How Much is a 1943 Dime Worth? (Price Chart)

A 1943-dime value is low compared to other coins, and they may be worth only face value. However, with some patience, you just might find a dealer who will buy it for the silver content in 1943 or earlier years.

So, what’s the 1943-dime value? Silver dimes are made of 90% pure silver, and if your coin is 35% silver. 1943 silver dime value starts at $1.26 and goes up depending on the condition, mintmark, and scarcity of the coin.

In this post, see the numismatic value of the silver and mercury dimes. Also, find out the dime’s features and where to buy or sell.

What Is The 1943 Dime?

The 1943 dime is a silver dime minted in the United States in 1943. These coins are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, which distinguish them from other dimes made out of nickel and copper.

The US mint made the 1943 dime from early January to mid-February of that year. It is not seen in circulation today because there are only a few hundred estimated to survive today out of the thousands that were initially struck.

The coin’s manganese alloy made it look different from regular dimes, hence its nickname, “the wartime dime.”

Although the 1943-dated dime was minted in Denver and San Francisco with 90% silver, it was also minted in Philadelphia with no silver content as an emergency measure due to wartime coin shortages. This Philadelphia version is the one that is most commonly found in pocket change today.

All three versions were struck using the same dies, and there are no distinguishing marks of one version over another. The 1943-dated dime can be differentiated by its composition, weight, and size from other dimes minted before or after.

History Of The 1943 Dime 

The San Francisco Mint struck dimes in 1943 for just one year due to the World War II shortage of metals. The US Mint stopped making silver coins during WWII but did produce copper pennies.

1943 silver dimes were made during World War II to replace the copper-nickel version. Soldiers needed copper and nickel for ammunition and other military equipment. The coins were never intended for circulation.

A few people had claimed that when they opened a bank bag full of these 1943 coins, they found it stuffed with newspaper. This made sense to people since there was so much scrap paper available due to wartime needs.

This saved the 1943 dimes from circulation as well as kept them in pristine condition. Even today, finding these coins in their original packaging is not unusual.

Some people do collect just junk silver coins, and this includes circulated old silver change. The prices of a cash like this depend on its mintage, scarcity, condition, and how much scrap silver they can get for it when they sell.

Features Of 1943 Dime Value Coin

In general, the 1943 Dime has 40% silver 60% copper with a total silver weight of around 0.078 troy ounces. It has the Roosevelt dime design created by John R. Sinnock and first issued in 1946, which is the third smallest denomination of coin in size measuring 17.9mm x 1.35mm.

Portrait

The 1943 dime has a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt shown in profile wearing his famous glasses

Obverse (head) features

Also inscribed on the front side of the dime is the motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” This is what sets US coins apart from other countries where their coinage may not carry this motto.

FDR (Liberty – Head of Roosevelt)

“IN GOD WE TRUST” (Motto written above FDR’s head)

“LIBERTY” (Slogan written below FDR)

Reverse (tail) features,

As usual, Lady Liberty is shown facing left and wearing a Phrygian cap that symbolizes freedom. Since this coin was minted during wartime, only the word “LIBERTY” is found on the headband.

If she were facing right and had “IN GOD WE TRUST” written across her coronet, it would indicate a coin struck at San Francisco.

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Two webbed lines go horizontally across the center, two olive branches on either side of these lines, and then a circle around this with 13 stars in that circle.

This was to show how many states were officially recognized under the Constitution. The coin’s mintmark is found here as well, if it has one.

Mintmark on the 1943 Dime

In 1943, there were no mintmarks used on dimes that were struck at the Philadelphia mint. The only marking on these are found on the reverse under the wreath and above the “N” or “S” in America, indicating where it was minted.

Look for the mintmark on the reverse of your coin just under the bow in the wreath. If there is no mintmark there, it was struck at Philadelphia, also known as No Mintmark.

The San Francisco Mint did not use a letter but used an S within diamond found on the reverse under the wreath next to N in America. 1943 Dime Value coins from San Francisco will bring a higher premium than those made at Philadelphia even if they have been circulated more and are considered less valuable.

