1962 Roosevelt Dime

Well more than 400 million Roosevelt dimes were minted in 1962 as demands increased for the coin from both numismatists and the general public. While true blue coin collectors were not necessarily collecting the coin to the point of exhausting available supplies from circulation, many in the public were. This was due to the rising value of silver bullion, which jumped in price by 30 percent in 1962 over the prices of the previous year.

Many observers at the U.S. Mint were taking notice of the situation and sizing up the possibility of changing the metallic composition of the dime, quarter, and half dollar. For the meantime, 90 percent silver coinage resumed, and Roosevelt dimes were struck in great numbers during 1962, as evidenced below:

• 1962 – 72,450,000; $3

• 1962-D – 334,948,380; $3

• 1962 proof – 3,218,019; $4

*Values are for coins in a grade of Extremely Fine 40, unless otherwise noted.

Given such large mintages, with huge quantities of these coins surviving numerous melting periods over the years (as coinciding with other periods of silver bullion value surges), the 1962 Roosevelt dime remains highly common across the grading spectrum. This includes the proof dime from that year, which was minted in very high numbers and can be had for a nominal amount over the price of a typical Mint State specimen from 1962.