Linda Ramirez wasn’t expecting much when she inherited her grandfather’s old coin jar—mostly just sentimental value from a man who’d saved pocket change for decades.
While sorting through the collection at her kitchen table in Albuquerque, she spotted a dime that looked oddly different from the others.
“It had this unusual, almost ghostly double image on the lettering,” Ramirez recalls. “I almost spent it on laundry before deciding to have it checked out at a local coin shop.”
That casual decision changed her life. The dime—a 1942/1 Mercury dime with a rare overdate error—was valued at $7,500, enough to help with her daughter’s college tuition that fall.
“My grandfather always said to pay attention to the small things,” Ramirez says with a smile. “I guess he meant that literally when it came to his coin collection.”
Stories like Ramirez’s fuel the dreams of coin collectors and casual hobbyists alike. While most dimes and quarters in circulation are worth exactly their face value, certain rare varieties and errors can command thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Here’s a look at five extraordinarily valuable dimes and a special Bicentennial quarter that might be hiding in your spare change, coin jar, or inherited collection.
The 1894-S Barber Dime: The Million-Dollar Dime
Estimated Value: $1,000,000 – $2,000,000
The holy grail of rare dimes, the 1894-S Barber dime represents an almost mythical find for collectors. With only 24 originally minted and just 9 confirmed to exist today, this coin’s rarity is nearly unmatched in American numismatics.
“The 1894-S is legendary not just for its rarity but for its story,” explains James Wilson, curator at the American Numismatic Society.
“San Francisco Mint Superintendent John Daggett reportedly had these struck to balance the mint’s accounting books. He gave three to his daughter, telling her to save them until she was older because they’d be valuable. According to numismatic lore, she spent one on ice cream on the way home.”
That impulsive ice cream purchase would prove costly—these dimes now sell for seven figures when they rarely appear at auction. The last public sale in 2016 saw one example fetch $1.9 million.
What makes this story particularly compelling is that numismatists believe a few 1894-S dimes remain unaccounted for, potentially still in circulation or forgotten in old collections.
“It’s the dream of every collector that one might turn up in an estate sale or forgotten bank vault,” notes Wilson. “While extraordinarily unlikely, it’s not impossible that someone could make a seven-figure discovery in a roll of dimes from their bank.”
The 1916-D Mercury Dime: The Collector’s Dream
Estimated Value: $5,000 – $200,000 (depending on condition)
When the new Mercury dime design debuted in 1916, the Denver mint produced only 264,000 specimens—a tiny fraction of the millions struck at other mints that year. This limited mintage occurred because the Denver facility focused on quarter production instead.
“The 1916-D is the key date that completes most Mercury dime collections,” says coin dealer Martha Chen. “In 45 years of business, I’ve had collectors spend decades searching for an acceptable example. Even heavily worn specimens sell for thousands.”
Frank Thompson, a retired electrician from Chicago, recalls finding one in his father’s collection in the 1970s. “Dad had collected coins casually for years, tossing interesting ones in a cigar box.
When I started getting serious about collecting, I went through his box and nearly fell over when I spotted the 1916-D. It wasn’t in great shape, but it still appraised for $3,200 in 1978—about four months’ salary for me back then.”
Today, well-preserved examples regularly command $50,000 or more, with perfect uncirculated specimens occasionally exceeding $200,000 at auction.
The 1942/1 Mercury Dime: The Wartime Error
Estimated Value: $500 – $75,000 (depending on condition)
During World War II, as the U.S. Mint rushed to produce coins for the wartime economy, a fascinating error occurred. When creating dies for 1942 Mercury dimes, mint employees accidentally punched a “2” over a “1,” creating what numismatists call an overdate.
This mistake is visible under magnification, with the “1” clearly visible underneath the “2” in the date. The error occurred at both the Philadelphia and Denver mints, with the Philadelphia variety being more common but still quite rare.
“The 1942/1 overdate is one of those errors that captures the historical moment,” explains Wilson. “You can imagine the pressure at the mint during wartime production, and this error gives us a tangible connection to that period.”
Robert Chen, who completed a Mercury dime collection in 2018, spent over a decade searching for a premium 1942/1.
“Finding one in circulated condition is challenging enough, but locating a mint-state example is extraordinarily difficult. I finally found mine at a coin show in Dallas after years of looking.”
These overdates now sell for $500-$2,000 in worn condition, while pristine uncirculated specimens can bring $50,000 or more at auction.
The 1968 No-S Roosevelt Dime: The Modern Rarity
Estimated Value: $20,000 – $50,000
Not all valuable dimes are antiques. The 1968 No-S proof dime resulted from a modern mint error when proof coins (special editions made for collectors) were struck without the “S” mintmark that should have appeared to indicate they were made in San Francisco.
“Fewer than 20 authentic examples are known to exist,” notes Chen. “These would only be found in proof sets sold directly to collectors in 1968, not in circulation.
What makes them particularly interesting is that the error was discovered quickly but not before some reached the public.”
This modern rarity demonstrates that valuable coins continue to be created, with some errors escaping even modern quality control processes. Examples in original government packaging have sold for over $30,000 at recent auctions.
