Rare 2020 Dime Errors Worth Money (Full List With Pictures)

A 2020 Roosevelt dime with a missing clad layer can sell for up to $250 in mint state — serious money for a coin worth ten cents. The full 2020 dime error list covers eight error types with values from $20 to $250, and the highest confirmed sale hit $172 for a struck-through capped die specimen.

With 2.8 billion dimes struck that year across Philadelphia and Denver, more mistakes slipped into circulation than you’d expect. Here’s every 2020 dime error worth checking for, sorted from least to most valuable.

1. 2020 Dime Drooling Roosevelt Die Chip Error (Up to $20)

When a die strikes hundreds of thousands of planchets, metal fatigue causes tiny fragments to chip away from the die face. If that chip happens near Roosevelt’s mouth or chin, the void fills with metal during the next strike, producing a raised blob that looks like drool.

Social media hype around 2021 inflated perceived values beyond what this error’s scarcity justifies. Die chips are a routine byproduct of die wear, not a unique mechanical failure.

The most collectible examples show a large, distinct blob at the corner of the mouth. Minor bumps on the chin carry less appeal.

Value: Most Drooling Roosevelt die chips sell for $1 to $10 raw on eBay. Larger, more prominent examples with pronounced blobs at the mouth can reach $15 to $20, but no major auction house has recorded a significant 2020 die chip sale. The entire market for these runs through eBay and collector forums. Skip PCGS or NGC submission — the fees alone exceed most die chip premiums.

How to Identify: Use a 10x loupe and examine the area around Roosevelt’s mouth, chin, nose bridge, and jawline on the obverse. You’re looking for a raised, irregular lump of metal that appears to be part of the coin’s struck surface.

The blob should have a metallic sheen matching the rest of the coin. If it looks rough, pitted, or discolored, you’re looking at post-mint damage — die chips are raised, while scratches and contact marks are incised.

Some 2020 dimes also show die chips on the reverse near the torch or lettering, though these draw less collector interest than the “drooling” obverse variety. Multiple chips on one coin don’t meaningfully multiply the value.

The fastest confirmation: raised, smooth, and metallic means die chip. Rough or indented means damage.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

2. 2020 Dime Doubled Die Reverse Error (Up to $25)

The only recognized doubled die variety for 2020 is DDR-001, attributed by Variety Vista and CONECA under designation 1-R-VIII. It affects the Philadelphia mint only, showing medium-spread doubling on the olive leaf tips near the torch on the reverse.

This doubling occurred during hubbing when the hub impressed the die twice at slightly misaligned positions. Every coin struck from that die carries the same doubled olive leaves.

No published DDO (doubled die obverse) exists for 2020. Most reported obverse doubling is worthless machine doubling, so don’t get excited about “doubled dates” on these dimes.

Value: DDR-001 trades in the $5 to $25 range depending on grade, with raw eBay examples typically selling between $5 and $15. MS65+ specimens push toward $25, but no verified auction record from a major house exists for this variety. Pursue this one at pocket-change cost — it’s not worth paying a premium unless the coin grades MS67 or higher, where PCGS or NGC submission would be justified.

How to Identify: Focus on the reverse olive leaves, specifically the lower right cluster near the torch base. Under a 20x loupe, look for raised, notched doubling at the leaf tips that adds volume to the leaf profile.

The critical distinction is genuine hub doubling versus machine doubling. DDR-001 doubling is rounded and adds material — the leaf looks thicker.

Machine doubling is flat and shelf-like, creating a shadow that subtracts from design width rather than adding to it. If the secondary image looks like a flat step, it’s machine doubling and worth zero.

In later die states, look for a confirmatory die crack at the bottom of the torch or small die chips on Roosevelt’s nose. These secondary markers help confirm the correct die pair.

Fastest confirmation: raised, rounded doubling that adds thickness to the olive leaves. Flat stepping means machine doubling — walk away.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

3. 2020 Dime Die Crack and Cud Error (Up to $50)

Die cracks form when stress fractures develop across the die face from repeated striking. Metal fills these cracks during the strike, leaving raised lines on the finished coin.

When a crack reaches the die rim and a chunk breaks away entirely, the result is a cud — a raised, featureless blob of metal at the coin’s edge. On 2020 dimes, the most collected cud variety appears directly on Roosevelt’s nose, producing what collectors call the “broken nose” effect.

Die cracks and cuds are progressive. They worsen with each strike, so early-stage cracks are thinner and later-stage cuds are larger.

