.4,184.4 L452.1,176.2 L453.9,169.5 L455.6,174.5 L457.3,201.2 L459.0,209.0 L460.7,208.8 L462.5,207.5 L464.2,211.0 L465.9,211.7 L467.6,209.7 L469.3,209.0 L471.1,210.5 L472.8,209.8 L474.5,202.1 L476.2,207.0 L478.0,211.3 L479.7,215.3 L481.4,210.3 L483.1,211.4 L484.8,211.4 L486.6,211.3 L488.3,209.9 L490.0,215.9 L491.7,216.9 L493.4,226.9 L495.2,237.4 L496.9,237.4 L498.6,237.2 L500.3,240.1 L502.0,250.1 L503.8,248.3 L505.5,239.3 L507.2,236.7 L508.9,236.2 L510.7,228.4 L512.4,229.7 L514.1,230.8 L515.8,238.9 L517.5,248.4 L519.3,247.9 L521.0,247.9 L522.7,244.5 L524.4,256.4 L526.1,266.0 L527.9,273.1 L529.6,271.1 L531.3,267.7 L533.0,268.0 L534.8,270.8 L536.5,269.4 L538.2,269.2 L539.9,263.4 L541.6,256.6 L543.4,256.4 L545.1,256.2 L546.8,257.8 L548.5,261.8 L550.2,268.2 L552.0,267.2 L553.7,265.3 L555.4,265.2 L557.1,265.5 L558.9,271.3 L560.6,270.7 L562.3,271.4 L564.0,277.3 L565.7,280.0 L567.5,278.9 L569.2,279.0 L570.9,276.2 L572.6,270.0 L574.3,266.0 L576.1,270.0 L577.8,271.4 L579.5,271.2 L581.2,270.8 L583.0,268.3 L584.7,274.3 L586.4,273.0 L588.1,271.0 L589.8,271.8 L591.6,273.3 L593.3,273.0 L595.0,272.0 L596.7,267.6 L598.4,259.4 L600.2,258.6 L601.9,253.1 L603.6,252.2 L605.3,252.2 L607.0,249.1 L608.8,247.1 L610.5,245.1 L612.2,247.6 L613.9,248.7 L615.7,248.3 L617.4,248.3 L619.1,244.7 L620.8,248.6 L622.5,249.0 L624.3,239.0 L626.0,232.6 L627.7,233.4 L629.4,233.3 L631.1,233.4 L632.9,235.4 L634.6,234.8 L636.3,233.7 L638.0,234.6 L639.8,242.5 L641.5,242.5 L643.2,241.9 L644.9,246.3 L646.6,249.1 L648.4,242.7 L650.1,242.2 L651.8,243.0 L653.5,243.0 L655.2,243.8 L657.0,243.0 L658.7,240.8 L660.4,245.2 L662.1,250.4 L663.9,249.1 L665.6,249.2 L667.3,252.8 L669.0,253.0 L670.7,250.4 L672.5,248.5 L674.2,242.3 L675.9,242.9 L677.6,242.9 L679.3,243.0 L681.1,243.4 L682.8,246.1 L684.5,251.5 L686.2,250.2 L688.0,249.8 L689.7,249.9 L691.4,259.7 L693.1,261.4 L694.8,262.1 L696.6,260.6 L698.3,263.4 L700.0,263.4\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#8a94a6\" stroke-width=\"2.5\"\/>\n<circle cx=\"70.0\" cy=\"310.0\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/><circle cx=\"700.0\" cy=\"263.4\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#8a94a6\"\/>\n<circle cx=\"274.8\" cy=\"66.2\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#243044\"\/>\n<text x=\"282.8\" y=\"70.2\" font-size=\"13\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">High $8.46<\/text>\n<text x=\"70\" y=\"24\" font-size=\"15\" font-weight=\"bold\" fill=\"#243044\" font-family=\"sans-serif\">Melt value of one 90% silver dime, USD (Oct 2025 to Oct 2026)<\/text>\n<\/svg><figcaption>Melt value of one 90% silver dime = 0.07234 oz \u00d7 daily silver spot price in USD, October 2, 2025 to October 3, 2026. Source: metalsradar price service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Want to compare a dime with a full ounce of bullion? On October 3, 2026, 1 oz silver coins at US dealers in our data cost from 3.6% (Canadian Silver Maple Leaf) to over 20% above spot. See today&#8217;s offers in our <a href=\"\/en\/categories\/silver-coins\/\">silver coin price comparison<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Silver Dime Types: What to Look For<\/h2>\n<h3>Roosevelt dimes (1946 to 1964)<\/h3>\n<p>The Roosevelt dime is the silver dime you are most likely to find. The US Mint released it on January 30, 1946, soon after President Franklin D. Roosevelt&#8217;s death and on what would have been his birthday. The dime was chosen because Roosevelt supported the March of Dimes, which raised money to fight polio. Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock designed it.<\/p>\n<p>The design has not changed much since then, so the date is your guide: 1964 and earlier are silver, 1965 and later are clad.<\/p>\n<h3>Mercury dimes (1916 to 1945)<\/h3>\n<p>The official name is the Winged Liberty Head dime. Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman designed it, and it shows Liberty wearing a winged cap, which the US Mint says represents freedom of thought. People called it the &#8220;Mercury&#8221; dime because the cap reminded them of the Roman god Mercury. The reverse shows a fasces, a bundle of rods with an axe.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mrf-photo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1943-d-mercury-dime-obverse.webp\" alt=\"1943-D Mercury dime obverse\" width=\"900\" height=\"900\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>A 1943-D Mercury dime: Liberty in a winged cap, designed by Adolph A. Weinman. Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>How much silver is in a Mercury dime? Exactly the same as in any other 90% dime: 0.07234 troy ounces, worth $4.38 at the October 3, 2026 spot price.