1953 Roosevelt Dime

In 1953, tens of millions of Roosevelt dimes were struck to meet the needs of a growing U.S. economy as well as the demands of numismatists, who had grown quite fond of the Roosevelt dime as it entered its eighth year of production. When the Roosevelt dime was first released, it met immediate success among a population of Americans who were mourning the loss of a president that many looked up to during the throes of the Great Depression and the horrors of World War II.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had suffered from polio, founded the March of Dimes, and was appropriately honored on the obverse of the dime. On the reverse is a flaming torch that represents Liberty, an oak branch that symbolizes strength and dependence, and an olive branch that signifies peace.

Below is a rundown of mintages for the 1953 Roosevelt dime: 

• 1953 – 53,490,120; $3

• 1953-D – 136,433,000; $3

• 1953-S – 39,180,000; $3

• 1953 proof – 128,800; $45

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

1953 proof Roosevelt dimes are among the most valuable dimes from that year, though they are not considered as necessary for inclusion in a “complete” date-and-mintmark set of regular-issue Roosevelt dimes.