ROOSEVELT DIME

1946-1964

Designer: John R. Sinnock (See introductory notes)

Engraver: John R. Sinnock

Mints: Philadelphia 1946-1964 (No mintmark)

Denver 1946-1964 (D)

San Francisco 1946-1955 (S)

Specifications:

Weight---2.5 grams

90% silver (Net weight: .07234 oz. pure silver)

10% copper

Diameter: 17.9 mm., reeded edge (According to the U.S. Mint, there are

118 edge reeds on Roosevelt dimes from 1946 to present.)

1946

Comment: The most prolific year for die varieties, RPM's, and doubled die coins is 1946. It may have been the intentional rush for production of the Roosevelt dime (see comments in Introduction) or perhaps that mint employees were still celebrating the end of World War II, but for whatever reason this is the dream year for a Roosevelt dime variety collector. RPM's are numerous and can be found quite easily. In this text, several previously unpublished RPM varieties are shown and there are undoubtedly many more which have yet to be discovered. Doubled die varieties seem to be so numerous that a nearly complete listing will probably take decades to assemble. Additional comments will be found before the RPM and Doubled Die listings.

1946 (Philadelphia)

Mintage: 255,250,000 (All Types)

Type I: The "Y" of LIBERTY is far from the forelock. The JS

(designer's initials) is small, weak, and often indistinct.

Transitional Type: The "Y" of LIBERTY is far from the forelock.

The JS is larger, stronger, and quite distinct.

Type II: The "Y" of LIBERTY is close to the forelock. The JS is

large, bold, and distinct.

Far "Y" Near "Y"

Weak JS Strong JS

Author's Note: The "Transitional Type" is so named in an effort to respect Walter Breen's description of what are referred to as the Type I and the Type II Roosevelt dimes in his Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins. As the Type II design is that which was finally adopted, the term "Transitional Type" should suffice until Breen's work is updated. Perhaps at that time these different types will be listed as Type I, Type II, and Type III.

Other apparent changes which distinguish the Type I and Transitional Type from the Type II Roosevelt dime are those of slightly differing facial characteristics. Based on observation, the Type II design has a somewhat "fleshier" appearance than earlier designs. Modifications appear to include adopting a more rounded nose and increasing the size and shape of the jowl to give a more realistic and less chiseled profile.

Type I and Transitional Type Type II

The design of Roosevelt's nose was eventually changed to one which seems to be a compromise of the two earlier styles. It is less round than the Type II and has a small, flat angle on the end. This style seems to be the final choice and appears in following years.

Doubled Die List

PUP is an abbreviation for Pick Up Point. It refers to the area on a coin by which a given variety can be identified. PUP will be used throughout this text next to the descriptions of doubled die varieties.

1946 1-O-V-CW PUP: Medium spread on date, JS top to

bottom, neckline, and IN GOD WE

TRUST.

1946 2-O-V-CCW PUP: Medium doubling on date and

strong side by side doubling on JS.

1946 3-O-II-C PUP: Light doubling on entire obverse

including profile and eyeball.

1946 4-O-V-CW PUP: Strong spread on date, IN GOD WE

TRUST, LIBERTY, and JS top to

bottom.

Note: The reverse may also be

listed as 3-R-II-C+V-CW.

This coin is listed in the

Cherrypickers’ Guide by Fivaz

and Stanton as FS-011.4.

1946 5-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on date, IN GOD WE

TRUST, and JS top to bottom.

1946 6-O-I-CW PUP: Strong spread in date, JS top to

bottom, IN GOD WE TRUST. Light

spread on back of head and neck.

Note: This obverse has also been

paired with the reverse

identifiable as 4-R-II-C+V-CW.

1946 7-O-II-C PUP: Strong spread on date, IN GOD WE

+V-CW TRUST, base of bust, ear, and JS

top to bottom.

1946 8-O-V-CCW PUP: Strong spread on date, IN GOD WE

TRUST, JS, and bottom edge of

bust. Medium spread on LIBERTY.