Value: A circulated 2020 dime with a nose cud sold for $35 on eBay, and a 2020-D with a prominent die crack brought $50 in circulated condition — the highest confirmed sale for this error type. Larger cuds near facial features push toward $50 to $100, though many eBay asking prices in that range are speculative and don’t reflect realized sales. Skip PCGS or NGC submission unless the cud is exceptionally large and the coin grades MS65 or better.

How to Identify: Examine both sides under a 10x loupe, looking for raised lines that follow no part of the normal design. Die cracks often radiate from high-relief areas — Roosevelt’s hair, the torch, or lettering.

Cuds are easier to spot. Look for a raised, flat, featureless area at the rim where the die chunk broke away.

Die cracks and cuds are raised above the coin’s surface with the same metallic texture as the rest of the strike. Scratches, gouges, and rim dings are incised or rough-textured — that’s post-mint damage, not a die break.

Cuds should have a clean, struck appearance. If the blob looks porous or rough, suspect environmental damage instead.

Fastest confirmation: a featureless, raised metal area at the rim with smooth, struck surface texture.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

4. 2020 Dime Die Adjustment Strike Error (Up to $140)

A die adjustment strike happens when the press operates at lower-than-normal pressure during setup or calibration. The reduced force produces a coin with weak or partially missing design elements, especially around the rim.

These are test strikes that should have been caught and destroyed before leaving the mint. On 2020 dimes, this error typically shows weak LIBERTY and a faint date on the obverse, paired with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA barely legible around the reverse rim.

The design center usually retains more detail than the periphery. That pressure gradient is what separates this error from simple wear.

Value: CoinValueChecker values a mint state 2020 die adjustment strike at approximately $140, though no Heritage Auctions or Great Collections record exists for this specific variety. Circulated examples are tough to authenticate because the weakness mimics normal wear. Uncirculated specimens carry the real premium — full mint luster proves the weakness came from the strike, not from years in somebody’s pocket. Raw examples with obvious weakness sell for $50 to $100 on eBay.

How to Identify: Check the rim area first. Weakness should be roughly symmetrical on both sides of the coin — if one side is sharp and the other weak, you may have a struck-through grease error or misaligned die instead.

Under a 10x loupe, examine LIBERTY, the date, and IN GOD WE TRUST on the obverse. On the reverse, check UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DIME along the rim — weakness should be most pronounced at the periphery and improve toward center.

Weigh the coin on a 0.01g scale — a die adjustment strike should still hit the standard 2.268g since the planchet is correct. If the weight is off, you’re looking at a different error entirely.

Fastest confirmation: symmetrical weakness on both faces, standard weight, and full mint luster on an uncirculated example.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

5. 2020 Dime Broadstrike Error (Up to $150)

A broadstrike happens when the retaining collar fails to engage during striking. Without the collar constraining the planchet, metal spreads outward under press force, producing a coin with a larger-than-normal diameter and a completely smooth edge.

The design remains fully present on both sides — just expanded outward. This is the key distinction from an off-center strike, where part of the design is missing entirely.

Some broadstrikes expand evenly in all directions. Others are lopsided with more spread on one side, but both types are collectible.

Value: A circulated 2020 broadstruck dime sold for $68 on eBay. Mint state specimens with dramatic, even expansion can fetch $100 to $150 from specialized error collectors, though coins-value.com characterizes some eBay prices in this range as reflecting “seller optimism” rather than realized values. No major auction house sale has been documented for a 2020 broadstrike dime specifically. Certification adds value only for mint state examples.

How to Identify: Measure the diameter with calipers. A normal Roosevelt dime is 17.91mm across — a broadstrike will exceed that, typically measuring 19 to 22mm depending on how far the metal spread.

Check the edge — this is the single most diagnostic feature. Normal dimes have 118 reeds around the circumference, while a broadstrike has a completely smooth, plain edge with zero reeding.

Any reeds present means it’s not a broadstrike. Full design must also be present on both faces — if part is cut off at the edge, that’s an off-center strike instead.

Weigh it: still 2.268g, since the planchet is standard. Only the collar was missing during the strike.

Fastest confirmation: smooth edge, oversized diameter, complete design on both sides.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

6. 2020 Dime Off-Center Strike Error (Up to $150)

An off-center strike occurs when the planchet fails to seat properly between the dies before the hammer descends. The misalignment means part of the design strikes empty air, leaving a crescent of blank, unstruck metal on the finished coin.

The percentage of off-center determines both visual drama and value. A 5% shift barely registers; a 50% shift is unmistakable.

The sweet spot for collectors is a dramatic off-center percentage where the date and mint mark remain visible. Without the date, attribution becomes impossible and value drops sharply.

