Dime Values

Christian Gobrecht’s design for the Librty Seated Dime was a duplicate of his new Half Dime, similar to his pattern Silver Dollars of 1835 and 1836. He had worked for the US Mint as early as 1823, and Gobrecht became the Chief Engraver in 1840 and held the position until his death in 1844.

The Flowing Hair Half Dime was actually the first silver coin worth five cents but it was the second half dime created. The first of the very limited “Half Disme” of 1792, created especially for George Washington, reportedly used silver from a silver tea service that belonged to Martha.

Other than Robert Scot and some Mint officials, few liked the design of the Draped Bust Dime and this type of coin ended after two years of minting.

The first Dimes minted by the United States Mint were Draped Bust Dimes. There are two varieties – the Small Eagle reverse which was minted in 1796 and 1797 and the Heraldic Eagle reverse which was minted in 1798 through 1807.

Due to the rise in the price of silver, the silver fineness remained the same at .8924 but the size of the coin changed from the earlier Draped Bust Half Dime coins by 1 mm. Most people could not notice that difference, but they did notice that the designs changed on both sides.

Mint Director Robert Patterson hired German immigrant John Reich in March of 1807. Reich first worked on redesigning the Half Dollar, Half Eagle, Large Cent, and then the Quarter Eagle. By late 1808, Reich began work on the Capped Bust Dime.

These were sanctioned in the Coinage Act of 1792, and these small silver coins have remained the 10-cent piece from their inception until now.

The first half disme (pronounced “deem”) was probably a pattern coin, though debate rages over whether or not it was produced as a business strike.

The dime has been struck with few interruptions from the beginning of U.S. coinage to the present day. These were sanctioned originally in the Coinage Act of 1792, and these small Silver coins were the 10-cent piece from their inception until now.

Barber’s were the first major redesigns in some time, and marked a new era for U.S. coins.

The coin is commonly called a “Mercury” dime as it resembled the Roman god, but just like many other U.S. coins, the head is a representation of Liberty.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s death was an important event in American history, given how long he was in office through the Great Depression and World War II.