Finding old coins accidentally is such an exciting moment! Any coin you find can either be completely worthless or worth thousands of dollars and sometimes even more. The unpredictability is what makes it so fun.
If you found a coin and it happens to be a dime from 1965, you are at the perfect place reading this.
We know all about the 1965 dime value, its history, errors, grading, and more. Can’t wait to share it with you, so continue reading and who knows? Maybe you got lucky and are in possession of a highly valuable coin. Let’s find out!
1965 Dime Details
- Category – Roosevelt dimes
- Mint – Philadelphia
- Mintage – around 1 500 000
- Obverse designer – John Ray Sinnock
- Reverse designer – John Ray Sinnock
- Composition – 92% copper, 8% nickel
- Weight – 2.27 grams (0.08 ounces)
- Diameter – 17.91 millimeters (0.7 inches)
- Thickness – 1.35 millimeters (0.05 inches)
A dime produced in 1965 belongs to the category of Roosevelt dimes because of the obverse of the coin’s design which features ex-US president, Franklin Roosevelt. The coin was designed by then Chief Engraver of the US Mint, John Ray Sinnock.
The coin consists mostly of copper and a small percentage of nickel. Although there is a high content of red copper in the 1965 dime, this alloy still looks silver.
The US mint produced around a million and a half of these dimes in 1965, which is a staggering amount of coins. Considering this fact, you can probably assume that a dime from this particular year is not very rare or sought-after.
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Worth Money
1965 Dime Value Chart
If you found one or a ton of dimes from 1965 and you hoped to sell them for a lot of money, I am sorry to disappoint you. You will probably not be able to do so because these dimes are so common that they are usually worth next to nothing.
A dime from 1965 in poor or good condition is usually less than a dollar worth. The prices start at around ten cents.
In case you have a good-looking coin in fine or in uncirculated condition, you can get up to around five dollars. While this doesn’t seem like a lot of money, keep in mind that this coin’s face value is only ten cents, so it is still a lot compared to its regular worth.
The mint state is the best condition you can have your coin in. If it is graded from 60 to 65, a 1965 dime is worth up to around $50.
Now, if you found a coin that can get a grade of almost 70, then you are lucky. These can reach prices of hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, but obviously, they are very rare to find.
| Condition | 1965 Dime No Mint Mark Value |
| Poor | $0.10 – $0.20 |
| Fair | $0.20 – $0.30 |
| About Good | $0.30 – $0.50 |
| Good | $0.50 – $0.70 |
| Very Good | $0.70 – $1 |
| Fine | $1 – $1.5 |
| Very Fine | $1.5 – $2 |
| About Uncirculated | $2 – $5 |
| Mint State (60-64) | $5 – $50 |
| Mint State (65+) | $50 – $1 000 + |
1965 Dime Value & Varieties Guide
Most coins produced by the United States Mint have several varieties based on where they were produced. However, in the case of a dime from 1965, this is not the case.
Dimes were produced only in Philadelphia during this year. At the time, coins produced in this mint did not contain a mint mark, so you will not find one on your dimes from 1965.
1965 No Mint Mark Dime Value
The only variety of a dime from 1965 was the one without a mint mark produced in the Philadelphia mint.
It is a coin made of an alloy of copper and nickel, with the latter composing only around 8% of the total weight. The coin is silver in appearance and weighs just over two grams.
The face value of a dime from 1965 is ten cents, and if it is in poor condition nowadays, that is how much it can be sold for, approximately.
The edge of the coin is reeded with 118 reeds.
The US Mint produced around a million and a half of these coins, making them pretty common even nowadays. They are not really popular in the collectors and numismatists’ world unless they contain a rare error or backstory.
The starting price of this dime as of writing is usually around 0.10 cents, but the price can reach more than a thousand dollars if the coin is in perfect condition.
- Type – Roosevelt coin
- Edge – reeded
- Number of reeds – 118
- Mint mark – no mint mark
- Place of minting – Philadelphia
- Year of minting – 1965
- Face value – 10 cents
- Price – $0.10 – $1 000 +
- Quantity produced – around 1 500 000
- Designer – John Ray Sinnock
- Composition – 92% copper, 8% nickel
- Weight – 2.27 grams (0.08 ounces)
- Diameter – 17.91 millimeters (0.7 inches)
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money
1965 Dime History
The history of the Roosevelt dime in the US starts back in 1946. This is when the US mint decided to honor the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the country.
This made a lot of sense as Roosevelt died just a year before, in 1945. He was of great importance for the whole country throughout several of the most difficult situations the US was in, the Great Depression and World War II.
He served as president for twelve years. He was also the first physically disabled person to lead this country. On top of that, he supported the program that was dedicated to finding the cure for polio, which he contracted when he was only 39.
The year 1965 was a turning point for the US dimes in more ways than one. Apart from changing the design, the mint also changed the composition of the coin.
Due to the rising prices of silver back then, it was no longer profitable to make silver coins. A lot of people started melting the money and the prices only rose.
