1988 Dime Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth)

The 1988 Roosevelt dime represents a significant production milestone in modern U.S. coinage history. The Philadelphia Mint struck over one billion 1988-P Roosevelt dimes, marking the first billion-coin dime mintage since 1967, while the Denver facility produced 962,385,489 pieces.

Despite these substantial mintages, condition significantly impacts valuation, with standard examples ranging from $0.10 in Good condition to $7.71-$7.86 in Mint State, while Full Bands varieties command premiums of $12.71-$34.43.

Understanding the comprehensive 1988 Dime Value spectrum requires examining these condition-based price differentials alongside potential minting anomalies that can transform ordinary circulation finds into valuable collectibles.

 

1988 Dime Value By Variety

This is a 1988 dime value chart showing the market values of different dime types and years across various coin grades. 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 1988 Dime Worth Money

The 1988-P MS68 specimen, valued at $1,560, commands a 4.15x premium over its MS63 counterpart at $376, demonstrating the non-linear value distribution typical of high-grade modern coinage.

While the Philadelphia Mint struck over 1.3 billion dimes in 1988, specimens achieving MS68 certification represent less than 0.1% of surviving examples. Population reports from third-party grading services reveal a pronounced bottleneck between MS67 and MS68.

The Denver Mint (D) issues exhibit parallel patterns, with MS68 commanding a 3x premium over MS65, confirming the accelerating value effect of marginal quality improvements.

Sub-MS67 examples offer limited liquidity premiums, while MS68+ grades provide structural support for long-term value preservation through demonstrable rarity.

 

History of The 1988 Dime

The 1988 Roosevelt Dime continues the design introduced in 1946 to honor President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who passed away in 1945, commemorating his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II. The dime was chosen to honor Roosevelt because of his personal battle against polio and his involvement in the March of Dimes organization.

By 1988, nine years after adopting the P mintmark, the Philadelphia Mint was experiencing significant growth. The 1988-P Roosevelt Dime marked a milestone as the first dime since 1967 to surpass one billion coins produced, representing a 35% increase over 1987’s production. To accommodate this increased production, the United States Mint hired 478 new employees, with 196 stationed at Philadelphia, and installed four new high-speed coin presses with an improved press feeding system.

The Philadelphia Mint also underwent major technological modernization in 1988, installing five computer LAN networks, a new CD-ROM storage facility, an upgraded electronic customer order database that increased order processing speed tenfold, and adopting electronic mail. These technological advances ensured both high production volume and improved quality standards for the 1988 dime series.

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

 

Is Your 1988 Dime Rare?

For detailed information about your coin’s specific variety and current market value, our CoinValueChecker App provides the accurate rarity and value assessment for your coins.

 

Key Features of The 1988 Dime

The 1988 Roosevelt dime embodies the mature clad coinage era, representing over two decades of copper-nickel production refinement since the transition from precious metals.

The Obverse Of The 1988 Dime

The obverse displays Franklin D. Roosevelt’s contemplative left-facing portrait, with “LIBERTY” inscribed prominently to his left. “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears in refined typography below the former president’s chin. The 1988 dime features its mint designation on the obverse above the date.

The year “1988” occupies the lower right position beneath Roosevelt’s neck, while designer John R. Sinnock’s identifying initials “JS” remain subtly positioned at the base of the neck truncation.

The Reverse Of The 1988 Dime

The reverse centers on a flaming torch symbolizing liberty, flanked by symbolic botanical elements representing America’s enduring values. An olive branch, embodying peace, graces the left side, while an oak branch, signifying strength and independence, anchors the right. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” stretches behind the torch across the central field, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arching along the upper rim and “ONE DIME” curving across the bottom edge.

Other Features Of The 1988 Dime

The 1988 Roosevelt dime maintains precise specifications of 17.91 millimeters in diameter and 2.268 grams in weight, with a thickness of 1.52 millimeters. Its edge features distinctive reeding with 118 individual reeds—a security element preventing counterfeiting.

The composition consists of a copper-nickel clad structure: 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded over a pure copper core—the standard alloy formula that replaced silver content in 1965 and continues in production today.

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

 

1988 Dime Mintage & Survival Data

The Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) mints each struck over 960-1,030 million pieces, reflecting robust economic expansion and vigorous commercial activity during the final year of the Reagan administration. This period witnessed strong GDP growth, with thriving retail sectors driving substantial demand for small-denomination coinage in everyday transactions.

The San Francisco mint (DCAM) produced only 3.26 million deep cameo proof specimens exclusively for the numismatic market. The impressive 85.5% survival rate (2.79 million pieces) underscores the maturity of the collector market.

Conversely, the absence of survival data for P and D mint issues illustrates the inevitable fate of circulation strikes: decades of wear, bank redemption and melting, plus collector cherry-picking have rendered high-grade mint state examples increasingly scarce.

