1968 Dime Value

Production of Roosevelt dimes began almost 80 years ago. In 1946, the US Mint replaced Mercury dimes in honor of the 32nd US President, Franklin Roosevelt. Most Americans believed that he was thus honored for his wartime merits, but he also earned this privilege because of his dedicated fight against polio.

Since most of these coins are still in circulation today, the 1968 dime value is relatively insignificant and depends on their condition, the mint mark, and visible errors. On the other hand, the value of specimens with 1968 No S dime error is several tens of thousands.

1968 dime value Chart

Condition 1968 No mint mark dime 1968 D dime 1968 S dime
MS 65 $10 $8 /
PR 65 / / $4

History of the 1968 Roosevelt Dime

History of the 1968 Roosevelt Dime

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, just before the end of World War II. He suffered from polio, so it is understandable why he was highly dedicated to the fight against this horrible disease.

1968 dime Types

Location Year Minted
Philadelphia 1968 No Mint mark dime 424,470,000
San Francisco 1968 S proof dime 3,041,506
Denver 1968 D dime 480,748,280
Total / 908,259,786

Roosevelt was the fourth American President to be honored to get a coin after Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. The coin itself was more a tribute to his fight against polio than his war efforts. The US Mint wanted the new dime to appear on January 30, 1946, on President’s 64th birthday.

To speed up the process of issuing coins in Roosevelt’s honor, the US Mint entrusted the design to Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock. That was not a common practice in previous years, and designers were artists. The reason was that the public and politicians thought the official engravers’ designs were too conservative and ugly.

Sinnock faced a demanding undertaking, especially since he was in poor health. He had previously created Roosevelt’s presidential medal, so officials believed he was an appropriate choice. The Commission of Fine Arts didn’t approve the first drafts but only agreed on the design after several changes.

Even the artist’s initials caused great controversy. Numerous conspiracy theorists have spread unverified rumors that the letters JS were not the author John Sinnock’s initials but were related to communist leader Joseph Stalin. 

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money

Features of the 1968 Roosevelt Dime

The coins’ appearance often changes, and their composition doesn’t escape the changes either. The Roosevelt dimes experienced both during their time of minting, from 1946 to the present day.

The dimes’ composition was changed in 1964, while their new appearance occurred in 1968. That year, the mint mark was removed from the reverse and placed on the coin obverse.

The 1968 Roosevelt dime (obverse)

1968 Roosevelt Dime Obverse

The central part of the coin obverse shows the imposing profile of the 32nd President of America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. His profile faces to the left, while his gaze points towards the legend LIBERTY that stretches along the left coin rim.

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On the coin’s left side, you can find the famous motto, IN GOD WE TRUST. It is below Roosevelt’s chin and directly in front of his neck. You can see the mint mark and the minting date on the right side. The bottom coin rim features the designer John Sinnock’s initials just below the President’s neck.

The 1968 Roosevelt dime (reverse)

1968 Roosevelt Dime Reverse

In the middle of the reverse, there is a burning torch as a symbol of freedom. You can see an olive branch on its left side as a peace symbol. On the right side is an oak branch, symbolizing independence and strength.

Behind the torch and these branches, you can read the famous Latin saying. The name UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination ONE DIME extend along the upper and lower rim, completely surrounding the design. Between these inscriptions, there are two dots separating them.

1968 dime Details

Face value Ten cents ($0.10)
Shape Round
Compound An alloy of 91.67% copper with a small percentage of nickel
Coin thickness 0.053 inches (1.35 mm)
Edge Reeded
Coin weight 0.080 ounces (2.27 g)
Coin diameter 0.705 inches (17.9 mm)

The 1968 Roosevelt dime (other features)

The 1968 Roosevelt dime is a round coin with 118 reeds along the edge. It contains 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel and weighs 0.080 ounces (2.27 g). This coin’s thickness is 0.053 ounces (1.35 mm) with a diameter of 0.705 inches (17.91 mm).

