1983 Roosevelt Dime Errors, Varieties, Value and Identification

The 1983 Roosevelt dime is best known among specialists for a recognized No-S proof variety — a San Francisco proof struck without its mint mark. GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, compare available examples, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin is not currently listed.

Design and history

The Roosevelt dime has carried John R. Sinnock’s original 1946 design since its debut, and 1983 is no exception. Sinnock designed both faces: his initials, JS, appear at the truncation of Roosevelt’s neck on the obverse, and the reverse combines a torch of liberty with an olive branch for peace and an oak branch for strength and independence. Those initials are part of the design, not a secret mint mark or later addition.

The 1983 issue belongs to the modern clad era. Its standard composition is copper-nickel clad for circulation issues, with a normal weight of 2.27 grams; silver proofs were not yet part of the series, returning to designated collector sets starting in 1992. Relevant production includes Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) circulation strikes and San Francisco (S) collector proofs. A normal piece has a reeded, clad edge with a visible copper-colored core.

Errors and varieties to know

The 1983 No-S proof dime is a recognized proof variety: a genuine proof strike, made with mirrored fields and the sharp detail characteristic of proof manufacture, that left the San Francisco Mint without its “S” mint mark. It belongs to a broader family of No-S proof errors that occurred on various U.S. denominations between 1968 and 1990, when proof dies were hubbed at Philadelphia — including the punching of the S mint mark — before being shipped to San Francisco for striking. On rare occasions a die was used without that mint mark ever having been added.

To be genuine, a 1983 No-S dime must show authentic proof manufacture: mirrored fields and a sharp strike consistent with a proof coin, not a circulation strike. A circulation-strike Philadelphia or Denver dime, a coin with weak detail, a removed mint mark, or otherwise altered surfaces is not equivalent to the recognized error, regardless of how it’s marketed. Only Philadelphia dimes from this era are ever normally without a mint mark at the circulation-strike level — a proof coin is expected to carry an S, and its absence is what makes the variety significant.

Beyond the No-S proof, no other major error or variety is singled out for 1983 in the principal PCGS and NGC series references. An off-center strike, clip, broadstrike, strike-through, or substantial die break must still be evaluated on the individual coin.

How to examine a 1983 Roosevelt dime

Start by identifying the strike type, mint mark, and composition. View the entire obverse, reverse, and edge before magnifying a tiny spot:

• On a genuine doubled die, secondary detail is raised and rounded and repeats in the exact areas associated with a documented die. Mechanical or strike doubling tends to be flat, shelf-like, and narrower than the main device.
• A cavity or fracture in the die fills with planchet metal, producing raised metal on the coin; a scratch or gouge made after striking cuts into the surface and frequently displaces metal toward its edge.
• Grease-filled dies create weak or missing letters without leaving a scraped trench. A claimed “missing letter” that shows abrasion, displaced metal, or tool marks is damage, not an error.
• A true off-center strike loses part of the design and usually shows an unstruck crescent. A genuine clipped planchet was incomplete before striking and should show compatible rim and edge effects.

For a suspected No-S proof, confirm the coin is a proof strike (mirrored fields, sharp detail, typically found in or attributed to a 1983-S proof set) before anything else — a worn or altered Philadelphia circulation dime is not the same coin. Weight helps screen a candidate but cannot authenticate it by itself; use a calibrated scale accurate to 0.01 gram and inspect the reeded edge. Never grind the edge or use destructive chemical tests. If a coin appears genuinely abnormal, submit it to a respected grading service with error attribution.

Buying considerations

Certified versus raw coins

A certified coin has been authenticated, graded, and sealed in a holder by a third-party grading service such as PCGS or NGC. For an ordinary circulation-strike 1983 dime, certification usually isn’t necessary. For a claimed 1983 No-S proof, only consider a PCGS- or NGC-certified example, and verify the certification number directly through the grading service’s website before treating the coin as genuine.

Understanding grades and condition

Most circulated 1983 dimes without a recognized variety are valued primarily for face value. Collectors pay premiums for originality, high numerical grade, and sharply separated horizontal bands on the lower torch — called Full Bands by PCGS and Full Torch by NGC. That designation concerns strike quality, not an error. Cleaning, polishing, or artificial toning can erase much of a coin’s premium even when the date or variety is otherwise desirable.

Problem coins

Watch for listings that describe cleaned, improperly cleaned, scratched, bent, damaged, corroded, environmental damage, or altered surfaces — and, specific to this date, watch for an ordinary Philadelphia circulation dime or a proof with a removed mint mark being passed off as the recognized No-S proof error. A details-graded example can be a lower-cost way to own a coin, but the stated problem should be reflected in the asking price.

Suggested search terms and filters

Begin with a broad search: “1983 Roosevelt dime,” “1983-P Roosevelt dime,” “1983-D Roosevelt dime,” or “1983-S proof Roosevelt dime.”

Then narrow with terms that reflect your collecting goal:

• By mint mark: P, D, or S (proof)
• By variety: “1983 No S proof Roosevelt dime” for the recognized error
• By grade: circulated, MS60-MS70, PR60-PR70
• By certification: PCGS, NGC, or “certified 1983 No S proof dime”

Availability and pricing notes

Ordinary circulated and proof 1983 dimes are common and inexpensive. The 1983 No-S proof is considerably scarcer and commands a real premium as a documented proof-die error, though it is not in the same rarity class as the famous 1975 No-S proof dime. Listings and asking prices do not necessarily represent completed-sale values — compare multiple examples, consider each coin’s grade and certification, and review recent market information before purchasing.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, return policies, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1983 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime” (or “1983 Roosevelt Dime” for the ordinary date) to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by mint mark, variety, grade, certification, and asking price.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If the right example is not available, save it as a wishlist item. Add grade, grading-service, or price preferences when those options are available.
4. Get notified about new matches. When new dealer inventory matches your wishlist, GetCoinHunt sends an alert so you can review the listing before it disappears.
5. Evaluate the coin before buying. Open the dealer’s listing, verify the certification and photographs, read the complete description, and review the seller’s terms.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 1983 No-S proof Roosevelt dime?

A genuine San Francisco proof dime struck from a die that left the Philadelphia Mint without its “S” mint mark ever being punched in. It’s a documented, recognized proof variety — not a damaged or altered coin.

How is it different from an ordinary 1983 Philadelphia dime?

An ordinary 1983 Philadelphia circulation dime naturally has no proof characteristics: it lacks mirrored fields and the sharp detail of a proof strike. The valuable 1983 error is specifically a proof coin missing its expected S mint mark.

Is the 1983 No-S proof dime as rare as the 1975 No-S proof dime?

No. The 1975 No-S proof dime is far rarer, with only two known examples. The 1983 No-S proof is part of the same broader family of Philadelphia-hubbed proof-die errors from 1968-1990, but it is more available and priced well below the 1975 rarity.

How do I know a claimed 1983 No-S proof is genuine?

Confirm the coin shows authentic proof manufacture — mirrored fields and a sharp strike — rather than a worn or altered circulation dime, and rely only on a PCGS- or NGC-certified example with a verified certification number.

What if no suitable coin is currently available?

Add “1983 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime” to your wishlist below. You’ll be notified when newly detected dealer inventory matches your search.

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