One Dime US Currency Overview and History

The one dime US currency is a widely used coin in the United States. Introduced in 1796, it's one of the oldest denominations in circulation.

The first one dime coins were made of silver and featured a portrait of Dr. Joseph Willcox, the president of the Society of the Cincinnati. The coin's design has undergone several changes over the years.

One of the most notable changes was in 1837, when the coin's diameter was reduced from 27mm to 18mm. This change was made to reduce production costs and make the coin easier to manufacture.

The one dime coin has been made of various metals, including silver, copper, and nickel.

The United States one dime coin has a rich history and some fascinating features.

The United States has been issuing one dime coins since 1776, and they are still in circulation today.

The composition of the one dime coin changed over time, with the 1946-1964 version being made of silver (.900) and weighing 2.5 grams.

From 1965 to 2024, the one dime coin is made of copper-nickel clad copper, weighing 2.268 grams.

The value of the one dime coin has always been 10 cents, or 0.1 USD.

Here's a comparison of the two versions:

The one dime coin is a standard circulation coin, and it's a round shape with a milled technique.

There are several types of dimes that have been minted over the years. The first dimes were made of 90% silver and 10% copper.

The Mercury dime, minted from 1916 to 1945, is a classic example of a silver dime.

The Roosevelt dime, introduced in 1946, is a copper-nickel clad dime that replaced the Mercury dime due to silver shortages during World War II.

The Capped Bust dime was first issued in 1809, succeeding the Draped Bust coins.

It was designed by Mint Assistant Engraver, John Reich, who made significant changes to both the obverse and reverse of the coin.

The new obverse featured Liberty's head facing left surrounded by 13 stars and the year of minting.

A total of 122 varieties exist of Capped Bust dimes, which were minted until 1837.

The Seated Liberty dime is a classic design that was produced from 1837 to 1891. It's characterized by a seated Liberty figure on the obverse side.

One of the most distinctive features of the Seated Liberty dime is the large numeral 1 in the date, which was a hallmark of this design.

The Seated Liberty dime was minted in both Philadelphia and New Orleans, with the New Orleans mint producing a distinct "O" mint mark.

The design of the Seated Liberty dime underwent several changes over the years, including the introduction of a new reverse design in 1838.

The Seated Liberty dime was also notable for its use of a reeded edge, which gave it a distinctive feel in the hand.

The Barber dime was introduced in 1892 as a replacement for the Seated Liberty dimes. It was named after Charles E. Barber, the Chief Engraver who designed it.

The Barber dime was the result of a design competition that received over 300 submissions, but a four-member committee, including Barber, could only agree on two of the designs. This led to Director Edward O. Leech giving Barber the task of creating the new design.

The coin's obverse features an image of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, a laurel wreath with a ribbon, and a band with the inscription "LIBERTY". This part of the coin is particularly useful in determining its condition.

The reverse of the Barber dime features the value surrounded by a wreath similar in design to the final Seated Liberty dimes.

The Roosevelt dime is a popular collectible coin. It was introduced in 1946 and features a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The Roosevelt dime was designed by John R. Sinnock, a sculptor at the Philadelphia Mint. He also designed the Washington quarter and the Franklin half dollar.

The coin's obverse side shows a left-facing portrait of Roosevelt. The design was meant to honor the President's legacy and his leadership during World War II.

The Roosevelt dime is made of 90% copper and 10% nickel. This composition was used for many years, but was changed in 1965 to a copper-plated zinc core.

The Roosevelt dime has undergone several design changes over the years. One notable change was the addition of the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" on the reverse side in 1948.

The Draped Bust design was first used on the dime in 1796, featuring an image of Liberty on the obverse and a small Bald Eagle on the reverse.

This design was created by Robert Scot, the then-Chief Engraver, and was made to resemble a drawing of Ann Willing Bingham, the wife of William Bingham.

The Draped Bust dimes had no indication of their value, as the Coinage Act of 1792 only required half cent and one cent coins to bear their values.

The 1796 dimes featured 15 stars surrounding Helvetia on the obverse, representing the number of states in the Union at that time.

Tennessee's addition to the Union in 1796 led to a change in the number of stars on the 1797 dimes, which were minted with 16 stars.

However, Mint Director Elias Boudinot soon realized that adding a star per state would clutter the design, so he ordered a change to 13 stars to symbolize the original Thirteen Colonies.

The Draped Bust design was continued until 1807, with a new version debuting in 1798 featuring a smaller version of the Great Seal of the United States on the reverse.

Both the original and new Draped Bust designs were composed of 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper.