1931 Dime Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1931 Dime value ranges from $0.10 face value to $270,250. That record was a Grade 67 example sold through Legend Rare Coin Auctions in June 2019. Upload a photo of yours below for a quick value range based on condition and mint mark. Scroll down to check recent eBay sales and see what collectors are actually paying right now.

 

1931 Dime Value By Variety

Here’s a quick breakdown of 1931 dime values across all three mint varieties and key grade levels. For exact pricing by grade, scroll down to the **Value Guides** section.

Also Read: Top 70+ Most Valuable Mercury Dimes Worth Money (Chart By Year)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1931 Dime Worth Money

The 1931-S MS67+FB sits at the top by a mile — $270,250 at auction. That’s not a typo. Finding a San Francisco dime with Full Bands detail at that grade level is almost unheard of. The next closest result? A 1931 MS67+FB from Philadelphia at $17,400. Strong money, but barely a fraction of the S-mint record.

Below those two, prices settle into a range from about $1,763 to $10,800. You’ll notice a couple of DDO (Doubled Die Obverse) varieties in the lower half — the 1931-S DDO FS-101 and 1931-D DDO FS-101 — which pull in error collectors alongside the high-grade crowd.

 

History of the 1931 Dime

By 1931, the Mercury Dime design had been in circulation for fifteen years. Adolph A. Weinman’s winged Liberty cap — the one everybody mistook for Mercury — was already an American classic.

But 1931 was a brutal year. The country was deep in the Great Depression. Unemployment topped 20 percent. Industrial output had cratered. People weren’t spending money, so the Mint didn’t need to make much of it.

Production slowed to a crawl across the board. No quarter dollars were struck at all in 1931. No nickels or dimes would be minted for the next two years either. Here’s a fun detail: as late as mid-1934, you could still buy uncirculated 1931 dimes from the Mint at face value plus postage. That’s how little demand there was.

The 1931 dime came out of that economic low point, and collectors have paid close attention to this date ever since.

Also Read: Mercury Dime Coin Value (1916-1945)

 

Is Your 1931 Dime Rare?

Use the Coin Identifier and Value App to check where your 1931 dime ranks in rarity across the full Mercury Dime series.

 

Key Features of the 1931 Dime

The 1931 Mercury Dime carries Adolph A. Weinman’s design, first used in 1916. By 1931, this was one of the most admired coins in American pockets.

The Obverse of the 1931 Dime

You’ll see a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap — the image that gave the whole series its “Mercury” nickname.

“LIBERTY” runs along the upper rim. “IN GOD WE TRUST” sits in smaller text to the left, near the portrait. The date “1931” appears along the lower right.

The Reverse of the 1931 Dime

Flip it over and you’ll find a fasces — a bundled set of rods with an axe — representing unity and strength. An olive branch crosses the left side, symbolizing peace.

“E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears to the right of the fasces. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the upper rim, and “ONE DIME” is inscribed along the bottom. Look at the lower left base of the fasces for the mint mark — “D” for Denver, “S” for San Francisco.

Other Features of the 1931 Dime

The 1931 Mercury Dime is a round coin with a reeded edge. It is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, with an official weight of 2.5 grams, and a diameter of 17.90 mm.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Dimes Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

1931 Dime Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia struck the most 1931 dimes, followed by San Francisco, then Denver. But here’s the counterintuitive part: the Denver issue — the one with the smallest original mintage — actually has the highest survival rate at just under 0.794%.

Both the D and S mints have roughly 10,000 estimated survivors each. Philadelphia trails with about 8,000, giving it the lowest survival rate at roughly 0.254%. Think of it this way: out of every 400 Philly dimes originally struck, only about one survives today.

All three varieties are genuinely scarce. If you’re building a set and targeting a specific mint, those survival rate differences matter.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money List (Year Chart)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1931 Dime Value

Three things drive a 1931 dime’s price: mint mark, grade, and Full Bands detail. A worn Philadelphia piece and a gem San Francisco FB coin can be worlds apart in value despite sharing the same date.