The 1975 No-S Roosevelt Dime: The Rarest Modern Proof
Estimated Value: $450,000+
Even rarer than its 1968 counterpart, the 1975 No-S Roosevelt dime is considered one of the rarest modern American coins, with only two examples confirmed to exist. Like the 1968 version, these were proof coins mistakenly struck without the “S” mintmark.
“The extreme rarity comes from the fact that mint employees caught the error very early in production,” explains Martinez. “Both known examples were discovered in proof sets purchased directly from the mint.”
The most recent public sale of a 1975 No-S dime occurred in 2019, when one sold for a staggering $456,000, making it the most valuable modern dime by a significant margin.
“What’s fascinating about the 1975 No-S is that it shouldn’t exist in private hands at all,” notes Wilson. “The mint caught the error almost immediately, yet somehow two examples escaped.
It makes you wonder if more might be out there, unrecognized in old proof sets tucked away in drawers or safe deposit boxes.”
The Bicentennial Quarter Double Die Obverse: The Unexpected Treasure
Estimated Value: $2,500 – $10,000 (depending on condition)
While most of America’s Bicentennial quarters—produced in 1975 and 1976 with the special colonial drummer reverse design—are worth exactly 25 cents, a rare minting error created a variety worth thousands.
The Double Die Obverse (DDO) Bicentennial quarter shows distinct doubling on the obverse lettering, particularly visible in “LIBERTY” and the date. This doubling occurred during the die-making process when the hub shifted slightly between impressions.
“The doubling is most apparent in the word ‘LIBERTY,’ where you can see clear separation in the lettering rather than just thickened letters,” explains numismatist Thomas Garcia. “Under magnification, it’s unmistakable on genuine examples.”
These quarters regularly sell for $2,500 to $7,500 depending on condition, with the finest specimens occasionally exceeding $10,000 at auction.
What makes them particularly exciting for collectors is that they were released into circulation, meaning examples could potentially be found in pocket change or coin jars.
Michael Johnson, a delivery driver from Portland, discovered one in 2019 while rolling coins from his change jar for a bank deposit. “I’ve always set aside Bicentennial quarters because I liked the design.
While rolling them, I noticed one looked different—the lettering seemed fuzzy compared to the others. When I checked with a magnifying glass, I could see the doubling. That coin ended up selling for $3,200, which was a life-changing amount for me at the time.”
How to Check Your Change
For those inspired to examine their own coins, experts offer several tips:
For Dimes:
Check dates carefully: Pay special attention to 1916-D Mercury dimes and 1942 dimes where the “2” might be punched over a “1.”
Examine mint marks: The small letters indicating where coins were minted (D for Denver, S for San Francisco, no mark for Philadelphia) can be crucial for identification.
Look for proof coins: While rare proof errors like the No-S dimes wouldn’t be found in circulation, they might be discovered in old proof sets purchased directly from the mint.
Use magnification: Many valuable varieties show details too small to see with the naked eye. A simple magnifying glass can reveal doubling, overdates, and other valuable features.
For Bicentennial Quarters:
Focus on the lettering: The Double Die Obverse shows most prominent doubling in “LIBERTY” and sometimes in the date.
Check many examples: Since over 1.7 billion Bicentennial quarters were minted, comparing multiple coins helps identify unusual characteristics.
Look beyond wear: Circulation wear can sometimes be confused with doubling. True doubled dies show consistent doubling in specific areas.
Consider authentication: For coins that appear to match valuable varieties, professional authentication through services like PCGS or NGC provides confirmation and often increases resale value.
Beyond the Financial: The Historical Connection
While the potential financial windfall from discovering a rare coin drives much collecting interest, many enthusiasts emphasize the historical connection these coins provide.
“When I hold a Mercury dime from the 1940s, I’m touching a piece of World War II history,” says Thompson. “Maybe it was carried by a factory worker building airplanes, or a family buying groceries under rationing. These coins witnessed American history firsthand.”
The Bicentennial quarter similarly connects collectors to America’s 200th birthday celebrations, a period of national reflection and patriotic revival after the tumultuous early 1970s.
This historical dimension adds depth to the hobby beyond mere treasure hunting, though the possibility of finding a four, five, or even six-figure coin in everyday change continues to captivate both serious collectors and casual observers.
5 Rare Dimes and a Bicentennial Quarter coins value
What makes searching for rare dimes and quarters particularly appealing is the democratic nature of the hobby—anyone with loose change can participate.
“I’ve had clients who made significant discoveries without spending a dime on the hobby,” Chen notes. “One of my most memorable customers was a cashier who noticed an unusual 1942/1 dime in her register and set it aside. That single coin paid for her entire first semester of community college.”
While the odds of finding an 1894-S Barber dime or 1975 No-S proof are infinitesimally small, more accessible rarities like the 1942/1 overdate or Bicentennial DDQ continue to be discovered in circulation, furnishing engaging stories of unexpected windfalls.
“That’s the magic of coin collecting,” concludes Wilson. “Every handful of change carries the possibility, however remote, of a life-changing discovery. Few hobbies offer that combination of historical connection, accessibility, and potential reward.”
So before dismissing that jar of coins on your dresser as mere pocket change, consider taking a closer look. Among those seemingly ordinary dimes and quarters might lurk an extraordinary treasure, waiting for an observant eye to recognize its true value.