Value: A circulated 2020-P dime with a 5% off-center strike sold for $40 on eBay. Higher percentages command more: 20% to 50% off-center with visible dates typically bring $100 to $150, based on comparable modern Roosevelt dime sales. No verified 2020-specific auction record exists at a major house. The rule is simple — more off-center equals more money, but only if the date stays readable.

How to Identify: The hallmark is a crescent of blank, unstruck planchet on one side of the coin. This area should be smooth and featureless — not scratched or damaged.

A shift of 1% to 5% with no visible blank crescent is a misaligned die (MAD) error, which falls within normal mint tolerance and carries no premium. The blank crescent must be clearly present to qualify as a genuine off-center strike.

Examine both faces. The design should shift in the same direction on obverse and reverse — if the shift appears on only one side, suspect alteration.

Weigh it on a 0.01g scale — off-center dimes should still hit 2.268g because the full planchet was struck. Lower weight points to a clipped planchet error instead.

Fastest confirmation: a crescent of blank metal with the design shifted uniformly on both sides.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

7. 2020 Dime Struck-Through Capped Die Error (Up to $172)

This error requires a sequence of failures. First, a previously struck coin gets stuck to the die face and becomes a “cap” — a new striking surface that wraps around the die as subsequent coins are struck against it.

Every planchet struck after that receives an incuse, mirror-image impression from the capped coin rather than the normal die design. The result is a ghostly, distorted secondary image on one side of the finished coin.

Late-stage caps produce more dramatic distortion as the stuck coin deforms further with each successive strike. These rank among the most visually distinctive Roosevelt dime errors.

Value: An MS65 2020 Roosevelt dime with a struck-through capped die error sold for $172 — the highest confirmed sale price for any 2020 dime error. This sale is documented across multiple numismatic sources. Circulated examples with visible ghost impressions typically sell for $50 to $100 on eBay, depending on how clearly the capped die impression transferred. MS66 or higher examples would command substantially more if they surfaced.

How to Identify: Look for a faint, incuse secondary design on one side of the coin. The ghost image will be mirror-reversed — flipped left to right compared to normal orientation.

On 2020 dimes, ghost impressions of the torch, olive branch, and oak branch have been reported appearing on the obverse. Under 10x to 20x magnification, the secondary image should appear uniform and consistent with a struck impression, not random scratches.

Distinguish from a die clash, where dies strike each other without a planchet and produce shallower impressions. Struck-through capped die errors show more dimensional distortion because the cap itself deforms over repeated strikes.

Fastest confirmation: a mirror-reversed ghost image with uniform depth and surface distortion on the affected side.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

8. 2020 Dime Missing Clad Layer Error (Up to $250)

Roosevelt dimes are clad coins — a copper core sandwiched between two outer layers of cupronickel. A missing clad layer error occurs when one of those nickel layers fails to bond to the copper core during planchet manufacturing.

The unbonded layer either never adheres or separates before the blank reaches the press. The result is a coin with one copper-colored side and one normal nickel-colored side, weighing roughly 15% less than the standard 2.268g.

Full missing clad errors affect one complete side. Partial versions show copper exposed in patches, often near raised design elements like Roosevelt’s face or the torch.

Value: Circulated examples of a 2020 missing clad layer dime have sold for approximately $105 on eBay. Uncirculated specimens can reach $200 to $250 depending on the extent of the missing layer and overall grade. Coins-value.com sets the market range at $100 to $250. No Heritage Auctions or Great Collections record exists specifically for a 2020 example, but full missing clad errors consistently outperform partials across all modern dime years.

How to Identify: Start with weight. Place the coin on a 0.01g scale — a normal clad dime weighs 2.268g, while a missing clad layer dime comes in around 1.8 to 2.0g. That gap is unmistakable.

One side will appear copper-red instead of the normal silver-white nickel, while the other side looks normal. Partial errors show exposed copper patches alongside remaining nickel, typically concentrated around raised design elements.

Check the edge under magnification — the layered “sandwich” structure should show one layer visibly absent or thinner than the other. Do not confuse with heat-damaged coins, which have porous, bubbly surfaces; genuine missing clad errors have smooth, struck surfaces.

Fastest confirmation: under 2.0g on a scale with a copper-colored side. That’s your error.

Use Our 2020 Dime Value Checker

 

Conclusion

The 2020 dime error spectrum runs from $20 die chips to $250 missing clad layer specimens, with the highest confirmed auction sale at $172 for a struck-through capped die. A $10 loupe and a 0.01g digital scale are all you need to check most of these — just don’t expect to retire off a die chip from your parking meter change.