It is true that the hobby of collecting coins attracts not only collectors but also investors. Many people look for old or rare coins in the hope that somewhere they will find a coin that is worth crores. Recently “8 rare dimes and an ancient bicentennial quarter” are being claimed to be worth $69 million (about Rs 574 crore). But is it true, or is it just a rumor? Let’s understand the truth of this claim.
Can 8 rare dimes really be worth a million dollars?
Some dimes (American 10 cent coin) are indeed very rare and valuable, but to say that 8 such dimes are worth a million dollars is not entirely correct. So far there are only a few dimes that have sold for millions of dollars at auction. Let’s know about some such important dimes:
1894-S Barber Dime: The real rare treasure
The 1894-S Barber Dime is one of the rarest coins. Only 24 such coins were minted and only 9 coins exist today.
- This coin was first minted at the San Francisco Mint.
- This coin sold for $1,997,500 (about Rs 16.5 crore) in 2016, which is the highest price ever for a dime.
1873-CC Liberty Seated Dime: Rare Coin of Carson City
This coin was minted at the Carson City Mint and a total of 12,400 coins were made. But most of these coins were melted due to government orders.
- Today only 1 coin is left, which was sold at auction for $1,840,000 (about Rs 15 crore).
1975 No-S Roosevelt Dime: The priciest coin of modern times
All US proof dimes have an “S” mintmark, but a 1975 dime was struck without this mark, making it extremely rare.
- Only 3 such dimes have been found so far.
- One was auctioned for $456,000 (about Rs 3.8 crore) in 2019.
- Another coin sold for $506,250 (about Rs 4.2 crore) in 2024.
Is the Bicentennial Quarter really antique?
Some articles describe the Bicentennial Quarter as “antique”, but the coin was only minted in 1975 and 1976. The coin was issued to celebrate America’s 200th anniversary (Bicentennial), with a portrait of George Washington on the front and a drummer boy design on the back.
Has any Bicentennial quarter sold for millions of dollars?
There are many rumours that the Bicentennial quarter can be worth crores of rupees, but in reality, there is no such record. However, some rare quarters have sold for a good price:
- 1976-S Silver Bicentennial Quarter (Regular Strike) – $19,200 (around Rs 16 lakhs)
- 1976-S Silver Bicentennial Quarter (Proof) – $13,500 (around Rs 11 lakhs)
- 1976-D Bicentennial Quarter (Clad Regular Strike) – $6,462 (around Rs 5.3 lakhs)
- 1976 Bicentennial Quarter (Clad Regular Strike) – Maximum $1,119 (around Rs 92,000)
This clearly shows that no Bicentennial quarter has achieved a million dollar price so far.
Do Mint Errors Contribute to a Coin’s Value?
Many times, rare coins’ high prices are due to errors in their minting. Some coins with valuable errors include:
Valuable Dime Errors:
- No-S Proof Roosevelt Dime (1968, 1970, 1983) – Many of these sell for thousands of dollars.
- Double Die Error – When the design is doubled in the printing of a coin.
Precious Quarter Errors:
- 1976-D Bicentennial Quarter with Misplaced Mint Mark – Expected Value $8,000
- 1976 Bicentennial Quarter with Wide Rim Error – Expected Value $10,000
- 1976-D Bicentennial Quarter with Doubled Die Obverse – Expected Value $25,000
- 1943 Washington Quarter (Doubled Die Obverse) – Auction Value $8,500
Are 8 Rare Dimes and Bicentennial Quarters Really Worth $69 Million?
In short, this claim is false. Even if we add up the prices of the most expensive coins ever sold, this number doesn’t even reach anywhere:
| Coin | Maximum Auction Price |
|---|---|
| 1894-S Barber Dime | $1,997,500 |
| 1873-CC Liberty Seated Dime | $1,840,000 |
| 1975 No-S Roosevelt Dime | $506,250 |
| 1976-S Bicentennial Quarter | $19,200 |
| Net Worth | $4.3 million (approx Rs. 35 crores) |
Forget about $69 million (Rs. 574 crores), even adding up the prices of the most expensive coins doesn’t go beyond $5 million. This is clearly a misleading claim made only to attract attention.
How to know if your coin is rare?
If you too want to know if you have a rare coin, pay attention to the following:
For dimes:
- Older dimes (before 1965) were made of silver, they may be worth more.
- If an “S” mintmark is missing, it may be a proof error.
- Look for doubled dies or other errors.
For bicentennial quarters:
- If the coin has an “S” mintmark, it may be 40% silver.
- Silver quarters weigh 5.75 grams, while normal quarters weigh 5.67 grams.
- Check for doubled dies or other errors.
Conclusion:
While some dimes and bicentennial quarters may sell for thousands or even millions, the $69 million story of “8 rare dimes and an antique bicentennial quarter” is completely false and misleading.
FAQs
Is the Bicentennial Quarter truly ancient?
No, the Bicentennial Quarter was produced in 1975 and 1976 to celebrate America’s 200th birthday. It is not old—it’s under 50 years old.
Did any Bicentennial Quarter ever sell for millions?
No, the most costly Bicentennial Quarter ever seen at auction was a silver-proof type that graded $19,200. Less scarce error versions have sold in the thousands but nothing has gotten near million-dollar price tags.
Are there really 8 million-dollar dimes that are rare?
No, even though some unusual dimes have sold for hefty sums of money, the fact that 8 dimes equal $69 million is greatly overstated. Relatively few dimes in existence have crossed over the million-dollar mark, such as the 1894-S Barber Dime and the 1873-CC Liberty Seated Dime.