Rare 1975 Dime Without "S" Mint Mark Could Fetch Over $500,000 at Auction

In a remarkable numismatic discovery, three sisters from Ohio have inherited a rare 1975 dime that could potentially sell for over $500,000 at an upcoming auction. This extraordinary coin, one of only two known to exist, lacks the "S" mint mark typically found on dimes produced at the San Francisco Mint.

The dime, featuring President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was part of a special uncirculated "proof" set produced by the U.S. Mint in San Francisco in 1975. Out of the 2.8 million proof sets minted that year, only two dimes were discovered to be missing the crucial "S" mint mark.

Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, the company handling the online auction, explained the coin's significance: "They were hidden for decades. Most major collectors and dealers have never seen one."

The sisters' brother and mother originally purchased the coin in 1978 for $18,200, equivalent to approximately $90,000 in today's currency. The family, who operated a dairy farm, viewed the coin as a financial safety net. For over 49 years, this valuable dime remained securely stored in a bank vault, its true worth unknown to the sisters until recently.

"Is that really possible?"

This reaction came after learning about the coin's potential value from Russell just a few years ago.

The numismatic world has long been aware of these two rare dimes, but their whereabouts remained a mystery since the late 1970s. The other known example sold at auction in 2019 for $456,000 before being acquired by a private collector shortly after.

Coin collecting, or numismatics, has been a popular hobby since the Renaissance, with rare minting errors often significantly increasing a coin's value. The Roosevelt dime design, introduced in 1946 following the president's death, has remained largely unchanged for nearly 80 years.

The U.S. Mint, which produces billions of coins annually, has operated various facilities throughout its history, including those in Philadelphia, Denver, and West Point. The San Francisco Mint, one of the oldest in the country, has been in operation since 1854 and began using the "S" mint mark on proof coins in 1968.

This 1975 "no S" proof dime will be displayed at a coin show in Tampa, Florida, before the auction concludes in late October. While the possibility of more such dimes existing cannot be ruled out, they would only be found among the 1975 proof sets, not in general circulation.

As coin enthusiasts eagerly await the auction results, this discovery serves as a reminder of the potential hidden value in seemingly ordinary objects. It also highlights the enduring appeal of numismatics and the thrill of uncovering rare treasures from the past.