Three sisters from Ohio recently discovered the true value of a dime they inherited, which had been kept in a bank vault for over 40 years. The dime, a rare 1975 coin struck by the U.S. Mint in San Francisco, is expected to fetch over $500,000 in an upcoming online auction, according to Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, a currency specialist overseeing the auction ending in October.
What sets this dime apart and makes it incredibly valuable is the missing “S” mint mark for San Francisco, with only two known to exist. The other missing “S” dime was sold at auction in 2019 for $456,000 and later acquired by a private collector.
Despite serious coin collectors being aware of these rare dimes, their whereabouts had been a mystery since the late 1970s. The dime was part of a special uncirculated “proof” set made by the San Francisco mint in 1975, of which over 2.8 million sets were produced, each consisting of six coins and sold for $7. The missing mint mark on two dimes from the set was later discovered by collectors.
The sisters, who wish to remain anonymous after their unexpected windfall, inherited one of the two rare dimes from their brother, who had acquired it in 1978 for $18,200, equivalent to around $90,000 today. Their parents, who owned a dairy farm, saw the coin as a financial safety net.
The sisters’ brother had contacted Russell seven years ago about the coin and its potential value. Russell, based in Irvine, California, disclosed the coin’s worth to one of the sisters a few years back, prompting her disbelief at its possible value.
The rare dime, known as the “1975 ‘no S’ proof dime,” will be exhibited at a coin show in Tampa, Florida starting Wednesday before the auction concludes in late October. Russell mentioned that while more of these rare dimes could exist, they would only be found in the 1975 “proof” sets and not in circulation, sparking potential interest in discovering other examples of this valuable coin.
