Wikipedia:Today's featured article/April 10, 2007



In the United States, the dime is a coin with a face value of ten cents, or one-tenth of a dollar. The dime is the smallest in diameter and the thinnest of all U.S. coins currently minted for circulation. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt is featured on the obverse while a torch, oak branch, and olive branch are featured on the reverse. Mintage of the dime was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, and production began in 1796. The most recent design change was in 1946. The composition and diameter of the dime has changed throughout its mintage. Initially the dime was 19 millimeters wide, but it was changed to its present size of 17.91 millimeters in 1828. The composition (initially 89.24 percent silver and 10.76 percent copper) remained constant until 1837, when it was altered to 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. Dimes with this composition were minted until 1966. Beginning in 1965, dimes also began to be minted with a clad composition of cupronickel; this composition is still in use today. The term 'dime' comes from the French word disme, meaning "tithe" or "tenth part". (more...)

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