Mint mark is easy. Look at the reverse near the base of the fasces. “D” means Denver, “S” means San Francisco, no letter means Philadelphia. Grade takes a little more practice — a coin in Good condition shows clear outlines but heavy wear, while an AU or Mint State piece still has original luster with minimal signs of circulation.

For Full Bands, look closely at the horizontal bands wrapping around the fasces. You want complete, clearly separated bands. That single detail can push value up dramatically.

Open the Coin Identifier and Value App to check your coin’s grade and see exactly where it stands.

 

1931 Dime Value Guides

The 1931 dime was struck at three mints, and each variety has its own story.

• 1931 No Mint Mark Dime — struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this is the most commonly encountered of the three varieties in circulated grades.
• 1931-D Dime — the Denver issue, and the scarcest of the three by original output, though it holds a comparatively strong survival rate today.
• 1931-S Dime — the San Francisco issue, particularly sought after in higher grades and especially prized when found with Full Bands detail.

All three are semi-key dates in the Mercury Dime series. Each one rewards patience when you’re hunting for well-preserved examples.

 

1931 No Mint Mark Dime Value

Don’t assume “highest mintage” means “easy to find.” Philadelphia struck the most 1931 dimes, sure, but years of hard use during the Depression chewed through most of them. Solid circulated survivors are tougher to locate than you’d expect.

Here’s a neat detail: as late as June 1934, collectors could still buy uncirculated 1931 dimes from the Mint at face value plus postage. Nobody was buying coins during those lean years, and that’s exactly why a small stash of higher-grade pieces managed to survive.

The premium climbs fast at the top end. An MS67+ FB specimen has reached $17,400 at auction. That tells you how rare it is to find a Philly issue with both Full Bands and that level of preservation. Most survivors fall well below that mark.

The auction chart below gives a closer look at how this coin has performed across different grades and platforms over time.

Market activity for the 1931 No Mint Mark Dime reflects a solid level of collector engagement across the market.

 

1931-D Dime Value

Most 1931-D dimes weren’t even released in 1931. They sat in bags because commerce didn’t need them. When they finally hit the market, speculators grabbed uncirculated rolls based on the low published mintage. That hoarding history gives this coin a completely different survival profile.

If you’re chasing Full Bands on a 1931 dime, the Denver issue is actually your best bet. It’s the most common of the three varieties in FB, making it a more accessible entry point. Don’t confuse “most common” with “easy,” though — gem-quality survivors are still genuinely scarce.

The auction record sits at $5,880 for an MS67FB example. I consider the 1931-D a solid semi-key date — approachable in circulated grades but tough once you push into higher mint state territory.

The auction records below capture how this coin has traded across different grades and platforms over time.

Collector interest in the 1931-D Dime has shown meaningful engagement across the market in recent periods.

 

1931-S Dime Value

$270,250 for a single dime. That’s what a 1931-S MS67+FB brought at auction in June 2019 — the highest price ever recorded for any 1931 dime across all three mints. It’s also one of the biggest results in the entire Mercury Dime series.

Why so much? The 1931-S is the scarcest of the three varieties in Full Bands. San Francisco strikes often lack the sharp detail you find on Denver or Philadelphia coins — a pattern that shows up throughout the Mercury series. The first MS67+FB wasn’t even certified until after March 2019. Collectors had been hunting for decades without one surfacing at that level.

For those of you working at more accessible grades, the 1931-S is still a rewarding coin to pursue. We think it’s one of the most satisfying semi-key dates in the whole series.

Here’s a look at how auction prices for this coin have played out across different grades over time.

The market data below reflects how collector demand for the 1931-S Dime has shaped up in recent periods.

Also Read: 16 Rare Dime Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1931 Dime Error List

Two Doubled Die Obverse varieties exist for the 1931 date — one from Denver, one from San Francisco. Both are listed in major variety guides and both are prime cherrypicking targets. Grab a loupe and look closely.