<\/p>\n<h3>Barber dimes (1892 to 1916)<\/h3>\n<p>Named after US Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, these dimes show Liberty with a laurel wreath, and &#8220;ONE DIME&#8221; inside a wreath on the reverse. Most circulated Barber dimes are worn, but their silver content is the same 0.07234 ounces.<\/p>\n<h3>Seated Liberty dimes (1837 to 1891)<\/h3>\n<p>Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the Seated Liberty dime shows Liberty seated on a rock with a shield. Its weight changed twice. Arrows next to the date mark the weight reduction of 1853 and the small increase of 1873 (on some 1853 coins and all of 1854 and 1855, and again in 1873 and 1874).<\/p>\n<h3>Draped Bust and Capped Bust dimes (1796 to 1837)<\/h3>\n<p>The first US dimes were struck in 1796. They used the early silver standard of 89.24% silver and weighed about 2.70 grams. These coins are rare and are valued as collectibles, not for their silver.<\/p>\n<h3>Modern silver proof dimes (1992 to today)<\/h3>\n<p>The US Mint still makes silver dimes, but only for collectors. They come in Silver Proof Sets, carry an &#8220;S&#8221; mint mark, and have a mirror-like finish. From 1992 to 2018 they were 90% silver. In 2019, the Mint switched to .999 fine silver, and the dime weight became 2.537 grams.<\/p>\n<p>Read also: <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/which-quarters-are-silver-how-much-silver-is-in-a-quarter\/\">Which Quarters Are Silver? How Much Silver Is in a Quarter<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How to Tell If a Dime Is Silver<\/h2>\n<p>You do not need any special tools. Four checks are enough:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Date:<\/strong> 1964 or earlier means silver (unless it is a counterfeit).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Edge:<\/strong> look at the rim. A silver dime is solid silver-white all the way through. A clad dime shows a copper stripe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weight:<\/strong> 2.50 g for 90% silver, 2.268 g for clad. Use a scale that reads to 0.01 g.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mint mark position:<\/strong> on silver Roosevelt dimes (1946 to 1964) from Denver (D) or San Francisco (S), the mint mark is on the reverse, left of the torch; Philadelphia dimes had no mint mark until 1980. From 1968, the mint mark is on the obverse above the date. Dimes from 1965 to 1967 have none.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure class=\"mrf-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Check<\/th>\n<th>90% silver dime<\/th>\n<th>Clad dime<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Date<\/td>\n<td>1964 or earlier<\/td>\n<td>1965 or later<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Edge<\/td>\n<td>Solid silver color<\/td>\n<td>Visible copper stripe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Weight<\/td>\n<td>2.50 g<\/td>\n<td>2.268 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Composition<\/td>\n<td>90% silver, 10% copper<\/td>\n<td>91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mint mark (Roosevelt)<\/td>\n<td>D or S on the reverse, left of the torch; none for Philadelphia<\/td>\n<td>Obverse above the date (from 1968) or none (1965 to 1967)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Specifications: US Mint coin specifications and PCGS CoinFacts, checked October 3, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Is a 1965 dime silver? Almost never. A few 1965 dimes were struck by mistake on leftover 90% silver blanks. They weigh 2.5 grams and are rare errors worth having checked by a grading service.<\/p>\n<p>Silver coins can also be faked. For bullion coins, see our guide on <a href=\"\/en\/how-to-spot-fake-coins\/\">how to spot fake gold and silver coins<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Rare Silver Dimes Worth More Than Melt<\/h2>\n<p>Most silver dimes are worth their silver. A few dates are worth much more because so few were made or survived. Three famous examples:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>1894-S Barber dime:<\/strong> only 24 were struck at the San Francisco Mint, and about nine are known today. Each one is a major auction event.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1916-D Mercury dime:<\/strong> the key date of the series, with a mintage of only 264,000 at the Denver Mint.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1975 &#8220;No S&#8221; proof dime:<\/strong> not silver, but famous. Only two are known, and one sold for $456,000 in 2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other dates collectors look for include the 1921 and 1921-D Mercury dimes and the 1942\/1 overdate varieties. If you think you have one, do not clean it. Cleaning can cut a collectible coin&#8217;s value sharply. Have it authenticated by a recognized grading service instead.