1990 Dime Value (Errors List, “P”, “D” & “S” Mint Mark Worth)

The 1990 Roosevelt dime appears common at first glance, with nearly two billion pieces struck across three mint facilities, yet certain characteristics elevate specific examples into the realm of serious collectibles.

The difference between ordinary and valuable comes down to striking quality and preservation. While circulated examples remain at face value, properly graded specimens reveal a dramatic value range—from $0.79 in About Uncirculated condition to $313.60 for a Denver Mint coin with Full Bands designation in Mint State.

Determining accurate 1990 dime value requires examining mint marks, torch band completeness, and overall condition factors that transform common pocket change into numismatic treasures.

 

1990 Dime Value By Variety

The 1990 Roosevelt dime was produced at three different U.S. Mint facilities, resulting in distinct varieties that appeal to collectors with varying interests. 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 1990 Dime Worth Money

The market for high-grade 1990 Roosevelt dimes reveals a fascinating pattern driven by rarity and preservation quality.

The 1990-D MS69 commands the highest value at $470, representing the pinnacle of condition for this Denver Mint issue.

San Francisco Proof specimens also demonstrate strong collector demand, with the 1990-S PR70 reaching $382 due to limited mintage and superior striking quality.

Philadelphia Mint coins show a clear progression in value as grades improve. The 1990-P MS68 achieves $223, while lower grades like MS63 and MS62 are valued at $92 and $69 respectively, illustrating how preservation differences translate to substantial price variations.

Mid-range specimens provide interesting opportunities for collectors seeking quality without extreme premiums. Examples graded MS67 and MS68 from both Philadelphia and Denver mints range from $20 to $27.

 

History of The 1990 Dime

The Roosevelt dime series, which began in 1946, honors Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The 1990 dime represents a mature phase of this enduring design, struck forty-four years after the series’ introduction.

With the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965, the composition of the dime changed from 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper to a clad “sandwich” of copper between two layers of cupronickel alloy. By 1990, this copper-nickel clad composition had been standard for twenty-five years, making the coin cost-effective for mass production while maintaining the functionality needed for vending machines and commerce.

The 1990-P Roosevelt Dime was very poorly struck with Full Band details on the reverse, making any example displaying complete Full Bands very scarce and difficult to find. This striking weakness became one of the defining production characteristics of the year. The 1990-D issue faced similar challenges.

The year 1990 marked a transitional period in minting technology. By this time, the United States Mint was moving away from the decades-old practice of manually punching mintmarks into individual working dies. Within just a few years, mintmarks would be incorporated directly into master dies, fundamentally changing the die production process that had been standard throughout the 20th century.

The 1990 Roosevelt dime circulated during a transformative moment in American history. Despite being produced in vast quantities to meet the demands of everyday commerce, coins that achieved exceptional preservation or superior striking quality remained remarkably scarce.

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

 

Is Your 1990 Dime Rare?

Discovering whether your 1990 dime is a rare Full Bands specimen or a common circulation strike. Our CoinValueChecker App instantly identifies the scarce striking characteristics and error varieties that make certain 1990 dimes genuinely rare.

 

Key Features of The 1990 Dime

Grasping the 1990 Roosevelt dime specific characteristics of both sides helps collectors distinguish genuine specimens from counterfeits and identify valuable striking variations.

The Obverse Of The 1990 Dime

The obverse features a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt facing left, with the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” inscribed, along with the year 1990. The date appears to the right of the portrait, positioned at the lower edge of the coin.

Sinnock’s design placed his initials “JS” at the base of Roosevelt’s neck, on the coin’s obverse, visible just below the truncation of the bust.

The mintmark, when present, appears directly above the date on Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) struck coins, following the placement standard established in 1968.

The Reverse Of The 1990 Dime

The reverse design elements of a torch, olive branch, and oak branch symbolized, respectively, liberty, peace, and victory. The torch occupies the center representing liberty, with an olive branch on the left for peace and an oak branch on the right for strength.

The inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM (out of many, one) stretches across the field, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arcing above and “ONE DIME” positioned below.

The horizontal bands across the torch became the focal point for collectors, as coins displaying complete, unbroken bands earn the coveted “Full Bands” designation.

