A Coin Purchased by a Farming Family in 1970 Recently Sold for Over $500,000. A rare dime, minted in 1975 by the U.S. Mint in San Francisco, recently fetched over $500,000 at auction, thanks to its unique characteristics and historical significance.
A unique coin story
This dime, featuring Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. President, stands out for lacking the “S” mintmark, a trait that designates it as one of only two known to exist without the San Francisco Mint identifier, which adds to its rarity and appeal among collectors.
Having passed from its original owner, the coin was held by three sisters in Ohio, who kept it in a bank vault for over 40 years. GreatCollections, a California-based auction house, recently hosted an online auction where the coin sold for an impressive $506,250.
A family investment transferred from generation to generation
The only other 1975 “no-S” dime was sold in 2019 for $456,000. Millions of such dimes were struck in 1975, with San Francisco Mint producing over 2.8 million “proof” sets, making these two dimes exceptionally unique without the “S” marking.
The Ohio sisters shared that their mother and brother purchased the coin in 1978 for $18,200—approximately $90,000 today — hoping it would be a long-term investment. The family, who raised dairy cows, held onto the coin as a cherished asset, transferring it through generations.
