The coins in my pocket rarely commands attention anymore. Like most Americans, I’ve developed the habit of tossing spare change into jars, cup holders, or between couch cushions without a second glance. But after a chance conversation with veteran coin dealer Tom Bergeron at a local flea market last month, I’ve never looked at my pocket change the same way again.
“Most people don’t know they could be working with retirement funds,” Bergeron said to me as he held up a tray of what appeared to be plain coins. He raised a faded dime, squinting at it through his loupe. “This little 1949-S? Worth around forty dollars even in this shape. And it was still in circulation until someone who knew what they were doing picked it out.”
This discovery put me on a rabbit hole of numismatic exploration, with two varieties of coins that many Americans still find circulating: rare dimes and those commemorative Bicentennial coins minted for America’s 200th anniversary. What I learned could make you second-guess that loose change.
Rare Dimes That Could Make You Rich
1. The 1916-D Mercury Dime: The Holy Grail
Value Range: $1,000 – $250,000
The unchallenged monarch of scarce dimes in the United States is the 1916-D Mercury dime. Only 264,000 were struck at the Denver mint—a mere handful of the millions coined at other mints during that year—making this dime the anchor date in the entire Mercury series.
Most 1916-D dimes were in circulation before collectors caught on to their value,” said Sarah Jenkins, whose family operated a coin store in Boston since 1962. “By the time people knew how scarce they were, most had already been worn out from circulation.
Even the very worn examples are selling for over $1,000, while mint uncirculated examples have sold for well over $200,000 in auction. Jenkins told the tale of a laborer who discovered one in his grandfather’s dresser drawer and invested the funds to make a down payment on his first home.
The telltale identifier? Check for the tiny “D” mint mark on the back, just below the bundle of sticks called fasces. While discovering one in circulation today would be lottery-ticket fortune, they do pop up every now and then in old collections, estate sales, and dusty coin jars.
2. The 1942/1 Mercury Dime Overdate Error
Value Range: $500 – $15,000
Maybe the most celebrated “error” on American dimes was when a 1942 die was inadvertently punched over a 1941 die. This produced an overdate variety in which the outlines of the “1” can still be seen under the “2” of the date.
“Catching the Mint with its pants down,” guffawed longtime collector Mike Hernandez, displaying his treasure to me. “You can obviously see they attempted to correct their error but weren’t able to cover it up.”
This was done at both the Philadelphia (no mint mark) and Denver (D mint mark) mints, although the Denver version is considerably scarcer and more valuable. Under close examination, the ghostly “1” below the “2” is visible, forming what numismatists refer to as a “dramatic overdate.”
Although these coins have been collected for many years, rendering circulation less and less likely, they do sometimes appear in bank rolls or in collections where the mistake was not discovered.
3. The 1955 “Bugs Bunny” Franklin Half Dollar
Value Range: $50 – $2,500
Not a dime, but this scarce half dollar variety is worthy of note for its availability and unique appearance. The “Bugs Bunny” moniker is named for a die clash error that produced what seems to be buck teeth on Franklin’s image—similar to the iconic cartoon rabbit.
“It’s one of those mistakes that once you notice it, you can’t unknow it,” said error coin expert James Wilson. “Franklin appears to be going to say, ‘What’s up, Doc?’ It’s both worth money and funny, so it’s particularly well-liked by collectors.”
The mistake was caused by the obverse and reverse dies colliding with each other without a planchet (blank coin) in between. This collision transferred some of the design features from one die to the other, giving it the characteristic look.
What makes this mistake so noteworthy is that several examples still persisted through the 1960s and 70s before giving way to Kennedy half dollars. Some still regularly pop up in bank rolls, old collections, and even cash registers—especially in rural locations where half dollars are used more often.
Bicentennial Coins Worth Fortunes
4. The 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Double Die Obverse
Value Range: $25 – $400
The Bicentennial quarter, which features the colonial drummer reverse design and the dual dates of 1776-1976, was produced in massive amounts. A variety exists, though, which features strong doubling on the obverse (heads side), especially noticeable in the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Frank Wilson, who owns a coin store just outside Philadelphia, demonstrated examples under intense magnification. “Notice how the letters appear to be casting shadows? That’s the doubling effect from the die being struck twice at slightly off positions.”
This misprint is subtle enough that countless examples probably still circulate, awaiting a diligent discoverer. Condition and doubling strength are the sole determinants of value, with uncirculated examples fetching the highest premiums.
“I discovered one in my register at work,” said convenience store clerk Jesse Martinez. “A customer purchased a soda with it, and I replaced it with one from my wallet. Had it appraised at $85 due to its pristine condition. Not bad for a quarter!”
5. Bicentennial Quarter Struck on Silver Planchet
Value Range: $200 – $7,000
Regular Bicentennial quarters were struck for circulation on copper-nickel planchets, while a special collector version was produced using a 40% silver composition. However, mint errors exist where regular circulation dies were used with silver planchets.
