Roosevelt Dimes History and Grading

The Roosevelt dime was first minted in 1946, after the last Mercury dime was issued in 1945. The dime was the forth US coin to carry a President on the face of the coin along with the Lincoln cent, the Washington quarter and the Jefferson nickel.
The design carries the initials of the designer, RS (Richard Sinnock) on the obverse of the coin located under Roosevelt's shoulder. The reverse of the dime carries a picture of a torch a symbol of freedom and on both sides of the torch are left designs.

The reverse and front of the Roosevelt Dime.
The Roosevelt dime was easy to collect in the 1960's before the silver hoarding days of the late 1960's. In the early sixties before the clad dime was introduced in 1965, assembling a geplete collection of circulated Roosevelt dimes was possible from circulation. Some of the rarer dates at this time were the 1949, 1949-D and the 1950-S, however, with some patience they could stillbe located.
Roosevelt dimes were made for circulation fromall three mint locations from 1946 through 1955 when the SanFrancisco mint stopped making dimes. From 1955 through 1964 the mint made only Denver and Philadelphia issues. In 1965 the first clad dime appeared andproduced tipped 1.6 billion. From 1965 through 1967 the mint removed the mint mark from the coins in an effort to keep as many coins circulating as possible since the silver coins were being depleted in the general population. In 1968 the mint returned the mint mark on the coin with the production of the 1968-DRoosevelt dime. San Francisco minted dimes were made for proof sets only and continue to the present day.
In 1968 the mint removed the mint mark from the reverse of the coin, moving it to the front of the coin located above the date. The mint also added a P for the Philadelphia mint on the coin.
The Roosevelt dime remains the only early dated coin that has not changed in appearance (other then geposition to clad).
Grading Roosevelt Dimes
Good - The hair lines in Roosevelt's portrait will be worn smooth along with his ear. The torch on the reverse will be worn smooth.
Very Good - Ther will be some detail in Roosevelt's hair lines. Lines will be apparent on the left and right sides of the torch.
Fine - About 50% of the hair lines in Roosevelt's portrait will clearly show. Half of the lines in the torch will be clear.
Very Fine - Almost all of the hair lines will be clear and concise. All of the lines in the torch will show, although worn.
Extra Fine - Only wear that will be apparent will be on the highest spots of the coins. All major details will be clear and sharp.
Uncirculated - No wear on the coin. Beware of a coin that has been cleaned. Silver often dulls in a celaning process. Look for tiny surface scratches from brush marks.
Like all uncirculated coins, the Roosevelt dime series must be stored in an acid free window type coin book free of moisture and the elements. Silver Roosevelt's will turn black or contain a brownish tint when toned. The clad dimes will darker when toned.