A rare 1975 dime without the San Francisco “S” mint mark, inherited by three sisters from Ohio, is expected to fetch over $500,000 at auction. This dime, kept in a bank vault for over four decades, is one of only two known examples of the minting error. The sisters, who recently inherited the coin after the death of their brother, had no idea of its potential value until they were informed by Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, an auction house specializing in rare currency. The first of these rare dimes sold in 2019 for $456,000, and now the second will soon go up for auction, generating significant interest in the numismatic world.
The coin, part of a special uncirculated “proof” set made by the U.S. Mint in San Francisco in 1975, was originally purchased by the sisters’ family for $18,200 in 1978. The family, who operated a dairy farm, saw the coin as a financial safety net and kept it hidden for decades. The discovery of the coin and its upcoming auction has sparked excitement among collectors, with some speculating that more examples could exist within the original proof sets. However, experts note that these rare dimes will not be found in circulation, but only in the sets. The coin will be displayed at a coin show in Tampa before the auction concludes in October.
