We are pleased to offer for sale this 1979-D Roosevelt Dime Gem BU. This coin is in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition with nice eye appeal and no major marks or visible problems. This Roosevelt Dime is taken from an original BU Roll or Mint Set, and is an outstanding value!
The Roosevelt Dime was released to the public on January 30th, 1946, which would have been Franklin D. Roosevelt's 64th birthday. The dime was chosen for honoring Roosevelt in large part because of his commitment to the National Foundation for Infant Paralysis, which was popularly known as the March of Dimes because of Roosevelt's encouragement that Americans send in one dime to fund the foundation.
The Roosevelt Dime was designed by mint engraver John R. Sinnock. The obverse of the coin features a profile view of Roosevelt, while the reverse features a torch, olive branch, and oak branch, which represent Liberty, Peace, and Victory respectively. The design caused some controversy when it was released, as anti-communist sentiment led to speculation that the initials JS appearing under Roosevelt's neck were a tribute to Joseph Stalin. In reality, they simply denoted that the coin had been designed by John Sinnock.
With the Coinage Act of 1965 the U.S. Government addressed the rising price of silver, which was nearing the point where the value of the silver in mutliple denominations of coins was close to being higher than the face value of the coin. For the dime, this meant a change in composition from 90% silver and 10% copper to a cupronickel composition of copper and nickel. The resulting Roosevelt Dime was slightly lighter than the silver version, but maintained its size and electrical properties, which were key for ensuring the new dimes would function in existing vending machines and pay phones.
The 1979-D Roosevelt Dime Gem BU is comprised of .916 (91.6%) copper and .0833 (8.3%) nickel with a diameter of 17.91mm and a mass of 2.268 grams. It is a beautiful coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, a great value and perfect for any Roosevelt Dime collection.
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Red Book of U.S. Coins
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