That jar of loose change sitting on your dresser might contain more than just pocket money. Among the countless ordinary coins that pass through our hands daily, a select few carry values that would astonish most people.
This is particularly true for certain dimes and Bicentennial quarters that command premium prices from collectors eager to add these numismatic treasures to their collections.
This exploration reveals twelve exceptionally valuable dimes and one surprisingly valuable Bicentennial quarter that could be hiding in plain sight.
From genuine rarities worth millions to overlooked varieties worth hundreds or thousands, these coins represent the intersection of history, scarcity, and collector demand that drives the numismatic marketplace.
The Million-Dollar Dimes: True American Rarities
1. The 1894-S Barber Dime: The Crown Jewel
The 1894-S Barber dime stands as perhaps the most legendary coin in American numismatics. With only 24 examples struck at the San Francisco Mint and merely 9 confirmed survivors known today, this coin represents the pinnacle of rarity.
The story behind its creation adds to its mystique. San Francisco Mint Superintendent John Daggett reportedly ordered these dimes struck to balance the mint’s books by an odd $2.40.
He allegedly gave three to his daughter Hallie, telling her to save them as they would be valuable someday. According to numismatic lore, she spent one on ice cream, creating the famous “Ice Cream Specimen” that collectors still seek today.
Recent sales have established the 1894-S as firmly in the seven-figure club:
- In 2016, an example graded PCGS PR66 sold for $1,997,500 at auction
- In 2019, another specimen brought $1,320,000 despite showing evidence of circulation
- Private transactions suggest even higher figures for the finest known examples
For the average collector, finding an 1894-S dime remains an impossible dream, as all known specimens are carefully documented and tracked within the numismatic community.
2. The 1916-D Mercury Dime: Denver’s Masterpiece
While not reaching the stratospheric heights of the 1894-S, the 1916-D Mercury dime represents the key date in one of America’s most beloved coin series.
With only 264,000 struck—a fraction of the millions produced at other mints that year—this coin became an instant rarity when the Mercury dime series launched.
The Denver Mint prioritized quarter production over dimes in 1916, resulting in this unexpectedly low mintage. This shortage made completing Mercury dime collections challenging from the start, cementing the 1916-D’s status as a blue-chip numismatic investment.
Value depends dramatically on condition:
- Heavily worn examples: $1,000-$3,000
- Mid-grade circulated: $3,000-$10,000
- Uncirculated specimens: $10,000-$30,000
- Pristine gems: $50,000-$150,000
In 2018, a perfect MS68 Full Bands example sold for an astonishing $207,000, showing the premium the market places on condition rarities within this already scarce issue.
3. The 1796 Draped Bust Dime: America’s First
As America’s first dime, the 1796 Draped Bust carries immense historical significance. Designed by Robert Scot, the coin features a portrait of Liberty with flowing hair on the obverse and a small eagle on the reverse.
With fewer than 1,000 surviving from the original mintage of approximately 22,135, these coins connect collectors directly to the earliest days of the United States Mint. Two major varieties exist—with and without stars on the obverse—making it especially attractive to type collectors.
Recent auction results include:
- $65,000-$85,000 for worn examples
- $150,000-$300,000 for problem-free circulated specimens
- $500,000+ for uncirculated examples
A pristine specimen graded MS67 sold for over $1 million in 2019, demonstrating that even among early American coins, exceptional preservation commands extraordinary premiums.
Overlooked Treasures: Valuable Dimes That Could Be in Your Collection
4. The 1942/1 Mercury Dime Overdate: Wartime Error
One of the most dramatic overdates in American coinage, the 1942/1 Mercury dime resulted from economic measures during World War II.
To save resources, the Mint reused a 1941-dated die, attempting to re-engrave it as 1942. The result: clear remnants of the “1” visible beneath the “2” in the date.