1968 Roosevelt Dime Grading

You can grade your 1968 Roosevelt dime as you would any other coin. The best evaluation is done by experts of licensed companies who use the officially accepted Sheldon scale. The grade is given based on the coin’s condition, appearance, and existing minting errors.

# Grade
1 Basal State-1
2 Fair
3 Very Fair
4, 5, 6 Good
7, 8, 10 Very Good
12, 15 Fine
20, 30 Very Fine
40 Extremely Fine
50 About Uncirculated
60 Mint State
65 Mint State
70 Mint State

Please check our grading guides to know your coin scale, It’s the necessary step to know the exact value of your coin.

Check out now: How to Grade Roosevelt Dime?

1968 Dime Value Guides

You can see three different variants between 908,259,786 dimes minted in 1968. It is possible to effortlessly distinguish them thanks to the corresponding mint mark on the obverse. Keep in mind that the mint in San Francisco didn’t mint regular dimes this year, but only proofs.

1968 No Mint mark dime Value

1968 No Mint mark dime

This year’s mintage of 424,470,400 Roosevelt dimes significantly affects their value. Therefore, these Philadelphia mint coins in average condition are worth only their face value.

Even specimens graded MS 60, MS 61, and MS 62 have a price of barely $4. However, as the grade increases, these pieces’ prices become higher, from $5 (MS 63) to $475 for MS 68-graded coins.

Full Band dimes quite expectedly have a higher value compared to regular dimes. Although the prices are not significantly higher, you still need to spend $18 to $80 for MS 64- to MS 66-ranking FB coins. The most expensive are FB specimens in MS 67 grade, and collectors are prepared to set aside $500 per piece.

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1968 D dime Value

1968 D dime

You can see the D mark on 480,748, 280 Roosevelt dimes from 1968. Circulated coins are not highly valued, and their prices rarely exceed 0.10 dollars.

The same goes for the lower-graded pieces in the mint state, so those graded MS 60, MS 61, and MS 62 are only worth $4. With a higher rating, these dimes’ price increases from $5 to $65.

The coin with the highest MS 68 grade is worth the most, as much as $300. Dimes with the Full Band feature are more attractive to collectors than regularly struck ones. Since they are priced higher, you should spend more money on them.

  • The 1968 D Roosevelt dime (MS 65 FB) is $10
  • The 1968 D Roosevelt dime (MS 66 FB) is $22
  • The 1968 D Roosevelt dime (MS 67 FB) is $70
  • The 1968 D Roosevelt dime (MS 68 FB) is $850

1968 S proof dime Value

1968 S proof dime

The San Francisco Mint minted 3,041,506 proof dimes this year. However, these coins’ value is not high despite such a low mintage. The price of specimens with deep cameo contrast and PR 60, PR 61, or PR 62 grades is $3. With a higher ranking, the price increases proportionally and is about:

  • $6 for the 1968 S dime (PR 63 DCAM)
  • $10 for the 1968 S dime (PR 64 DCAM)
  • $15 for the 1968 S dime (PR 65 DCAM)
  • $16 for the 1968 S dime (PR 66 DCAM)
  • $17 for the 1968 S dime (PR 67 DCAM)
  • $28 for the 1968 S dime (PR 68 DCAM)
  • $125 for the 1968 S dime (PR 69 DCAM)

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Mercury Dimes Worth Money

Rare 1968 Roosevelt Dime Error List

Coin minting errors are always possible. Although they are often present in specimens from earlier years, it is not simple to avoid them even today. Their occurrence can significantly increase the 1968 dimes’ value since most collectors consider such coins unique and special.

Doubled Die

1968 Dime Doubled Die

This error occurs when the dies hit the planchet two or more times, and you can notice a double design as a result. It is pretty frequent among dimes, but that doesn’t mean their value is negligible. The 1968 dimes with this error can cost between $65 and $160, depending on the condition.

No S Dime

1968 Dime No S

Coins with this error are incredibly scarce. The San Francisco mint minted only proof dimes in 1968, and most bear the mint mark. However, there are a few unmarked specimens.