Other Features Of The 1990 Dime

The dime measures 17.90 mm in diameter and weighs 2.27 grams for clad issues, with a reeded edge that contains 118 reeds.

The composition consists of a pure copper core sandwiched between outer layers of cupronickel alloy (75% copper, 25% nickel). The edge reeding serves both as an anti-counterfeiting measure and a holdover from precious metal coinage traditions.

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

 

1990 Dime Mintage & Survival Data

The 1990 Roosevelt dime production demonstrates the substantial scale of modern United States coinage operations across multiple mint facilities. Philadelphia led production with over 1.03 billion pieces struck, while Denver contributed approximately 840 million circulation strikes to meet commercial demand.

The San Francisco Mint focused exclusively on collector products, producing just over 3.29 million proof specimens in its DCAM (Deep Cameo) format. These specially struck coins were sold as part of annual proof sets rather than released into general circulation, accounting for their significantly lower mintage figures.

The survival data reveal an interesting contrast between circulation and collector coins. While survival rates for Philadelphia and Denver strikes remain unknown due to their widespread circulation and lack of systematic preservation, the San Francisco proofs show a remarkable 85.5% survival rate, with approximately 2.82 million specimens still accounted for.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1990 Dime Value

Most 1990 dime owners struggle to assess their coin’s true worth without professional grading services that cost $20 or more per coin. While average circulated pieces are worth face value, mint state examples can fetch $3 to $223 depending on preservation quality and Full Bands designation.

Skip the expensive grading fees and get instant professional-level valuations with our CoinValueChecker App. Using AI-powered analysis, it identifies critical value factors like striking quality, surface preservation, and rare characteristics within seconds.

 

1990 Dime Value Guides

In 1990, the United States Mint produced three distinct categories of Roosevelt dimes:

• 1990-P Dime (Philadelphia circulation strike)
• 1990-D Dime (Denver circulation strike)
• 1990-S DCAM Dime (San Francisco proof)

The Philadelphia and Denver issues served everyday commerce throughout their respective Federal Reserve regions, whereas San Francisco’s Deep Cameo proofs were crafted solely for collectors seeking premium-quality specimens.

 

1990-P Dime Value

The Philadelphia Mint operated at unprecedented capacity in 1990, as it had throughout much of the late 1980s. This massive output was necessary to meet the demands of a growing economy as the United States transitioned from the Cold War era into a new decade of economic expansion.

During this period, the Philadelphia Mint was still using production methods that would soon become obsolete. In the early 1980s, the United States Mint was still hand-punching mintmarks onto working dies, a laborious process that left plenty of room for error.

By 1990, while mintmark application had evolved, die preparation standards still varied, contributing to the inconsistent striking quality that plagued this issue.

Finding examples in circulation should be fairly easy, but only in MS67 condition or higher is the 1990-P considered scarce. The value escalates dramatically for premium specimens, with a very well-preserved example graded MS68 selling for approximately $223 on Heritage Auctions in late 2014.

The true treasure lies in Full Bands specimens, where complete horizontal bands are visible across the torch on the reverse. These represent less than 5% of the total population and command substantial premiums across all grade levels, making them the primary focus for serious Roosevelt dime collectors seeking 1990-P examples.

Historical auction data provides valuable insight into how this Philadelphia issue performs across different grade levels and preservation qualities.

Current market trends reflect ongoing collector interest in this 1990-P Dime variety.

 

1990-D Dime Value

The 1990-D Roosevelt dime is fairly common, with examples in circulated grades up to about MS66-67 easily obtained with minimal efforts, but in MS6 condition it becomes scarce. In MS68 condition or higher it is very difficult to find.

The “D” mintmark appears directly above the date on the obverse, positioned between the final digit “0” and Roosevelt’s chin. Genuine examples show sharp, well-defined mintmarks that are properly sized and positioned, though striking pressure variations mean some specimens display weaker overall details than others.

The key authentication point lies in examining the torch bands on the reverse. Examples displaying Full Bands characteristics are very difficult to find and command a strong premium in most grades. True Full Bands specimens show complete, unbroken horizontal lines across all bands of the torch.

Full Bands examples command substantial premiums across all grades, with MS65FB specimens trading for $375, MS66FB reaching $1,500, and MS67FB examples commanding $2,500 or more when available.