Two varieties exist—one from Philadelphia (no mintmark) and an even rarer Denver version (with D mintmark). The Philadelphia version typically brings:
- $500-$1,500 in circulated grades
- $2,500-$7,500 in lower mint state
- $10,000-$30,000 for gem examples
The rarer Denver counterpart commands approximately three times these values. Despite their value, these overdates occasionally turn up in circulation, making them realistic “finds” for attentive collectors.
5. The 1968 No-S Roosevelt Dime: Proof Rarity
In 1968, a small number of proof Roosevelt dimes were struck without the expected “S” mintmark from the San Francisco facility. While exact production figures remain unknown, numismatic researchers estimate fewer than 30 exist, making this a significant modern rarity.
Originally distributed in proof sets, these coins now command $10,000-$20,000 when they appear at auction. Similar “No S” proof dimes were produced in 1975, 1983, and 1990, each representing significant rarities in modern U.S. coinage.
Despite their value, these coins occasionally remain undiscovered in original government proof sets, representing a potential windfall for diligent collectors who examine their holdings carefully.
6. The 1895-O Barber Dime: The Condition Rarity
With a mintage of 440,000, the 1895-O Barber dime isn’t rare in absolute terms, but the New Orleans Mint’s notoriously poor striking quality and widespread circulation make finding high-grade examples extraordinarily difficult.
While worn specimens sell for $50-$200, uncirculated examples command serious premiums:
- $5,000-$10,000 in lower mint state grades
- $15,000-$30,000 in choice uncirculated
- $50,000+ for gem specimens
Only a handful of truly gem examples exist, making this an ideal “sleeper” coin that experienced collectors recognize as substantially undervalued compared to its true rarity in high grades.
7. The 1874-CC Liberty Seated Dime: Western Rarity
Carson City, Nevada’s historic mint produced relatively few dimes throughout its operation, with the 1874-CC representing a particularly elusive date. From a mintage of just 10,000, fewer than 50 examples are believed to survive in any condition.
These Carson City rarities typically bring:
- $5,000-$15,000 for heavily circulated examples
- $20,000-$50,000 for problem-free VF-XF specimens
- $100,000+ for the rare About Uncirculated example
- $300,000+ for the 2-3 known uncirculated specimens
The combination of low mintage, high attrition rate, and the romantic connection to America’s silver mining heritage makes this coin especially desirable among serious collectors.
8. The 1798/7 Draped Bust Dime: Early Overdate
Among early American coins, overdates represent some of the most interesting varieties for collectors. The 1798/7 dime clearly shows the “7” underneath the “8” in the date, creating a visually dramatic variety that appeals to both type collectors and specialists.
These early overdates typically command:
- $3,000-$7,000 in lower circulated grades
- $10,000-$25,000 in better circulated condition
- $50,000-$100,000 for the rare uncirculated specimen
Despite their value, these early overdates occasionally surface in “grandmother’s collection” scenarios where coins have been passed down through generations without knowledge of their true worth.
9. The 1921 Mercury Dime: The Semi-Key Date
The 1921 Mercury dime, while not as famous as its 1916-D counterpart, represents an important semi-key date in the series.
Low mintages at both Philadelphia (1.23 million) and Denver (1.08 million) combined with the economic challenges of the early 1920s resulted in heavy circulation and relatively few surviving examples, particularly in higher grades.
These coins typically bring:
- $50-$150 in well-worn condition
- $250-$1,000 in better circulated grades
- $2,000-$10,000 in uncirculated condition
High-grade examples with Full Bands details (complete horizontal bands on the fasces) command substantial premiums, often selling for $20,000-$50,000 when they appear at auction.
10. The 1975 No-S Roosevelt Dime: Modern Trophy Coin
While proof coins are typically struck with great care, occasionally spectacular errors occur. In 1975, a very small number of Roosevelt dimes were struck at the San Francisco Mint without the facility’s “S” mintmark.
With only two confirmed examples known—both discovered in proof sets—this represents one of the rarest modern U.S. coins. When these appear at auction, which happens rarely, they bring $400,000-$500,000, making them more valuable than many classic 19th-century rarities.
