It is hard to be objective when it comes to the 1844 Seated Liberty dime, otherwise known as “Orphan Annie.”
The best place to start with is with its low mintage of 72,500. That, at least, cannot be disputed. Just about everything else can be. With that mintage, the 1844 Seated Liberty dime is a better date. Over the years, however, some have sought to make the 1844 seem better than it really is...
Full Article: 'Orphan' Dime More Hype Than Substance - NumisMaster.com
Anyone who thinks that nothing has happened with Roosevelt dimes in the past decade needs to take a look at the 1946 Roosevelt dime and its price movements in recent years and then try to figure out just what is happening with it.
On paper, the 1946 Roosevelt dime looks like the classic case of a common coin. You start with a mintage of 255,250,000, which was the highest Roosevelt dime mintage until ...
Full Article: First Roosevelt Dime's Price Surprisingly Upbeat - NumisMaster.com
There are many great coins, but there are really only a few great rarities. There are also a few truly legendary coins in terms of their popularity and one of those true legends would have to be the 1916-D Mercury dime.
The 1916-D Mercury dime is one of those very few coins that is truly special, having a demand which is far greater than its supply. That said, like the 1909-S VDB Lincoln, the 1916-D Mercury dime is certainly...
Full Article: Why the 1916-D Mercury Dime is Famous - NumisMaster
Imagine it's mid-April 1945, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's death has just been announced. Roosevelt has brought the nation through multiple crises, first the Great Depression, and then the worst part of World War II. He's just been elected president for his fourth term. What can be done to honor this towering figure of the 20th century?
One tribute is to put him on a circulating coin, but what coin should it be? At the time, the only coins available for design change without congressional action were the Lincoln cent, the Mercury dime, and the Walking Liberty half dollar...
Full Article: Roosevelts Give You Bang for Your Buck - NumisMaster
Scholars who focus on the span of years that encompasses the early decades of the United States still debate such issues as whether the new U.S. Mint turned its attention to dimes and other small silver first or last, as opposed to coins like the silver dollars.
The 1792 dismes and half dismes do represent some of the first silver coins issued by the authority of the new Congress. But those coins can also be considered patterns or early trials, and not a proper attempt at a coinage that would meet the needs of the entire nation...
Full Article: Affordable Capped Bust Dimes - NumisMaster
Winged Liberty Head dimes, more commonly called "Mercury" dimes, were minted from 1916 to 1945 and present collecting opportunities for all budgets.
This series has been traditionally popular to collect in circulated grades, and a well-matched circulated set is an accessible challenge. Collectors on a budget putting together low-grade sets have reported that many of the earlier Mint-marked issues are tougher to find than price guides would suggest...
Full Article: Dimes offer opportunities - Coin Values
The 1921 Mercury dime is a coin that used to get a good deal of attention. In recent years, however, the 1921 does not seem to have the same following. Perhaps it is because dimes have, as a group, been slow. Or perhaps it is a case where, with the focus on Mercury dimes with full split bands, the 1921 has drifted into the background.
Whatever the reason - or perhaps reasons - the fact remains that the 1921 has a long history of being seen as one of the...
Full Article: Silver Dollar Rush Hurt 1921 Dime Mintages - NumisMaster
If a U.S. coin series had to be picked as the biggest laggard in the market, Roosevelt dimes would rank among the top candidates.
First struck in 1946, the design comes across as bland when compared to the much more artistic Winged Liberty Head dime of 1916 to 1945. Add in the coin's small size and secondary...
Full Article: Roosevelt dimes unsung - Coin Values
A recent column mentioned some inexpensive Barber dimes and their stories. Here are some more examples for your collection.
One of them is the 1892 dime, valued at $5 in Good-4. It was the first Barber dime and was not exactly a hit. "The new coins out from the mint this year have run against various objections based on aesthetic grounds, expecially the dime," the March 24, 1892, issue of the Olean Democrat said...
Full Article: Affordable Barbers - NumisMaster