The Roosevelt Dime, The Unsung Hero

I am sorry but I will always stand up and vocalize for the FDR dime. This is primarily because of the advocacy of the march of dimes launched by him that resulted in the reclamation of not only enjoyment of summer for children in the USA but also helped fund research that has nearly eradicated polio on the planet.

I was, thankfully, not affected by polio but I did live around those that were.

I say continue with the obverse. I like Mercury dimes but, really, if you are that much in support of a Roman God of financial gain why not just put him on the $10 bill?

I think that if you put your mind toward the significance of the March of Dimes you can appreciate that collection of Roosevelt dimes might have the added obligation of recognizing that you might want to consider donation to a worthy cause.

If you don't want to collect them, then at least contribute them to a cause you are interested in.

I am also biased because I share a common ancestor with FDR so there is that.

I like the Roosevelt a great deal as a collectable. About 80% of the US population was born since its inception and more than 95% of collectors have grown up with the coin.

It has remained essentially unchanged other than the switch in materials, moving mint marks to the obverse and the introduction of the P and W mint marks. While the silvers were heavily collected even in BU and worn coins are mostly still with us the clads have not been very heavily saved, especially in choice condition. There are some very rare coins in the series from overmintmarks to proofs struck at the San Francisco mint without mintmarks. The mint even got caught failing to put a "P" on some of the 1982 dimes. Some neat varieties even show upin mint sets like the '69- D/D.

A complete set in chBU condition can be assembled for next to nothing and a Gem set can be done on a shoestring. Significant rarities exist in the series if you desire FB's or superb Gems. There are also a virtually complete set of PL's available with effort.

The series has never been verypopular even back in the silver days; people saved the coins much more than people collected them. This leaves open the near certainty that more varieties and rarities will be discovered.

It could be a while until enough interest exists to have much effect on prices but in the meantime you can pick up great coins for next to nothing.

I too collected an unc set silver Roosevelt dimes in a Dansco. I may yet start collecting the clads.




fyi

Roosevelt dimes are my first collection passion. I have yet to get very invested in cents. I'm almost done with a mostly circulated Roosevelt collection, which will be my first finished set of any coin.

I have a clad, circulated Roosevelt set completed by going through change. Only took a few months, as I had a jar of dimes kept over a 4 year period to go through. I am with Cladking, there are some real conditional rarities out there. I am currently trying to put together a full set of FT/FB Roosevelts, and there are a lot of years where the pickings are slim at best.
Upside is that the costs are low compared to other sets, so I hope the set doesn't "wake up" before I get my set complete. I think I am about 20 percent finished now.

Apex - Great example, and -



to the CCF!

A buddy of mine is huge in rosies and we trade 2 for 1 when I get S mints.
Works for both of us.