<\/p>\n<h2>Are Silver Dimes a Good Way to Buy Silver?<\/h2>\n<p>Silver dimes, often called &#8220;junk silver&#8221;, are popular with small investors for three reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>they are small units, worth a few dollars each,<\/li>\n<li>US coins are easy to recognize,<\/li>\n<li>they are sold by face value, which makes the math simple.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The downsides? You pay a premium over melt, and worn coins hold slightly less silver than new ones. Bars and 1 oz coins usually give you more silver per dollar when you buy larger amounts. Compare prices for <a href=\"\/en\/categories\/silver-bars\/\">silver bars<\/a> and the <a href=\"\/en\/categories\/american-eagle-silver-coin\/\">American Silver Eagle<\/a> before you decide.<\/p>\n<p>Read also: <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/fineness-and-purity-of-silver\/\">Fineness and Purity of Silver<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Summary: Which Dimes Are Silver<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"mrf-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Question<\/th>\n<th>Answer<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Which dimes are silver?<\/td>\n<td>All circulating US dimes dated 1964 or earlier, plus &#8220;S&#8221; silver proof dimes from 1992<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Silver content of a 90% dime<\/td>\n<td>2.25 g, or 0.07234 troy oz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Melt value, October 3, 2026<\/td>\n<td>$4.38 per dime at $60.52 silver<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dimes per troy ounce<\/td>\n<td>13.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Are 1965 dimes silver?<\/td>\n<td>No, apart from rare errors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>40% silver dimes?<\/td>\n<td>Never made<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Based on US Mint and PCGS specifications and the metalsradar silver spot price, October 3, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>FAQ: Which Dimes Are Silver<\/h2>\n<h3>What year did dimes stop being silver?<\/h3>\n<p>Dimes stopped being silver after 1964. The Coinage Act of 1965 replaced silver with copper-nickel clad, and clad dimes dated 1965 entered production in December 1965.<\/p>\n<h3>Are 1964 dimes silver?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, all 1964 dimes are 90% silver. Each contains 0.07234 troy ounces of pure silver, worth $4.38 at the October 3, 2026 spot price.<\/p>\n<h3>How much is a roll of silver dimes worth?<\/h3>\n<p>A roll of 50 silver dimes ($5 face) contains about 3.6 troy ounces of silver. At $60.52 per ounce on October 3, 2026, its melt value was about $216 to $219.<\/p>\n<h3>How many silver dimes make an ounce?<\/h3>\n<p>About 13.8 uncirculated 90% silver dimes contain one troy ounce of pure silver. Fourteen dimes contain slightly more than one ounce.<\/p>\n<h3>Is a Mercury dime real silver?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, every Mercury dime (1916 to 1945) is 90% silver and 10% copper. Each holds 0.07234 troy ounces of silver.<\/p>\n<h3>Were any dimes 40% silver?<\/h3>\n<p>No, US dimes were never made in 40% silver. The 40% alloy was used for half dollars from 1965 to 1970 and some collector dollars and Bicentennial coins.<\/p>\n<h3>Are modern proof dimes silver?<\/h3>\n<p>Only the ones from Silver Proof Sets. They carry an &#8220;S&#8221; mint mark and were 90% silver from 1992 to 2018 and .999 silver from 2019; regular proof dimes are clad.<\/p>\n<h2>Compare Silver Prices Before You Buy<\/h2>\n<p>Silver dimes are a fun way to start, but the price you pay over melt matters more than the coin you pick. That is why metalsradar compares silver prices from many US dealers and shows the premium over spot for every offer.<\/p>\n<p>Check today&#8217;s offers for <a href=\"\/en\/categories\/silver-investment\/\">investment silver<\/a>, follow the <a href=\"\/en\/charts\/silver-price\/silver-price-per-gram\/\">silver price per gram<\/a>, or find a <a href=\"\/en\/bullion-dealers\/\">bullion dealer near you<\/a> who buys and sells 90% silver coins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mrf-disclaimer\"><em>This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":20166,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0},"class_list":["post-9814","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1964-silver-roosevelt-dime-1024x576.webp",1024,576,true],"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/9814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/metalsradar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}