1946 9-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on date, JS top to

bottom, TRUST, and base of bust.

1946 10-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on date, JS top to bottom,

and IN GOD WE TRUST.

1946 11-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on date, JS top to bottom,

and TRUST.

1946 12-O-V-CCW PUP: Medium spread on LIBERTY, front

profile, ear, eyelid, and hair

detail.

1946 13-O-II-C PUP: Medium spread on date and JS top to

bottom.

1946 14-O-V-CW PUP: Strong spread on date, JS top to

bottom, IN GOD WE TRUST, and

base of bust. Light on LI of LIBERTY

and back of neck.

1946 15-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on date, JS top to

bottom.

1946 16-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on LIBERTY with

strongest on RTY.

1946 17-O-II-C PUP: Medium spread on IN GOD WE

TRUST. Light spread on JS side by

side and LIBERTY.

1946 18-O-II-C+ PUP: Medium spread on profile, date,

V-CW LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and

JS.

1946 19-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on date and JS top

to bottom.

1946 20-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on date, JS top to bottom,

and TRUST.

1946 21-O-II-C PUP: Medium spread on IN GOD WE

TRUST. Light spread on date, JS

side by side, and profile.

1946 22-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on LIBERTY, forehead,

and profile.

1946 23-O-II-C PUP: Light spread on LIBERTY, IN GOD

WE TRUST, and front profile near

the brow. A very light spread is

found on the date and JS.

1946 24-O-III PUP: Light spread on date and JS top to

bottom.

Note: This obverse has been paired

with the reverse doubled die

identifiable as 11-R-II-C.

1946 25-0-V-CW PUP: Strong spread on date, JS, and IN

GOD WE TRUST. Medium to light

on LIBERTY, and back of neck.

1946 26-O-V-CW PUP: Strong spread on date, JS, and IN

GOD WE TRUST. Light spread

on LIB and back of neck.

Note: This obverse has been paired

with the reverse doubled die

identifiable as 9-R-II-C.

1946 1-R-V-CW PUP: Light spread on right side

details including DIME, UNUM,

OF AMERICA, and far right

edges of leaves.

1946 2-R-II-C PUP: Light spread on ONE DIME and

AMERICA.

1946 3-R-II-C PUP: Strong spread on ONE DIME, UNUM,

+V-CW OF AMERICA, and right side dot.

Note: This reverse has been

paired with the obverse

doubled die identifiable

as 4-O-V-CW. This coin is

listed in the Cherrypickers’

Guide by Fivaz and Stanton as

FS-011.4.

1946 4-R-II-C PUP: Light spread on ONE DIME. Light

+V-CW rotation found on E PLUR, UNITED,

and ON.

Note: This reverse has been

paired with the obverse

doubled die identifiable

as 6-O-I-CW.

1946 5-R-II-C+ PUP: Light spread on DIME.

C-CCW

1946 6-R-II-E PUP: Very strong spread on UNITED,

+V-CW olive branches, and leaves. Light

spread toward the edge on the last

S of STATES, OF, and the AM of

AMERICA.

1946 7-R-VIII PUP: Strong spread to the right of the lower

right stem, and medium spread on

upper torch and flame with extra

thickness on DIME and AMERICA.

1946 8-R-II-C PUP: Medium spread on DIME, UNUM,

right stem, dot and RICA of

AMERICA.

1946 9-R-II-C PUP: Light spread on DIME, UNUM, dot

and RICA of AMERICA.

Note: This reverse has been paired

with the doubled die obverse

identifiable as 26-O-V-CW.

1946 10-R-VI PUP: Strong extra thickness of all lettering,

dots, and stems.

1946 11-R-II-C PUP: Light spread on DIME, UNUM, dot,

leaves, Right stem, and AMERICA.

Note: This reverse has been paired

with the obverse doubled die

identifiable as 24-O-II-C.

Table of Contents

1946-D