Metal used

An average 1943 dime is 40% silver and 60% copper, with a total silver weight of around 0.078 troy ounces. This makes this coin worth more than its face value which is only: $0.10.

Weight and dimensions

The standard weight for this coin will be 2.50 grams with dimensions of 17.9mm by 1.35mm. It should weigh precisely 2.5 grams. If it’s off, then look elsewhere because it might not be authentic.

Value Of The 1943-Dime Value

A tenth of a dollar isn’t much, but a dime is worth more than its face value. The silver content, rarity, and design give the 1943 dime more value than its denomination.

Denominational value of the dime

How much is written on a 1943 Dime? What’s the face value of a dime? A dime is a tenth of a dollar, or $0.10.

How much is the metal in 1943 Dime Value coin worth?

The melt value of a 1943 Mercury Dime is currently about 2 cents, one cent for the copper and another cent for the Nickel. The 1943 dime is 90% silver.

The actual intrinsic value of a 1943 Mercury Dime is about 2 cents, but they are worth about $1.7 to $3+ as collectibles.

How much is the 1943 Dime Value coin at the pawnshop?

The 1943-dime value is $1.20 at the pawnshop.

Comparison Table showing the value of coin 1943 Dime Value

CONDITION/YEAR OF MINTING	1943	1943 D	1943 S
Good	$1.71	$1.71	$1.71
Fine	$1.85	$1.85	$1.85
Extremely Fine	$2.06	$2.06	$2.06
Uncirculated	$4.83	$5.70	$6.10

Factors That Influence The Value Of Coin 1943 Dime Value

The price of a coin varies depending on its rarity, excellent condition and demand. Here are factors to look at whenever you’re buying the 1943 time.

Rarity

The 1943 dime is one of the most famous pieces of U.S. currency to collect and is in high demand by coin enthusiasts worldwide. However, the wartime issue was restricted to only 10% of its pre-war mintage, and it became challenging for people who wanted these coins because there were no spare parts available at that time.

To make things worse, President Roosevelt ordered people in possession of silver to hand over their dimes before January 1944 or face jail sentences. Due to such strict policies imposed on producing new coins, only 484 million dimes were circulated.

Grade

The condition of a coin will always influence the value of the 1943 dime. Higher-grade coins tend to be more expensive than damage or poorly preserved specimens, regardless of scarcity and demand.

For example, there are only 19 known specimens in uncirculated condition, and one shines with exceptional quality. In addition, adding mintmarks such as ‘D’ for Denver and ‘S’ for San Francisco also enhances the value of any coin because these marks indicate that it was made at a different branch mint.

Mintage

The higher number of mintage figures in 1943 dime may increase the price if you manage to find pure silver coins during your search. However, most coins were struck using either steel covered by nickel or copper-nickel alloy. These specimens are less valuable than the real silver coins but still have more value than other clad coins.

Mintmarks added

Whether you’re looking for proof-like surfaces or dull toning on your coin, the mintmark should be an essential factor when you decide how much your 1943 dime is worth before buying it from either an online dealer or a local seller. Below are some examples:

San Francisco Mint (S) – As one of four branch mints used in 1943, the coins produced in San Francisco have distinctive mintmarks, ‘S.’ The prices for these specimens are higher than those of the Denver Mint, which was also made vast numbers of dimes that year.

The Philadelphia Mint (P) – This is the main branch mint, and most 1943-dime Values tend to be slightly lower than the rest only because of its larger output.

How new and clean

Clean and shiny 1943 dime Value can depict how well preserved a specific coin is. So, if you want to get the best deal on this money piece regardless of its demand, choose one with proof-like surfaces that resemble mirrors.

Conclusion: Is The 1943-Dime Value Worth It?

The 1943 Dime is an American ten-cent piece. It was minted for circulation during World War II and only one year before the end of the war. The value of a 1943 dime averages around $3 in well-worn grades. In other words, the coin is worth $1.6 to $3 if it’s heavily worn on both sides.

Do you have any questions about the 1943 dime? Be sure to contact us!