1948 Dime Value (Errors List, “S” , “D” & No Mint Mint Mark Worth)

The 1948 Roosevelt Dime’s worth varies significantly by condition. A Philadelphia example in Good condition starts at $2.00, while the same coin in Mint State reaches $11.00. Understanding 1948 Dime value requires examining how preservation affects price.

Coins with Full Bands—sharp horizontal lines on the torch—command higher premiums. A San Francisco MS grade specimen with this feature is valued at $38.29, demonstrating how details influence worth.

These silver dimes contain 90% silver, establishing a base value beyond collector interest. The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints each produced millions, yet well-preserved examples remain desirable for collectors seeking quality pieces from this early Roosevelt series.

 

1948 Dime Value By Variety

Here’s what your 1948 dime might be worth depending on its condition and where it was minted. If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Roosevelt Dime Value (1946-Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1948 Dime Worth Money

The chart reveals auction records from 2005 to present, with a 1948 Philadelphia MS68 Full Bands dime reaching $8,050 at the top. A 1948-S MS68 Full Bands specimen achieved $4,465, while a 1948-D MS68 sold for $4,313. These results reflect the premium collectors place on coins with exceptional preservation and sharp torch band details.

The MS67 and MS68 grades dominate the top ten positions, demonstrating how condition drives value in the Roosevelt dime series. Multiple entries for the same mint and grade indicate consistent market demand over the past two decades.

At the lower end of the top ten, MS67 specimens range from $432 to $1,375, showing that even coins one grade below MS68 command respectable premiums.

It is demonstrated that serious collectors are willing to pay substantial amounts for 1948 dimes that combine high technical grades with strong eye appeal and well-preserved details.

 

History of The 1948 Dime

The Roosevelt dime was introduced in 1946 to honor President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had guided the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. His personal battle with polio and his founding of the March of Dimes made the ten-cent denomination an especially meaningful tribute.

Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock was assigned to create the design. His initial concept was rejected in late 1945, but the revised version was approved the following January. The obverse presents Roosevelt’s portrait, while the reverse features a torch flanked by olive and oak branches—symbols of liberty, peace, and strength.

By 1948, the Roosevelt dime had firmly established itself in U.S. coinage. The nation was entering a period of postwar recovery, and despite cost-cutting pressures, the Mint sustained strong production at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco facilities. Each piece retained the traditional 90% silver and 10% copper alloy used through 1964.

Collectors value the 1948 issue as an early chapter in the Roosevelt dime’s history. Circulating widely in an era of optimism and rebuilding, these coins honored a leader whose courage against illness inspired a movement that helped eradicate polio in the United States.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money List

 

Is You 1948 Dime Rare?

Use the CoinValueChecker App to instantly check your 1948 dime’s rarity, grade, and current market value with just a photo.

 

Key Features of The 1948 Dime

The 1948 Roosevelt dime showcases the distinctive design elements with inscriptions, denominations, and national mottos that define this iconic American coin.

The Obverse Of The 1948 Dime

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s left-facing portrait dominates the obverse, with “LIBERTY” inscribed along the left side and “IN GOD WE TRUST” positioned below the chin. Designer John R. Sinnock’s initials, JS, appear at the cutoff of Roosevelt’s bust, to the left of the date.

The Reverse Of The 1948 Dime

The reverse displays a torch in the center representing liberty, flanked by an olive sprig on the left symbolizing peace and an oak branch on the right representing strength and independence. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (out of many, one) curves across the field behind these design elements.

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” identifies the issuing nation along the top, while “ONE DIME” specifies the denomination at the bottom.

For coins from Denver and San Francisco, the mint mark (D or S) is positioned on the reverse side at the base of the torch. Philadelphia coins bear no mint mark.

Other Features Of The 1948 Dime

The coin has a reeded edge, measures 17.9 mm in diameter, weighs 2.50 grams, and has a thickness of 1.35mm. The composition consists of 90% silver and 10% copper, containing 0.0723 troy ounces of pure silver.

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

 

1948 Dime Mintage & Survival Data

The 1948 Roosevelt Dime demonstrates varying mintage levels across three facilities. The Philadelphia facility achieved the highest mintage at 74,950,000 coins, followed by the Denver mint with 52,841,000 pieces, and the San Francisco mint with 35,520,000 pieces.

