2009-D 10C, FB (Regular Strike)

The 2009-D Roosevelt Dime

It may take decades for a complete picture of the 2009-D Roosevelt Dime (#407267, FB #407268) to emerge. When that history is eventually written, the defining factor in the production and circulation of all 2009 U.S. Mint issues will undoubtedly be the Great Recession.

In 2008, demand for circulating coinage plummeted as a wave of defaults rocked the banking sector. By year’s end, unemployment reached 10%, and the global financial system teetered on the brink of depression. Despite significant Congressional friction, the Obama Administration secured an $831 billion stimulus through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to stabilize the economy. While the peak economic impact of that legislation was not felt until 2010—evidenced by the subsequent gradual rebound in coinage production—the year 2009 represented a dramatic "coinage cliff" for the United States.

A Historic Suspension of Coinage

By late spring 2009, the Federal Reserve’s inventory of undistributed coins was so massive that the U.S. Mint took the rare step of suspending production. On April 23, the Mint announced it would cease striking Jefferson Nickels and Roosevelt Dimes for the remainder of the year.

At the time of the suspension, the surplus was staggering:

• Philadelphia: 36 million nickels and 78.5 million dimes.
• Denver: 33.36 million nickels and 41.5 million dimes.

Collectors are Sleeping on the 2009-D Roosevelt Dime (For Now)

The final mintage for the 2009-D Roosevelt Dime reached just 49,500,000. This makes it the lowest-mintage circulation strike of the "clad era" (post-1964) and the lowest overall since the 1958 Roosevelt Dime (#5116, FB #85116) and its mintage of 31,910,000 pieces.

While the low-mintage 1958 dime is prioritized for its 90% silver content, the 2009-D poses a unique challenge that may prove more significant over time. Unlike other years, these were not included in the United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set. Instead, the Mint included a Satin Finish version of the coin (#407265, FB #407266). Much like the Special Mint Set coins of 1965–1967, these are neither business strikes nor Proofs; they are specimen strikes.

Consequently, current and future generations of collectors seeking high-end business strikes must rely on a much smaller pool of coins pulled from commercial channels. These survivors had to be plucked from circulation and, by sheer chance, avoided the incidental contact marks and hairline scratches typical of the automated bagging, counting, and distribution process.

Because of this, it is highly likely that more 1996-W Roosevelt Dimes (#5189, FB #85189) exist today than Mint State 2009-D business strikes.

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