The Roosevelt dime, a tribute to former US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, began production in 1946. This came just one year after Roosevelt's death in 1945. The project was commissioned by US congressman Ralph Daughton. The choice in the dime was due, in part, to Roosevelt's support for the March of Dimes charity. Due to the time constraints on the project, this coin was the first in over 40 years to be designed by a Mint employee. That person, chief engraver John Sinnock, had his first design rejected but his second design was accepted and put into production.
The first Roosevelt Dime was released to the public on January 30, 1946, this date would have marked Roosevelt's 64th birthday. The coin's obverse design features Roosevelt's bust and the designer's initials (JS) on Roosevelt's neck. The reverse of the coin features a torch, olive branch and an oak branch. These symobilize liberty, peace and victory. Controversy was quick on several coin elements. First, rumors began to spread that the JS on Roosevelt's neck actually stood for Joseph Stalin, as anti-communist sentiment was at an all time high. The US mint quickly set the record straight. Next, Sinnock was accused of stealing his obverse design from an African American sculptor, which he quickly denied.
The coin remained unchanged until 1965 when the coin's composition was changed from 90% silver and 10% copper to a to a copper sandwich which was 75% copper and 25% nickel. Soon after, earlier silver dimes began to disappear from circulation as collectors began to hoard them.
The Roosevelt dime has been minted in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver. San Francisco did not mint any dimes from 1955 to 1968. The pre-1965 dimes are much more collectible than those produced since. The series is a good start for beginning collectors as most years are easily found.