1. 1931-D DDO FS-101

Look at “IN GOD WE TRUST” under magnification. You’ll see doubling on the lettering caused by a misalignment during the hubbing process. The doubling is subtle enough that plenty of these have passed through collections without ever being attributed.

A correctly identified example in mint state commands a clear premium over a raw, unattributed piece at the same grade. The auction record stands at $2,640 for an MS67+ example — a number that tells you how few top-pop survivors have been confirmed.

2. 1931-S DDO FS-101

Similar doubling pattern on the obverse inscriptions. Like the Denver variety, it often slips past without careful examination under magnification.

The real kicker here is the Full Bands split. An FB-attributed example reached $3,425 at MS65FB, while a non-FB piece in MS63 sold for just $228. That gap shows you exactly how much strike quality and variety attribution can move the needle on a single coin.

 

Where to Sell Your 1931 Dime?

Now that you know the value of your 1931 dime, are you wondering where to sell it online for the best return? Don’t worry — I’ve put together a list of trusted platforms, complete with introductions, pros, and cons to help you get started.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1931 Dime Market Trend

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ about the 1931 Dime

1. What is a 1931 dime worth today?

It depends on the mint mark, grade, and Full Bands status. A circulated Philadelphia example in Good condition starts around $7.02. A mint-state 1931-S with Full Bands can reach $1,546.67 or more. The range is wide, so identifying your specific coin is the first step.

2. How do I know which mint produced my 1931 dime?

Check the reverse near the base of the fasces. “D” means Denver, “S” means San Francisco, and no letter means Philadelphia. Each variety has its own demand and price range, so this is the most practical thing you can check right away.

3. Is the 1931 dime a rare coin?

All three 1931 varieties are semi-key dates. Circulated pieces show up at most dealers without too much trouble. Uncirculated examples? That’s a different story. Rarity jumps sharply once you start looking for gem-grade or Full Bands coins.

4. What does “Full Bands” mean on a 1931 dime?

Full Bands refers to the horizontal bands wrapping around the fasces on the reverse. If they’re fully separated and complete, the coin gets the FB designation — and a meaningful premium. The 1931-S FB is the scarcest of the three, while the 1931-D FB is the most accessible.

5. Is a 1931 dime made of silver?

Yes — 90% silver, containing .0723 troy ounces of pure silver. Every example has a base melt value regardless of condition, though collector value typically runs well above that for most grades.

6. What is the most valuable 1931 dime ever sold?

A 1931-S MS67+FB that realized $270,250 at auction in June 2019. Everything had to go right — extreme scarcity of Full Bands at that grade plus strong collector appetite for top-tier San Francisco issues. Still the record for any 1931 dime.

7. Are there any error coins to look for in the 1931 dime series?

Two Doubled Die Obverse varieties are recognized: the 1931-D DDO FS-101 and the 1931-S DDO FS-101. Both show doubling on “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The 1931-D DDO has reached $2,640 at auction, while the 1931-S DDO FB version has sold for $3,425 — both well above standard issue prices.

8. Could collectors buy 1931 dimes directly from the Mint?

Yes. A notice in the June 1934 issue of The Numismatist confirms that collectors could obtain uncirculated 1931-S Mercury dimes for just ten cents each, with only a small additional charge to cover first-class shipping. Same deal for Philadelphia issues. That’s why a portion of the surviving population exists in higher grades today.

9. How does the 1931 dime fit into a Mercury Dime collection?

It sits near the end of the early, scarcer phase of the series. Most dates from 1916 through 1931 are notably tougher than those struck from 1934 onward. Completing all three 1931 mint varieties in higher grades takes patience — and knowing what separates a common circulated piece from a genuinely premium example.

10. Why is the 1931 dime the last Mercury dime struck before a two-year gap?

The Great Depression crushed demand for new coinage. The Mint scaled back hard, and no Mercury dimes were struck in 1932 or 1933. That two-year gap makes 1931 the closing date of an era, and it’s a big reason collectors treat this issue with extra interest.