The extraordinary value of these modern rarities demonstrates that significant treasures continue to emerge even in contemporary coinage.
11. The 1964 SMS Roosevelt Dime: Mysterious Specimen
In 1964, the U.S. Mint produced a small number of Special Mint Set coins with distinctive satin finishes, despite no official Special Mint Sets being offered that year.
These mysterious specimens show exceptional strike quality and distinctive surface characteristics unlike regular uncirculated or proof coins.
With perhaps 50 examples known, genuine 1964 SMS dimes typically sell for $10,000-$20,000 when authenticated by major grading services. Their unusual status as “unofficial” special strikings adds to their appeal among specialized collectors.
12. The 1946-S/D Roosevelt Dime: Overlooked Overdate
Among the easiest valuable dimes to find in circulation, the 1946-S/D represents an interesting mintmark error where a D (Denver) mintmark was punched into the die and then partially effaced and replaced with an S (San Francisco) mintmark.
Under magnification, traces of the D remain visible within and around the S, creating a distinctive variety that sells for:
- $50-$150 in circulated condition
- $200-$500 in uncirculated grades
- $1,000-$3,000 for gem specimens
This accessible rarity represents an ideal target for roll searchers and those examining circulation finds, as examples continue to be discovered by sharp-eyed collectors.
The Million-Dollar Bicentennial Quarter: An Extraordinary Error
The 1976 No-S Proof Bicentennial Quarter
While most Bicentennial quarters are worth only face value, one extraordinary variety stands among the most valuable modern U.S. coins. The 1976 No-S Proof Bicentennial Quarter—struck without the San Francisco Mint’s “S” mintmark—represents a major rarity with only a handful of confirmed examples.
Discovered in regular proof sets distributed by the Mint, these error coins were created when dies intended for proof production somehow missed the crucial step of having the mintmark applied. The result was a small number of proof quarters without the expected “S” below Washington’s bust.
With fewer than 10 authentic examples confirmed, recent auction prices have reached staggering levels:
- A specimen graded PR68 sold for $55,200 in 2019
- Another example brought $52,800 in 2020
- Private transactions reportedly reached $70,000-$85,000 for the finest examples
This extraordinary error coin proves that even among the billions of Bicentennial quarters struck, legitimate rarities exist that can transform a 25-cent coin into a five-figure numismatic treasure.
Searching for Treasure: Tips for Finding Valuable Coins
For those inspired to search for these valuable dimes and quarters, several approaches prove most effective:
For Circulation Finds:
- Check coinstar reject trays, where valuable silver coins are often rejected
- Search bank rolls, particularly from smaller community banks
- Pay attention to coins that look “different” in daily transactions
- Use a magnifying glass to examine mintmarks and date areas carefully
For Collection Hunting:
- Examine inherited collections, particularly those assembled before 1965
- Look through old albums and folders where rare coins might be overlooked
- Check dealer “junk boxes” where overlooked varieties sometimes hide
- Attend estate sales where old coins might be sold without numismatic evaluation
Authentication Considerations:
- Be skeptical of supposed rarities offered at bargain prices
- Learn the diagnostics of genuine examples through reference books and online resources
- Consider professional authentication for any potentially valuable discovery
- Remember that most supposed “valuable” coins discovered in circulation turn out to be common dates or damaged specimens
12 Rare Dimes : The Enduring Allure of Numismatic Treasure Hunting
The hunt for valuable dimes and quarters combines historical appreciation, the thrill of discovery, and the potential for financial reward.
While finding an 1894-S Barber dime remains an essentially impossible dream, discoveries of coins like the 1942/1 overdate, high-grade Barber dimes, and even error varieties continue to be reported.
The knowledge that ordinary-looking coins can carry extraordinary value transforms the simple act of checking your change into a treasure hunt with genuine potential for discovery.
Whether you’re an experienced numismatist or simply curious about the coins passing through your hands each day, these twelve valuable dimes and the rare Bicentennial quarter error prove that numismatic treasures continue to circulate, waiting for the observant collector to recognize their true worth.