The United States dime, a ten-cent coin, was historically composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition gave the coin intrinsic value based on the fluctuating price of silver, in addition to its face value. Understanding the era of silver coinage necessitates knowing when this practice was discontinued.
The metallic content of circulating coinage was altered due to rising silver prices. Maintaining the silver content became economically unsustainable, impacting the government’s ability to produce coinage at a reasonable cost. This change reflected a broader shift in monetary policy and the relationship between precious metals and currency.