Roosevelt Dimes

The United States Roosevelt dime is a coin that was introduced in 1946 to honor President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 to 1945. The idea for the coin originated shortly after Roosevelt’s death in 1945, as a way to commemorate his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II. The design for the Roosevelt dime was created by the renowned American sculptor John R. Sinnock, who was the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint at the time. Sinnock’s design features a left-facing portrait of Roosevelt on the obverse (front) side of the coin, and an olive branch, torch, and oak branch on the reverse (back) side, symbolizing peace, liberty, and strength.

The Roosevelt dime was first released into circulation on January 30, 1946, and it quickly gained popularity among the American public. The dime was minted in 90% silver until 1965, after which it was made of a copper-nickel alloy due to rising silver prices. The dime has a diameter of 17.9 mm and a weight of 2.5 grams. Over the years, there have been several modifications to the Roosevelt dime. In 1965, the coin’s composition changed to a clad design, with a copper-nickel core and outer layers of copper-nickel bonded to it. In 1992, the Philadelphia Mint began minting proof versions of the Roosevelt dime in both clad and silver compositions, specifically for collectors. Additionally, there have been various special editions and commemorative versions of the dime released by the United States Mint.