Your rare dime could be worth $195,500 – the detail to look out for

DIMES can be worth much more than their original value of 10 cents.

Errors, key dates, minting, and other factors typically determine how rare and valuable the coin is.

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For example, a 1916 cent sold for $195,500 at Heritage Auction due to its low mintage of 264,000.

However, it was more than just the small number of dimes produced.

The coin was particularly rare due to its high quality MS67 Full Bands.

The full bands here are key as there are bands on a Mercury Dime in the Fasces design element.

The fasces are a bundle of sticks and an ax wrapped in tendrils of olive leaves on the back – a symbol of power.

All of these elements are held together by the bands, represented as three sets of twin belts, according to Professional Coin Grading Services.

The Full Bands are only found on Mercury Dimes, where the middle set of bands shows a full split down the middle.

This rare detail shows how sharp the shot is, which is rare on many Mercury dimes.

HISTORY OF MERCURY DIMES

Minted from 1916 to 1945, the Mercury dimes were 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.

Instead of their five cent value, these Mercury cents were worth 10 cents.

These were designed by Adolph Weinman and are commonly referred to as the Winged Liberty Head Dime.

The obverse features an image of Liberty facing left with her hair covered by a winged cap, hence the nickname.

After 1945, the Treasury Department ordered a new design featuring the recently deceased President Franklin Roosevelt.

DETERMINE COIN VALUES

Coin experts determine the value of a coin based on various factors.

This includes Edition, Error, Demand, Age, Design, Certification and Condition.

More importantly, coins are graded on a rigorous scale – collectors pay big bucks for that.

There are five main components when it comes to a grading scale, including aspiration, surface preservation, luster, coloration, and eye irritation.

Coins are assigned a whole number between 1 and 70, with the highest number being near perfect.

VALUABLE COINS

Pennies can also be of great value, especially when it comes to a double dice error.

Probably the most famous of all is the double stamp piece from 1955.

In average condition, the 1955 Double Die Penny is worth $1,318 according to the USA Coin Book.

The value could exceed $17,000 if it is an MS 63 class.

A buyer recently paid more than $2,000 for a high quality 1955 circulating piece.

Also, due to a rare error, a certified Buffalo Nickel sold online for $1,776 as the buffalo on the coin only has three legs when it should have four.

While the edition is unknown, the error element makes it quite rare.

It’s worth $721 in average condition and up to $5,842 in uncirculated grades.

A penny sold for $18,000 due to a small error in the date.

If your cent is so-called “proof,” you might be $4,800 richer.