Portal:Numismatics/Selected article/12

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The dime is a United States ten-cent coin equaling one-tenth of a United States dollar. The dime has the smallest diameter and smallest thickness of all United States coins currently minted for circulation. Mintage of the dime was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, and production began in 1796. A feminine head representing Liberty was used on the front and an eagle was used on the back. From 1837-1891 'Seated Liberty' dimes were issued which featured Liberty seated next to a shield. In 1892 a feminine head of Liberty returned to the dime and was known as a 'Barber dime'. In 1916, the head of a winged-capped Liberty was put on the dime and is commonly known by the misnomer of 'Mercury dime'. The last design change to the dime occurred in 1946 when the dime was changed to its current design with Franklin Roosevelt.

The term 'dime' comes from the French word disme, meaning "tithe" or "tenth part," from the Latin decima [pars]. This term appeared on early pattern coins, but was not used on any dimes until 1837.