While 1988 represents no key date significance, its mintage figures provide valuable data for studying late-20th-century monetary policy and economic cycles.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1988 Dime Value

1988 Dime Value Guides

1988-P Dime Value

The 1988-P Roosevelt dime is the first dime since 1967 to surpass one billion pieces in mintage with an extraordinary 1,030,550,000 coins struck.

Despite the enormous mintage, collectors prize specimens exhibiting Full Bands designation—showing complete, unbroken horizontal lines across the torch’s bands on the reverse—which indicate exceptional strike quality.

The 1988-P becomes genuinely scarce in MS67 Full Bands grade, with fewer than a dozen specimens certified at MS68 FB, and no examples graded higher than MS68 FB exist in the census. These premium Full Bands specimens experienced notable market appreciation, with MS67 FB/FT examples jumping from $30-40 averages to $150-180 range during 2018.

This chart tracks the highest auction prices achieved for the 1988-P Dime across different grade levels throughout its trading history.

 

1988-D Dime Value

The 1988-D Roosevelt Dime exemplifies the paradox of modern numismatics—abundant yet conditionally rare. The Denver Mint struck close to 1 billion examples, making circulated specimens readily available, yet only coins graded MS67 with Full Band details or higher achieve true scarcity.

At the MS68FB grade level, this common coin becomes genuinely rare: NGC has certified only 7 examples with no higher grades recorded, while PCGS has certified just 4. This scarcity drives remarkable premiums, with auction prices ranging from $6 for lower Full Bands grades to $1,080 for the finest MS68FB example sold at Heritage Auctions in October 2020.

The dramatic value spread—from face value in circulation to four figures for top-graded specimens—illustrates how strike quality transforms an ordinary modern coin into a condition rarity prized by specialists.

This chart presents the peak auction results for the 1988-D Dime, documenting record-breaking sales by grade over the years.

 

1988-S DCAM Dime Value

The coins from the 1988-S Proof Set were placed in individual holes within a purple-colored, textured paper and cardboard insert, then sealed in a two-piece clear plastic case. This packaging featured a minor but notable modification from 1987, as the fancy silver script writing on the outer package was italicized for the first time in 1988, distinguishing these sets visually from their immediate predecessors.

What distinguishes the 1988-S DCAM from its circulation counterparts is the dramatic visual contrast achieved through the Deep Cameo finish. This sophisticated effect creates heavily frosted, brilliant white design elements that appear to float above deeply mirrored, glass-like fields, producing a striking three-dimensional appearance impossible to achieve on business strikes.

The auction record for this variety reached $633 for a PR70 specimen sold at Heritage Auctions in May 2003, though values have fluctuated considerably over the decades.

This chart chronicles the top auction performances for the 1988-S Proof Dime, highlighting milestone prices achieved at various grade levels.

This chart reflects the collector interest trends for the 1988-S Proof Dime over the recent year.

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

 

Rare 1988 Dime Error List

Here are the most common 1988 dime errors:

1. Off-Center Strikes

Off-center striking errors occur when planchets misalign during the minting process, leaving portions of the design incomplete or blank. These dramatic visual anomalies range from minor displacement to extreme off-center impressions.

A 1988-D dime struck 45% off-center realized $89 at auction in 2022. Value scales directly with displacement percentage—mild examples showing 10-15% deviation trade around $20-30, while specimens displaying 40-60% off-center strikes command $100-200.

The most spectacular piece documented featured dual off-center strikes: a 1988-P dime with both strikes off-center sold for $376 in 2016.

2. Broadstrike Errors

Broadstrike errors happen when the retaining collar fails during striking, allowing metal to spread beyond normal dimensions and creating coins with smooth edges instead of standard reeding. These pieces appear noticeably larger and flatter than regulation dimes, sometimes exhibiting an almost medal-like quality.

A 1988-P broadstrike example brought $103.40 at a 2014 auction. Market values typically range from $5 to $100 depending on severity.

Dramatic broadstrikes showing significant diameter expansion and complete absence of reeding achieve premium pricing, while subtle examples with partial collar retention trade at the lower end. Authentication requires precise weight and diameter measurements, as post-mint damage can superficially mimic genuine broadstrikes.

3. Double Strike Errors

Double strikes represent the pinnacle of 1988 dime errors, occurring when planchets receive multiple impressions from the dies. An exceptional 1988-P specimen was double struck with the second impression 75% off-center, selling for $129.25 in 2015. These errors create overlapping ghost images that collectors find particularly compelling.

Single-location double strikes (where both impressions roughly align) typically command $50-150, while dramatically displaced examples—especially those combining double striking with off-center orientation—can exceed $300-400.

The most desirable pieces display clear definition on both strikes with identifiable dates and design elements, allowing viewers to reconstruct the minting mishap visually.

 

Where to Sell Your 1988 Dime?

Once you’ve assessed your coins’ value, the next question is where to sell them online with ease. I’ve gathered information on the top selling sites, including their features, strengths, and weaknesses.

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

 

1988 Dime Market Trend

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

 

FAQ about 1988 Dime