There is no official explanation as to how this omission occurred, but some assume this is due to the mint mark transfer from the coin reverse to the obverse. The same happened in the following years in different denominations, such as:

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  • 1970 dime and 1975 dime
  • 1971 nickel
  • 1976 Eisenhower (Ike) silver-clad dollar
  • 1990 penny

Since only a few 1968 No S Roosevelt dimes still exist, their value is high. If you want to buy one such piece, you need to set aside:

  • $12,000 for the PR 65-ranking dime
  • $13,500 for the PR 66-ranking dime
  • $16,800 for the PR 67-ranking dime
  • $20,000 for the PR 68-ranking dime
  • $38,000 for the PR 69-ranking dime

The CAMEO dime value is somewhat different depending on the grade, as follows:

  • PR 65 CAM dime costs $13,000
  • PR 66 CAM dime costs $14,500
  • PR 67 CAM dime costs $18,000
  • PR 68 CAM dime costs $22,000
  • PR 69 CAM dime costs $44,000

Re-punched mint mark

Until 1990, mint workers struck the mint mark manually on the working die. During that procedure, the die sometimes moved, and the next hit fell in another place. For these reasons, this letter appeared duplicated.

The value of dimes from 1968 with this error is several hundred dollars. Thus, the 1968 PR 67 S/S dime sold for $590 in 2015, and the 1968 PR 68 CAM S/S dime won an auction record of $1,000 in 2021.

Wrong planchet

A silver dime planchet is an unsuitable base for the cupronickel dime minted in 1968. The quickest way to determine this error is by measuring the coin because silver dimes are heavier than regular ones.

Off-center

1968 Roosevelt dime Off-center

An off-center strike error occurred when the blank planchet failed to align regularly with the dies during the minting. The result was the off-center struck coin with a crescent-shaped missing design part. The deviation from the center can vary, with pieces with a higher percentage being more valuable.

Also read: 13 Most Valuable Dime Errors Worth Money

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Where to Sell Your 1968 Roosevelt Dime ?

Now that you know the value of your coins, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of these sites, including their introduction, pros, and cons. 

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

FAQ about the 1968 Roosevelt Dime Value

Are 1968 Roosevelt dimes rare?

The circulation of almost 910 million 1968 dimes means these coins are not scarce in today’s market. Many are still in circulation, making them numerous. However, No S dimes from that year can be extremely rare and thus have a high price.

Which are the priciest 1968 Roosevelt dimes?

  • The 1968 PR 68 dime (No S, CAM) reached the price of $48,875 in 2006
  • The 1968 PR 68 dime (No S, DCAM) reached the price of $47,000 in 2020
  • The 1968 PR 67 dime (No S) reached the price of $40,250 in 2008
  • The 1968 S PR 70 dime (CAM) reached the price of $2,650 in 2022
  • The 1968 D MS 68 dime (FB) reached the price of $1,495 in 2021
  • The 1968 MS 67 dime (FB) reached the price of $1,250 in 2022
  • The 1968 PO 1 dime reached the price of $1,200 in 2018
  • The 1968 D MS 68 dime reached the price of $750 in 2022
  • The 1968 S PR 69 dime (DCAM) reached the price of $575 in 2006
  • The 1968 S PR 70 dime reached the price of $196 in 2005
  • The 1968 MS 65 dime (DDO) reached the price of $159 in 2011

How much should you pay for the 1968 Roosevelt dime (No Mint mark)?

The high number of circulated 1968 dimes and their presence in today’s circulation directly affect their value. It is not high, and you can find these coins for only $0.1. The situation is somewhat different for those in the mint state. In this case, it is necessary to set aside between $0.15 and $300, depending on each coin’s grade.

What Roosevelt dimes are the priciest?

Roosevelt dimes began their era in 1946, and their minting continues today. Usually, specimens from an earlier period are more attractive to collectors, and their value is more significant.

Interestingly, the most expensive piece is not from that period. One collector bought the 1999 D MS 65 Roosevelt dime at the 2009 Heritage Auction for $14,375.

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