If you have a change jar hanging in your home, you might want to take a closer look at the coins inside.
We all know how $2 bills, $1 bills or pennies can be worth more than their face value. But did you know that there are also some very valuable American dimes? These dimes, some as new as 1975 or as old as 1874, can be worth between several thousand dollars or more than $1 million.
Here’s what you need to know about the most valuable dimes and how to tell if your dimes are worth more than just 10 cents.
The most valuable dime is worth more than $1 million
The crown jewel of all dimes is the 1894-S Barber Dime. According to Gainesville Coins, the story goes that in 1894 the San Francisco Mint had an accounting deficit of $2.40. So the Chief Inspector of the Mint reportedly balanced a small sum of 24 proof dimes bearing the date 1894 and the mint mark ‘S’. the books. He then gave many of these dimes to his close friends and associates, including three to his daughter.
Only nine 1894-S proof Barber dimes have been counted today, and all will fetch more than $1 million when they cross the auction block. According to Bankurapolice, about a dime sold for $1.9 million in 2016.
Do you have a $2 bill? It could be worth a lot more than you think. This is why
Do you have these valuable dimes?
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1874-CC Liberty Seated Dime: $5,000
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1914-D Mercury Dime worth more than $3,000.
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1916-D Mercury Dime worth more than $10,000.
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1968-S no-S proof Roosevelt Dime worth $7,500.
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1975 no S Roosevelt Dime sold for about $450,000.
How to determine if your coins are worth anything
Obviously, the older a dime is, the more valuable it is. So be sure to look for something from the 19th or early 20th century.
Gainesville Coins says to look out for all pre-1965 Roosevelt dimes because they are 90% silver and worth much more than face value. Currency with errors can also be worth a lot, so keep an eye out for modern dimes without the S sign.
Here are some more tips from Gardening Soul:
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Use a magnifying glass to inspect the date, mint mark and overall condition of the coin.
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Consult a coin expert for a professional evaluation.
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Reference online resources: Websites such as the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or PCGS CoinFacts can help you assess a coin’s value.
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Have it reviewed: Send your coin to a certified grading service to determine its official condition and market value.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: These rare dimes are worth more than $1 million. How to check your dimes
