United States dimes produced in 1964 and earlier contain 90% silver and 10% copper. Coins minted from 1965 onward are composed of a clad metal: layers of copper-nickel bonded to a core of pure copper. This difference in metallic composition directly affects the intrinsic value of the coin, separating those with significant silver content from those with face value only.
The historical context for this shift lies in the rising price of silver in the early 1960s. As the value of silver approached the face value of the coin, the U.S. government made the decision to eliminate silver from dime, quarter, and half-dollar coinage to conserve the nation’s silver reserves. This change in composition significantly altered the numismatic value and collector interest in pre-1965 dimes.