The complete auction history for this Denver Mint variety reveals pricing patterns.

Monitoring recent market activity helps gauge the liquidity and collector enthusiasm surrounding this particular issue.

 

1990-S DCAM Dime Value

The 1990-S Deep Cameo (DCAM) proof dime struck in San Francisco and designated as a Proof strike, this coin is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. These coins were sold exclusively as part of annual proof sets, packaged in protective holders that preserved their pristine surfaces from the moment they left the mint.

This collector-exclusive issue was never intended for circulation and showcases the advanced laser-frosting techniques that San Francisco had perfected by the early 1990s.

Standard PR69DCAM examples, representing near-perfect specimens with only minute imperfections visible under magnification, typically trade in the $8 to $15 range. These coins represent the bulk of certified submissions and offer excellent quality for modest investment.

The auction record stands at $382 for a PR70DCAM example, sold through Heritage Auctions on July 11, 2013. This perfect grade, awarded to coins showing absolutely no imperfections even under 5x magnification, represents the ultimate condition for this issue. However, as more PR70 examples have been certified over the past decade, values have moderated from this peak.

Auction records highlight the consistent appeal of this San Francisco proof among collectors seeking superior contrast and striking quality.

Observing market trends over the past twelve months demonstrates the level of attention and this variety commands.

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

 

Rare 1990 Dime Error List

While the 1990 Roosevelt dime was produced in massive quantities exceeding 1.8 billion pieces, a small percentage escaped quality control with notable minting errors that significantly increase their value beyond face value.

1. Off-Center Strike Errors

An off-center strike happens when the coin’s blank metal piece, called a planchet, is not perfectly in the center when the minting press hits it, causing part of the coin’s design to be missing. The value depends directly on the percentage of misalignment—the more dramatic the offset, the higher the premium.

A 1990-P dime with a noticeable off-center strike was sold for about $5 in late 2020. Values depend on the degree of the off-center strike but can reach $10-$20 per coin, with extreme examples where the date remains fully visible commanding even higher prices.

2. Missing Clad Layer Errors

Occurring during the minting process, a few dime planchets will be produced that contains a missing nickel-clad layer, exposing the copper core on either the obverse or reverse side of the coin. This dramatic error creates a striking visual contrast, with one side appearing copper-colored while the other maintains its normal silvery appearance. The exposed copper core is unmistakable and makes authentication straightforward.

Values for these coins usually top out at around $20, though pristine examples with full striking details may achieve higher premiums.

3. Wrong Planchet Errors

This happens when a coin is struck on a planchet that was meant for a different coin, with an approximate weight of 3.11 grams (the weight of a cent). These represent some of the most dramatic and valuable minting errors, as the 1990 dime design appears on a completely incorrect blank.

While a specific 1990 dime on a cent planchet auction record is hard to find, similar wrong planchet errors from other years have sold for thousands of dollars on major auction sites. The rarity and dramatic nature of this error make it highly sought after by specialized error collectors.

 

Where to Sell Your 1990 Dime?

Whether you’re selling a single high-grade specimen or an entire collection of 1990 dimes, choosing the appropriate venue maximizes your return.

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

 

1990 Dime Market Trend

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

 

FAQ about The 1990 Dime

1. Is my 1990 dime worth anything?

Most 1990 dimes in circulated condition are worth only their face value of ten cents. However, uncirculated examples can be worth several dollars, and high-grade specimens with Full Bands designation can command significantly higher premiums. The value depends heavily on the coin’s condition, mint mark, and striking quality.

2. What is a Full Bands 1990 dime?

A Full Bands (FB) designation refers to coins where the horizontal bands across the torch on the reverse are completely struck and fully separated with no weakness or breaks.

The 1990-P Roosevelt Dime was very poorly struck with Full Band details on the reverse, making any example displaying complete Full Bands very scarce and difficult to find. These FB specimens command substantial premiums over regular strikes.

2. Should I clean my 1990 dime to increase its value?

Never clean your coins. Cleaning removes the natural patina and can cause microscopic scratches that significantly reduce numismatic value. Professional grading services will often designate cleaned coins with lower grades or reject them entirely. Store coins properly in a controlled environment to prevent damage and preserve their original surfaces.