By an expert in coin collecting, numismatics, and precious metals

Most collectors chasing key dates and high-silver content coins tend to overlook coins like the 1967 Roosevelt Dime. Lacking precious metal and struck by the millions, it doesn’t scream rarity or value. But when viewed through a numismatist’s lens, the 1967 dime reveals itself as an artifact of transition—both technological and monetary—and a subtle but meaningful part of any serious U.S. coin collection.

A Decade of Change: Why 1967 Matters

The 1960s were turbulent economically and politically, and America’s coinage reflected that. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from circulating dimes and quarters. By 1967, the U.S. Mint was still adapting to this shift, striking coins in a copper-nickel clad alloy while navigating widespread hoarding of silver-era coins. This context makes the 1967 dime historically significant—it was part of the first generation of modern base-metal coins that permanently redefined U.S. money.

Though often lumped in with pocket change, these coins represent a clear demarcation in U.S. monetary policy: the move from intrinsic metal value to fiat trust.

No Mint Mark—But Not an Error

Unlike most U.S. coins, the 1967 Roosevelt Dime carries no mint mark. That wasn’t a mistake. From 1965 to 1967, the U.S. Mint deliberately omitted mint marks from all circulating coinage to discourage hoarding and speed up production. This policy applied to all denominations. So while some collectors may assume that a “no mint mark” dime from 1967 is an error or rare variant, it’s actually the norm.

That said, the lack of mint mark tells a broader story: the Mint’s effort to regain control of the currency system after silver’s removal and to standardize production across mints.

Composition and Design: Familiar but Fundamental

The 1967 dime, like all Roosevelt dimes since mid-1965, is struck in a clad composition: an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core. It weighs 2.27 grams and has a 17.91 mm diameter with a reeded edge—standard specs still used today.

Its design, created by John R. Sinnock, remains unchanged: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s profile on the obverse, with the words “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and the date. The reverse shows a torch flanked by olive and oak branches, representing liberty, peace, and strength.

Although familiar, the Roosevelt Dime series is among the longest-running in American numismatics, and coins like the 1967 issue help maintain continuity and national symbolism.

Value and Collectibility

Let’s be blunt: Most circulated 1967 dimes are worth just face value. They were struck by the hundreds of millions, and their base-metal composition gives them no intrinsic melt value. However, coins in Mint State or from the 1967 Special Mint Set (SMS) series command premiums—especially those with strong strikes or cameo contrast.

The real value lies in condition and designation:

• Circulated examples: Worth 10 to 25 cents.
• Uncirculated (MS65+): May reach $10–$50.
• Special Mint Set (SMS) examples with Deep Cameo contrast: Upwards of $500–$9,000 at auction.

The SMS dimes, created during the U.S. Mint’s temporary halt on proof coins (1965–1967), are particularly notable. These coins were better struck than standard circulation strikes and are often highly lustrous with satin or cameo finishes. High-grade SMS coins—especially those designated “Deep Cameo”—are the true prize for collectors.

A Transitional Coin with a Role to Play

The 1967 Roosevelt Dime might not be the centerpiece of a high-end numismatic portfolio, but it serves a purpose. It helps collectors understand the full arc of U.S. coinage history: from precious metal coinage to the modern fiat system, from mint-marked regional identity to centralized national production.

In many ways, the 1967 dime represents the democratization of U.S. currency—a coin that everyone had in their pocket, produced during a time of rapid change.

Collectors looking to build complete Roosevelt dime sets—or track the evolution of minting technology—shouldn’t overlook this coin. Its value isn’t always monetary, but historical and contextual. It’s a coin that tells a quiet but essential story.

Final Thoughts

If you’re sorting through your change jar or inherited coin stash and come across a 1967 dime, don’t rush to spend it. It might not be rare or silver-laden, but it holds a small, dignified place in the story of American coinage. For the discerning collector, high-grade specimens and SMS issues offer affordable entry points into a fascinating historical moment.

For others, it’s simply a reminder that even the most common coins are worth a second look.