“They’re instantly recognizable by weight,” explained Marta Jimenez, who’s been collecting error coins for two decades. “A regular quarter weighs 5.67 grams, while the silver version weighs 5.75 grams. That small difference represents thousands in value.”
These incorrect-planchet mistakes tend to exhibit unique features near the rim, where the silver content is evident without the copper-nickel “sandwich” look of normal quarters.
Though extremely uncommon in circulation today, they do turn up from time to time in broken-up old proof and mint sets or in collections where the importance was not appreciated.
How to Check Your Change
After spending months researching these valuable coins, I’ve developed a routine for checking my pocket change that takes just seconds but could potentially yield remarkable discoveries:
Step 1: Learn the Key Dates
Familiarize yourself with the most valuable dates and mint marks for each coin type. For dimes, pay special attention to:
- 1916-D Mercury dimes
- 1942/1 overdates (both Philadelphia and Denver)
- 1949-S Roosevelt dimes
- 1921 and 1921-D Mercury dimes
For Bicentennial coins, inspect all quarters, half dollars, and dollars bearing the 1776-1976 date for errors and peculiar traits.
Step 2: Use Adequate Lighting
Natural light or a strong desk lamp is the ideal setting for detecting subtle flaws such as the doubled die Bicentennial quarter.
Step 3: Use Magnification
A basic jeweler’s loupe (5x to 10x power) uncovers details not visible to the naked eye. These low-cost devices are necessary for detecting valuable varieties.
Step 4: Check the Mint Marks
The location of mint marks varies by coin type and era:
- On Mercury dimes (1916-1945), look on the reverse below the fasces.
- On Roosevelt dimes (1946-present), look on the obverse above the date.
- On Bicentennial quarters, look on the obverse beneath Washington’s portrait.
Step 5: Weigh Suspicious Coins
A simple digital scale accurate to 0.01 gram can help identify silver coins and wrong-planchet errors. “Most people’s toughest job is to train themselves to actually see their change,” said Carolyn Martinez, who instructs coin collecting merit badges to troops of Scouts. “We’re so used to handling coins as if they’re basically worthless that we overlook possible treasures.”
Beyond the Money: The Thrill of the Hunt
What impressed me most in my research wasn’t the possible monetary gain from discovering rare coins. It was the enthusiasm of the collectors and hunters I encountered—individuals who sift through coin rolls at banks weekly, who go to shows and swap meets, who get a real thrill every time they find something out of the ordinary.
It links you to history in a physical sense,” said 82-year-old Lewis Montgomery, who has been collecting since the 1940s. “When I hold a Mercury dime, I’m holding something that could have been in the pocket of a person who served in World War II or worked in a factory during the Depression.
For most, the search itself is worth many times the face value of the coins they consider. And sometimes that entertainment comes with a special bonus—a coin worth hundreds or thousands of times its spending value.
This attitude was shared by almost everyone I spoke to. The money-making potential draws people in at first, but the historical significance holds them to the hobby for decades.
Getting Started on Your Hunt – Top 5 Rare Dimes and Bicentennial Coins
If you’ve been inspired by this article to sort through your change for collectible coins, here are some useful steps to start your search:
- Collect Your Change: Empty out the jars and coin rolls, and begin to sort through what you already have.
- Obtain a Reference Guide: A simple coin guide with pictures and mint mark positions is invaluable for newcomers.
- Participate in Online Communities: Sites such as Coin Talk and the Reddit community r/coins provide supportive communities where newcomers can upload images and receive identification assistance.
- Stop by local coin shops: Dealers tend to be happy to impart knowledge, particularly with new, enthusiastic people.
- Never Clean Your Coins: This is worth repeating—cleaning can drastically decrease a coin’s value. Even light cleaning can strip away the natural patina that collectors value.
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Tom Bergeron, the dealer who began me on this path, provided me with this last bit of wisdom: “The best time to begin checking your change was 50 years ago. The second best time is today.” So the next time you get change from a purchase, take a second to actually examine what you’re holding.
That distinctive quarter with the drummer boy or that worn silver dime might just be your ticket to an unexpected windfall. At the very least, you’ll develop a deeper appreciation for the historical artifacts passing through our hands every day—small metal time capsules connecting us to America’s past that might also secure a bit of your financial future.
FAQs:-
What makes these rare dimes and Bicentennial coins so valuable?
These coins are valuable due to their rarity, minting errors, and historical significance, making them highly sought after by collectors.
How can I check if I have one of these rare coins?
Look for key dates, mint marks, and unique errors, then verify with a coin expert or price guide.
Where can I sell a rare dime or Bicentennial coin?
You can sell them through coin dealers, auctions, online marketplaces, or numismatic events for the best price.