The survival distribution reveals that approximately 7,495,000 unmarked dimes remain in existence today, representing coins from the Philadelphia mint. Denver-minted specimens account for 5,284,100 surviving examples, while San Francisco pieces total 3,552,000 survivors.

Remarkably, all three mint marks maintain an identical survival rate of 10%. This consistent percentage across different facilities suggests uniform circulation patterns and preservation conditions throughout the decades.

The survival data indicates that roughly one in every ten 1948 dimes originally minted still exists in some form today.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1948 Dime Value

To determine your 1948 dime’s value, examine its mint mark ( D, or S) and condition, as these two factors directly impact worth. Circulated coins typically hold a base silver value of around $3-4, while well-preserved uncirculated examples can fetch $10-20 or more.

Rather than manually comparing your coin to grading charts and researching current market prices, simply use the CoinValueChecker App to instantly identify your dime’s mint mark, assess its condition through AI-powered image recognition, and receive real-time accurate valuations based on current silver prices and collector demand.

 

1948 Dime Value Guides

The 1948 Roosevelt Dime series comprises three distinct varieties from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints, each identifiable by their mint mark location on the reverse near the torch base.

Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark and can be identified by the empty area on the left side of the torch base. Denver-minted dimes, marked with “D,” are notably recognized as the most well-struck variety compared to other facilities. San Francisco specimens, identified by the “S” mint mark, are known for their bright and frosty luster, though peripheral elements near the coin’s edge can occasionally show shallow details due to die erosion.

All three varieties share 90% silver composition, making condition and mint mark crucial factors in determining their collectible appeal.

1948 Dime Varieties:

• 1948 No Mint Mark Dime (Philadelphia)
• 1948-D Dime (Denver)
• 1948-S Dime (San Francisco)

 

1948 No Mint Mark Dime Value

For the 1948 Philadelphia dime, achieving Full Band designation proves particularly challenging due to inconsistent strike quality. When examining the reverse torch, the central horizontal band should display a complete, crisp separation line—a sign of exceptional strike quality from well-maintained dies.

Unlike Denver issues known for consistent sharpness, Philadelphia strikes show considerable variation in quality, making truly exceptional examples notably scarcer. In typical uncirculated grades, these dimes trade around $10 to $15, but Full Band specimens command substantially higher premiums due to their superior details.

Auction records show the Full band variety achieved $8,050 in MS68 condition in 2009, while the regular example reached $1,100 in the same condition in 2021.

For collectors on a budget, standard uncirculated pieces offer an accessible entry point, while those seeking investment potential should prioritize strike quality over numerical grade alone.

The following table chronicles this coin’s complete auction history.

Recent market activity over the past year shows steady collector interest in this accessible silver piece.

 

1948-D Dime Value

The 1948-D dime earned recognition as the most consistently well-struck variety among all three mints that year. Denver’s production maintained superior quality control, delivering sharper details across Roosevelt’s portrait and the torch’s intricate elements.

This reliability makes locating Full Band examples comparatively easier than searching through Philadelphia strikes, where quality fluctuated dramatically from die to die.

With approximately 52.8 million pieces produced, Denver strikes trade in the $12 to $18 range for MS60-MS63 grades and premium MS65 specimens reach $30-$50 or more. However, the real scarcity emerges at MS67 and above, which can command $250 or higher when certified.

For collectors building complete date-and-mintmark sets, the 1948-D represents an excellent middle-ground choice—offering superior strike quality without the steep premiums attached to San Francisco issues.

The historical auction records for this type are a key reference for its valuation.

The market activity chart reveals collector demand for the 1948-D issue.

 

1948-S Dime Value

The 1948-S dime represents the scarcest of the three 1948 varieties, and typically commands higher premiums in uncirculated grades compared to its Philadelphia and Denver counterparts. In MS63 condition, these dimes reach $8-$12 at current market prices, while MS68 examples climb to $1,250-$2,500 range.

Its auction record reached $4,465 in April 2016 when Heritage Auctions sold an MS68 Full Band specimen. San Francisco strikes from this year display a distinctive frosty, bright luster, though peripheral details near the edge often show weakness from die erosion.

