The Roosevelt Dime features Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, on the obverse (front).
- Years of minting: 1946 to present.
- Designer: John R. Sinnock.
- Reason for selection: Roosevelt is honored for his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II, and for establishing the March of Dimes.
- Composition: From 1946-1964, dimes were 90% silver and 10% copper. Since 1965, they have been copper-nickel clad.
- Controversies and criticisms: There have been claims of similarities between the dime’s design and a plaque by Selma Burke, initial models were criticized by the Commission of Fine Arts, and rumors circulated that Sinnock’s initials were those of Joseph Stalin.
- Reverse design: The reverse shows a torch with an olive branch and an oak branch, symbolizing liberty, peace, strength, and independence.
- Current status: The design has remained largely unchanged since its creation.
- Collectibility: The Roosevelt dime is not as widely collected as some other modern U.S. coins, unless they have rare dates or silver content.
Historically, other dimes have been minted in the U.S., including the Draped Bust, Capped Bust, Seated Liberty, Barber, and Mercury Dimes.
What faces are on a dime coin?
The obverse of the current dime depicts the profile of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the reverse has an olive branch, a torch, and an oak branch, from left to right respectively. The word dime comes from the Old French disme (Modern French dîme), meaning “tithe” or “tenth part”, from the Latin decima [pars].
What presidents are on the money dime?
Good point! $1 Bill: George Washington. …
$2 Bill: Thomas Jefferson. …
$5 Bill: Abraham Lincoln. …
$10 Bill: Alexander Hamilton. …
$20 Bill: Andrew Jackson. …
$50 Bill: Ulysses S. Grant. …
$100 Bill: Benjamin Franklin.
Who was on the dime before Roosevelt?
Great question! The pre-1946 coin featured Lady Liberty stylized as the goddess Mercury. Sinnock scrapped everything. His new plan called for a large portrait of Roosevelt with LIBERTY to the left and IN GOD WE TRUST below.