The 1949-S Roosevelt Dime is worth anywhere from $2 in heavily worn condition to well over $100 in high-grade mint state, with some exceptional examples fetching even more at auction. If you found one of these silver dimes in an old coin jar or inherited collection, you’re holding a piece of American history — and possibly a coin worth far more than ten cents.
What Makes the 1949-S Roosevelt Dime Special
The 1949-S Roosevelt Dime was struck at the San Francisco Mint, which you can identify by the small “S” mintmark located on the reverse side of the coin, just above the “E” in “ONE.” This was still the early years of the Roosevelt Dime series, which launched in 1946, and coins from this era were made with 90% silver — giving them real melt value on top of their collectible worth.
The San Francisco Mint had a reputation for producing well-struck coins, and the 1949-S is no exception. The mintage for this year was 13,510,000 coins — moderate by U.S. Mint standards, which is one reason well-preserved examples are harder to find today.
If you’re not sure whether your coin has an “S” mintmark or you just want to confirm what you’ve got, a free coin identifier app can help you quickly scan the coin and get a read on its details before you dig deeper into its value.
1949-S Roosevelt Dime Value by Grade
The condition of your coin matters more than almost anything else when determining its value. Coin collectors use a grading scale from Poor (P-1) all the way to Perfect Mint State (MS-70). For the 1949-S dime, here’s how value breaks down across common grades:
| Grade | Description | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | Heavy wear, major details visible | $2 – $3 |
| Fine (F-12) | Moderate wear, all lettering clear | $3 – $5 |
| Extremely Fine (EF-40) | Light wear on high points | $6 – $12 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-58) | Slight wear, nearly full luster | $15 – $25 |
| Mint State (MS-63) | No wear, some contact marks | $35 – $60 |
| Mint State (MS-66) | Exceptional quality, near-perfect | $100 – $150+ |
For the most up-to-date auction results and certified sale prices, you can browse detailed 1949-S Roosevelt Dime MS price data by grade to see what collectors are actually paying right now.
Silver Value and What It Means for Your Coin
Even if your 1949-S Roosevelt Dime is worn down to a Good grade, it still has real silver content. Each Roosevelt dime from this era contains 0.07234 troy ounces of pure silver.
With silver trading around $28–$30 per troy ounce at the time of writing, the melt value of your dime is roughly $2.00–$2.15 just from the metal alone. That means even the most worn examples are worth at least their silver melt value — and often more to collectors who want a complete date-and-mintmark set.
This silver floor is what separates these old Roosevelt dimes from modern ones, which are made of copper-nickel clad and have no precious metal value. So even a beat-up 1949-S is not just a dime — it’s a silver coin.
How to Check Your Coin’s Condition at Home
You don’t need to be an expert to get a rough idea of your coin’s grade. Start by looking at the torch on the reverse — if the horizontal lines in the flame are still sharp and separated, you’ve got a well-preserved coin.
On the obverse, check Roosevelt’s cheek and jawline for smoothness. Heavy wear makes these areas flat and featureless, while high-grade coins show full facial detail and original mint luster.
CoinKnow is a great tool for this step — it uses AI to scan your coin through your phone camera, identify the date and mintmark, and give you an instant grade estimate. Many everyday collectors use CoinKnow before deciding whether to take a coin to a professional grader or list it for sale.
For a full breakdown of 1949-S Roosevelt Dime values across all grades and recent sales history, this comprehensive 1949 Roosevelt Dime value guide is a solid resource worth bookmarking.
Should You Get It Professionally Graded?
If your 1949-S Roosevelt Dime looks like it might be MS-65 or better — meaning no wear at all and beautiful original luster — it could be worth sending to a professional grading service like PCGS or NGC.
Certified high-grade examples consistently sell for more than raw (ungraded) coins because buyers trust the grade guarantee. An MS-66 coin certified by PCGS might sell for $120–$150, while an uncertified coin in the same condition might only fetch $60–$80 from a cautious buyer.
CoinKnow can help you decide if a coin is worth the grading fee — typically $20–$50 per coin — by giving you a quick AI-powered condition estimate before you commit. It’s a smart first step that saves both time and money.
—
FAQ
Q: How do I know if my 1949 dime is from San Francisco?
A: Look on the reverse side of the coin, just above the “E” in “ONE DIME.” If you see a small letter “S,” it was minted in San Francisco. No mintmark means it came from Philadelphia, and a “D” means Denver.
Q: Is the 1949-S Roosevelt Dime rare?
A: It’s not considered a key date or rare coin in circulated grades, but high-grade examples (MS-66 and above) are genuinely scarce and command strong premiums among collectors building full Roosevelt Dime sets.
Q: Where can I sell my 1949-S Roosevelt Dime?
A: Options include eBay, coin shows, local coin dealers, or online platforms like PCGS CoinFacts or Heritage Auctions. For higher-grade coins, getting it certified first usually results in a better sale price and more buyer confidence.
