Modern coins. They are dynamic and diverse and represent the most inclusive of numismatic landscapes to date. Although this new era of coins does not appeal to some, the general coin hobby believes in its special qualities and the history that backs it up. The best representation of modern coinage is front in center in Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins publication. Assembled from the authors’ numismatic knowledge in addition to the consultation by some of the hobby’s most influential coin dealers, the list was comprised and has been updated in a number of editions that have followed.
This series is designed to breakdown the selections based on the revised and most recent version of the list that appears in the fourth edition written by Scott Schechter and Jeff Garrett. First up, we will look at the 1996 W Roosevelt Dime and its significance to today’s coin climate.
#22 - 1996 W Roosevelt Dime
We the collective coin hobby are no stranger to 50th Anniversary celebrations this year as the Apollo 11 commemoration struck early this January and will continue on until its official date in July. The 1996 W release of the Roosevelt dime was an observation of the 50th Anniversary of the coin designed by the eighth Chief Engraver of the United States, John R. Sinnock.
The dime was first issued in 1946 and was a nod to President Franklin D. Roosevelt who had died a year prior during his fourth term in office. The obverse featured the head of Roosevelt turned to the left with the words ‘LIBERTY’ following the curve of the upper left rim and ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ at the lower left of the coin. The ‘1996 W’ is featured at the lower right of the depiction of the President. The reverse depicts a lit torch in the center surrounded by olive and oak branches. ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’ follows the top arc of the coin while ‘ONE DIME’ follows the bottom arc. ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM’ is woven in between the branches at the bottom of the torch.
Much like today’s ‘W’ mintmark placement on the circulating 2019 quarters released earlier this year in addition to the United States Mint’s release of three special edition 2019 W Lincoln Cents, the West Point Mint struck this special edition issue of the Roosevelt dime in celebration of its 50 years. This dime release was the first circulating coin to feature the West Point mintmark, but it did not get circulated as one would think. Much like 2019’s Clad Proof Set, Silver Proof Set, and Uncirculated Mint Set, it was only released with the 1996 Mint set as an additional coin in its annual release. Again, much like today’s special edition 2019 W Lincoln cents, you could only get this special strike Roosevelt dime in the 1996 Mint Set.
With the limited nature of purchasing such a special option, the Mint only recorded a sale of a little over 1.4 million sets. The mintage of this dime? The lowest of any uncirculated Roosevelt dime to date. It is also the only clad coin the feature the ‘W’ mintmark and is one of only three commemorative dimes issued from the US Mint.
The 1996 W has only moved down one spot since its first edition rankings in 2011 (21).