Ever pulled a dime out of your pocket and actually looked at it? I mean really looked? Most folks just see small change. But that tiny coin tells a big story. So who exactly is on the US dime? Right now, and for the past 77 years, it's been Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). That's the short answer. But man, the full story – why Roosevelt, who came before him, the weird controversies – it's way more interesting than you'd think for a coin most people barely notice. Grab a cup of coffee, let's dive deep into that little piece of silver-colored metal.

Meet the Face on the Modern Dime: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Okay, so FDR it is. But why him? It wasn't some random pick. The Roosevelt dime first showed up in 1946, just a year after the President died in April 1945. That was fast work for the government, right? There was this massive wave of public grief and respect. Millions of Americans genuinely mourned him. Plus, there was another huge reason tied directly to Roosevelt's legacy...

The March of Dimes. Yeah, that charity? Roosevelt founded it. Back then, polio was terrifying – crippling kids everywhere. Roosevelt himself had polio. The March of Dimes raised money for research and to help victims. People would literally send dimes to the White House. Putting FDR on the dime felt like the ultimate tribute, connecting his biggest humanitarian effort directly to the coin itself. Kinda poetic when you think about it.

Designing the Roosevelt Dime: Behind the Scenes

The guy who got the job was John R. Sinnock, the Chief Engraver at the US Mint. Sinnock had actually done FDR's official presidential medal earlier, so he had sketches ready. His design is pretty straightforward:

• Obverse (Heads): Facing left Roosevelt profile. You see "LIBERTY" above, "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the left, and the year on the right. Sinnock's initials "JS" are tiny near the neck – but that caused a conspiracy theory! Some folks swore "JS" stood for Joseph Stalin. Seriously. The Mint actually had to explain it. Crazy times.
• Reverse (Tails): A torch (for liberty) in the center, an olive branch (peace) to the left, and an oak branch (strength) to the right. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "ONE DIME" circle it. Clean and symbolic.

Honestly, the design hasn't changed much since '46. That's a long run! They tweaked the metal in 1965 (bye-bye silver, hello clad), but Roosevelt's face stayed put. Makes you wonder if we'll ever see someone else there. Feels permanent now.

Before Roosevelt: Who Graced the Dime Previously?

FDR wasn't the first lady on the dime. Nope. For over four decades, another famous face held sway: the Mercury Dime. Except... it wasn't really Mercury. That popular name is actually a mistake!

The "Mercury" Dime (1916-1945): Winged Liberty

Designed by Adolph A. Weinman (a seriously talented sculptor), this dime debuted in 1916. People saw the young woman with wings on her cap and immediately thought, "Roman god Mercury!" But Weinman insisted it was Liberty, wearing a winged Phrygian cap – an ancient symbol of freedom and liberty. The wings? Representing "freedom of thought." Pretty cool. Everyone still calls it the Mercury dime though. Old habits.

Collectors adore these. The design is considered one of the most beautiful US coins ever made. High relief detail, elegant lines... just gorgeous. Finding one in your change today feels like winning a tiny lottery. They're out there, but worn smooth mostly.

The Lady Liberty "Barber" Dime (1892-1916)

Before the "Mercury" dime took flight, we had the Barber dime – named after its designer, Charles E. Barber. It featured a more mature Liberty head facing right, wearing a cap and a laurel wreath. The reverse had a simple wreath surrounding "ONE DIME." Honestly? Kinda bland compared to Weinman's masterpiece that replaced it. Felt a bit old-fashioned even for its time. The Roosevelt change later had way more emotion behind it.

Why Isn't a Woman on the US Dime? (The Susan B. Anthony Factor)

Great question. We've had Liberty personified as a woman for decades, but never a real, named American woman on a regularly circulating coin until... well, recently with the quarters. The dime seemed like a perfect contender. Enter Susan B. Anthony.

In the late 1970s, the Treasury Department decided to replace the Eisenhower dollar. They chose women's suffrage pioneer Susan B. Anthony for the new smaller dollar coin. It made huge news! A real woman! On a coin!

But the coin itself? Kinda flopped. People confused it with the quarter constantly. Same size, same color. Vending machines hated it. It was nicknamed the "Carter quarter" or "Susan B. Anthony." It lasted only three minting years (1979, 1980, 1981) before getting pulled, with a final small run in 1999. A major disappointment.

This failure, frankly, made the Treasury cautious for decades about putting a woman on a smaller denomination coin like the dime. The fear of another flop was real. It took until the American Women Quarters program starting in 2022 to finally feature real women prominently on circulating coinage below the dollar – but on the quarter, not the dime. Maybe someday the dime will get its turn. Roosevelt seems pretty entrenched though.

Could Who is on the US Dime Ever Change?

Could it? Technically, yes. Congress authorizes coin designs. Would it? That's a much harder question. Changing a coin design that's been around for nearly 80 years is a big deal. There are huge costs involved (redesigning, retooling mints, reprogramming vending machines everywhere). And there's tradition and public familiarity.

Look at the penny – Lincoln's been there since 1909. The nickel? Jefferson since 1938 (with a brief blip for Westward Journey). Quarters get changed every few years now with programs, but the dime and penny? They're the bedrock.

What might force a change?

• A Major Anniversary: Like the 100th anniversary of FDR's death in 2045? Maybe. Seems distant.
• A Powerful Public Campaign: Like the push for Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, but for the dime. Significant, sustained pressure.
• Technical Need: If they needed vastly improved security features embedded in the dime design.

Realistically? I wouldn't hold my breath anytime soon. FDR and the dime are deeply linked now, tied to the March of Dimes legacy. It would take an enormous push to change that connection. People barely use cash anyway these days. Makes a redesign seem even less urgent to the powers that be.

Fun Finds & Collecting Dimes: Beyond Who is on the US Dime

Knowing who is on the US dime is step one. The fun really starts when you look closer at the dimes in your change or collection.

I once found a 1944 Mercury dime in a roll of quarters I got from the bank. That rush of seeing that winged head! It wasn't worth a fortune, maybe $2 in silver, but the history? Priceless. Finding a silver Roosevelt (pre-1965) is always a little win too.

Your US Dime Questions Answered (FAQ)

Beyond the Face: The Dime's Role and Future

Let's be real, the dime doesn't buy much anymore. A couple of gumballs maybe? Yet, it persists. Billions are minted yearly. Why? Habit? Vending machines needing exact change? The sheer difficulty of eliminating a denomination? Probably all of the above.

Knowing who is on the US dime – FDR – connects us to a specific moment in history, a tribute born from loss and a fight against disease. Every time you hold one, you're holding a tiny piece of that narrative. It might feel insignificant, but history rarely is. Next time you get one in change, take a second look. That stern profile has seen a lot.

Think we'll ever see someone new on there? Maybe. But displacing Roosevelt and the weight of the March of Dimes legacy is a tall order. For now, the answer to "who is on the US dime" remains firmly settled: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a lasting imprint on America's smallest coin.