Just as every coin collector dreams of finding that one special piece—a coin so rare, so unique—it could turn a modest collection into a half million dollar windfall. That dream turned into a reality for a lucky few who own a 1975 No S Proof Dime, a tiny ten cent that carries a price tag of up to $500,000 if it were to find itself on the auction block. Yes, you read that right: And half a million for a dime!!
What’s so special about this dime?
Imagine this: At the San Francisco Mint, millions of dimes roll off the presses tinted with the iconic “S” mint mark. In 1975, however, a tiny error made a few lucky dimes escape the presses without the mint mark. This little oversight made what would have been an ordinary dime into an incomprehensibly rare collector’s item.
Two of the 2.8 million dimes minted that year have been discovered lacking the “S.” Because of that, the 1975 No S Proof Dime is one of the rarest, most coveted coins in the collecting world. What makes this coin so special is how many more might still be out there and the sheer rarity to begin with.
What is a ‘proof set’ anyway?
If you’re new to the world of coin collecting, you might be wondering: What exactly is a proof set? According to simple terms, a proof set is a collection of coins that are more carefully fabricated. They’re not ordinary pocket change. These coins are particularly impressively struck many times with specially prepared dies, making them shapely struck, deep and sharp, which appear like a mirror. Collectors’ proof sets are produced and are usually sold directly by the U.S. Mint.
The fact that it was part of one of these sets makes the discovery all the more exciting, as the 1975 No S Proof Dime was always a favorite coin to break on. Never meant to be found on the street. Lovingly packaged and sold to collectors, some of whom knew they had a small fortune sitting in their hands.
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How did these No S Proof dimes slip through the cracks?
The U.S. Mint has made a few slips since 1968, accidentally minting “No S” Proof Dimes six separate times. In 1968, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1983, and 1990, these errors occurred. There have only been two found to date of the 1975 No S Proof Dime, which is by far the rarest of these dimes, as dozens of these dimes will hit the market in most previous years!
California coin collector Fred Vollmer first discovered and named this unique error in 1977. He had purchased several proof sets directly from the Mint, and one day, while inspecting his coins, he made an astonishing discovery: dime without the “S” mint mark! His find was one that excited the world of coinage, and after CoinWorld published an article about the 1975 No S Proof Dime, it became a buzzword. Eventually Vollmer sold one of his dimes to a fellow collector known as Ruth E., who kept the treasure for decades, waiting for the right time to bring the dimes to auction.
How can you find one of these rare dimes?
But why wouldn’t one of you be able to find a dime like this in your collection? It’s possible! This 1975 No. S Proof Dime wasn’t sitting in your spare change but was a dime in a proof set that was being sold to collectors across the U.S. And if you have a dusty proof set from the ‘70s tucked away in a drawer or attic, it’s worth a closer look.
Who knows? Some dime you thought was only worth a few cents could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The “S” mint mark means that if you find a 1975 dime in a proof set, it is a proof dime. Congrats—if it’s missing, you just might have a fortune sitting on your hands.
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What’s the 1975 No S Proof dime worth today?
Stash your hat, because this little coin is supposedly going to fetch more than $500,000 at auction. Bids for the 1975 No S Proof Dime are already up to $266,000 as of September and there are still months left to go before the auction closes. It’s no wonder there is excitement around this auction: collectors want that rare dime to add it to their collections.
GreatCollections Certified Coin and Paper Money Auctions are hosting the auction, which has the market attention of what is happening with the coin market at the moment. And it’s made more fevered by the fact that only two of these dimes have been found so far. Prices like these aren’t a bad reason for collectors to comb their old sets of proof sets trying to dig up another treasure.
Could your coin collection hold the next $500,000 dime?
In the quest for a rare gem as they exist, something like a 1975 No S Proof Dime, the dream of those who collect for coins is what keeps the hunt alive. And as a hobby numismatist, or someone who inherited a proof set from a relative, this is the time to check your collection. Who knows, sometimes that seemingly ordinary dime can turn into a life-changing jackpot!