Additionally, the coin’s combination of silver content and collectible value makes it a good investment option. Mid-20th-century coins show steady collector interest, and certified high-grade examples also continue attracting strong demand. Even in average condition, the coin maintains value above its silver melt worth, making it more appealing to collectors than pure bullion buyers.

Historical auction records document the coin’s consistent collector appeal.

Market activity chart over recent months continues to reflect an increasing interest in the issue.

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

 

Rare 1948 Dime Error List

Post-war production pressures led to quality control issues at U.S. Mint facilities during 1948, resulting in several notable die varieties that have become sought-after by specialists.

These manufacturing anomalies occurred during the early years of Roosevelt dime production when die-making processes still relied heavily on manual operations.

1. 1948 DDR FS-801 Errors

This doubled die reverse variety displays noticeable doubling on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DIME lettering, with lighter doubling visible on the flame tips.

The error originated during die production when the working hub struck the master die multiple times without proper alignment between impressions, creating a ghost image alongside the primary design elements.

Uncirculated examples have sold for amounts ranging from approximately $25 to over $500 depending on grade and doubling strength, with Full Bands specimens achieving premium prices.

You need careful examination under magnification, as genuine doubled dies show equally raised primary and secondary images—unlike mechanical doubling where secondary impressions appear only half the height. The variety represents Stage B in its development, indicating moderate die deterioration had occurred before production ceased.

Market data suggests this error typically trades around $338 for high-grade uncirculated pieces, making it an accessible yet meaningful addition to Roosevelt dime error collections.

2. 1948-S/S RPM FS-501 Errors

San Francisco Mint workers manually punched mintmarks onto working dies during 1948 production, and misalignment during this process created the S/S repunched mintmark variety.

The S over S error was among the most common mistakes in 1948 dime production, occurring when the mintmark punch struck the die twice, with the second impression slightly offset from the first.

Close inspection reveals doubling or shadow effects on the “S” mintmark positioned to the left of the torch base. Unlike doubled dies that affect entire design elements, repunched mintmarks impact only the mintmark itself—a distinction that helps differentiate these error types.

Current market values show this variety selling between $45 for average uncirculated specimens up to $377 for premium examples. The error ended after 1989 when the U.S. Mint modernized production by placing mintmarks directly on master hubs rather than hand-punching them onto individual working dies.

3. 1948 Off-Center Strike Errors

An off-center strike occurs when the planchet isn’t properly positioned between the dies during striking, resulting in part of the design missing from the coin.

The error happens when planchets fail to seat correctly in the collar die—as the hammer die descends, the planchet shifts position. Due to poor quality control during post-war production in 1948, these errors are not uncommon.

Its values depend on the degree of off-center displacement—minor 10-15% shifts can reach $10-$20 per coin, while extreme examples where the date remains visible despite 50% or more displacement can fetch thousands of dollars. Generally, coins must be struck at least 5% off-center to register significant collector value.

 

Where To Sell Your 1948 Dime?

Whether you choose local coin dealers, online marketplaces, auction houses, or direct buyer platforms, selecting the right venue can significantly impact both your selling experience and the final value you receive.

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

 

1948 Dime Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About 1948 Dime

1. Is the 1948 dime made of silver?

Yes, the 1948 Roosevelt Dime contains 90% silver and 10% copper composition, weighing 2.5 grams with approximately 0.0723 troy ounces of actual silver content.

This silver composition was standard for Roosevelt dimes from 1946 through 1964, after which the U.S. Mint transitioned to a copper-nickel clad composition in 1965. The silver content gives these coins intrinsic precious metal value beyond their face value.

2. What errors can be found on 1948 dimes?

Common 1948 dime errors include repunched mint marks (especially the S over S variety), doubled die strikes affecting inscribed letters, die cracks creating raised lines, off-center strikes, and clipped planchets.

The S over S repunched mint mark was one of the most common errors from 1948 production, occurring when mint marks were struck twice during the die preparation process. Error coins can command premiums above standard pricing.

3. Why was Roosevelt chosen for the dime design?

Roosevelt was honored on the dime because he founded the March of Dimes in 1938 to fight polio, a disease he personally contracted in 1921.

The March of Dimes fundraising campaign asked Americans to donate dimes for polio research and treatment, making the dime coin a fitting tribute after Roosevelt’s death in 1945. The Roosevelt dime was first issued in 1946 on what would have been his 64th birthday.