The US mint decided to switch to an alloy of copper and nickel instead, reducing the weight of the coin and the cost of its production.
The Roosevelt dimes are still used to this day.
1965 Dime Appearance
The dime from 1965 is silver in appearance. In the center of the obverse side of the coin is the side profile of Franklin Roosevelt.
On the left side of the ex-president’s portrait is the word LIBERTY which signifies the country’s desire and aims for freedom.
Below the portrait on the left side is the word IN GOD WE TRUST, the US motto that represents the country’s belief in God’s help towards prosperity and success. On the right side is the year of the production, 1965.
The reverse of the coin features a torch at the center, representing liberty. To its left side is an olive branch that symbolizes peace and to its right side is an oak branch, representing the nation’s strength.
1965 Dime Grading
If you want to have your 1965 dime graded it’s best to take it to a specialist that can do this with a high level of accuracy. Grading significantly affects the price of the coin so make sure to choose the professional wisely.
They will rate the coin on a scale from 1 to 70, with 1 being a coin in the worst condition and grade 70 reserved for only the best-preserved coins out there. In fact, that grade is only given if the coin looks like it was just minted and not used at all.
List of 1965 Dime Errors
The factories that make coins are efficient and rarely mess up. However, those rare instances when mints put the errored coins out in the market can significantly increase the prices of those coins.
While it’s important that the mint’s mistake doesn’t completely ruin a coin and its design, mild mistakes can be very valuable because they increase the rarity of a dime.
Let’s see what are some common mistakes you can look out for in case of a dime from 1965.
1. 1965 Silver Dime Error
As mentioned, 1965 was the year when the US mint replaced silver as a material for producing dimes with an alloy of copper and nickel. However, there was a mistake in the factory and the mint accidentally engraved a handful of silver planchets with the year 1965.
The coins that survived are highly valuable. They can sell for several thousand, and in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars. These dimes are sought-after by numismatists and collectors, so check twice if yours is one of them.
Since the regular 1965 dime is also silver in appearance, it may be difficult for a layman to discern the difference between that one and the actual silver one. If you are suspecting you have a rare kind, consult a professional to check, and good luck!
2. 1965 Dime Off-Center Design
When the planchet is not correctly positioned in the machine when the dies strike, a coin comes out with an error known as off-center.
You can notice it fairly easily. Just check if you can see every part of the design on the coin. Sometimes only a small piece will be missing but sometimes even half of it won’t be visible.
This error makes a coin more valuable than the regular one. It can sell for hundreds of dollars.
It’s important to differentiate the natural damage that a coin sustains throughout the years of circulation from the factory error.
3. 1965 Dime Die Breaks
Die breaks happen when the dies that should strike the coin become damaged and worn out. This causes a part of the design to be missing or defective.
This is another error that is difficult to discern from the natural wear and tear, so be careful when buying a coin with it online without checking in person first.
1965 Dime FAQ
Are any 1965 dimes valuable?
Yes. While most of the dimes produced in 1965 are worth only several cents to several dollars, some are much more pricey. The most valuable 1965 dime is made of silver instead of copper and nickel. Naturally, this one is extremely difficult to find too.
Another instance in which a 1965 dime would be valuable is in case of rare errors on the coin.
Is a 1965 dime worth $2 million?
No, so far there hasn’t been any dime made in 1965 that is worth two million dollars. But who knows? One may show up one day.
Where would the mint mark be on a 1965 dime?
There is no mint mark on a 1965 dime as these were produced only in the Philadelphia mint. However, if there was a mint mark on this coin, it would probably be above the date, to the right side of Franklin Roosevelt’s portrait.
Is a 1965 dime 90% silver?
No! In fact, the US mint stopped using silver to make dimes in 1965. This precious metal was replaced with a mix of copper and nickel to reduce the prices of coin production because silver was getting more expensive back then.
However, there are some dimes from 1965 that were accidentally produced using planchets made of 90% silver. These are extremely rare and valuable.
What is special about a 1965 dime?
This year was special when it comes to the US Mint’s production of dimes. First of all, the design was changed to commemorate ex-president, Franklin Roosevelt’s birthday. Secondly, the mint stopped using silver to make dimes and switched to a cheaper alternative.
How rare is a 1965 coin?
The dimes made in 1965 are not rare at all because the US produced more than a million and a half of them. This is why you can buy them for very little money, as little as ten cents. Not good news if you are looking to sell though as most of the 1965 dimes are barely worth a dollar.
Does the 1965 dime have a mint mark?
No. The dimes from 1965 were produced in the Philadelphia mint, so none of the dimes from this year have a mint mark.
IF there were a mint mark on the 1965 Roosevelt dime it would be on the Reverse, the mark moved to the Obverse in 1968
When did they decide when to change the mintmark to the back? Probably long after these 1965 dimes were produced, so it never had any chance of getting a mintmark on the reverse.