Item number: A2671

Year: AD 1966

Material: Cupronickel

Size: 17.7 x 17.7 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 2.2 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2014

This is a 1-Dime coin issued in AD 1966, commonly known as the “Roosevelt Dime.” The year AD 1965 marks a pivotal transition in its composition: prior to this date, Roosevelt dimes were struck in silver, while those minted from AD 1965 onward were produced in cupronickel.

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, designed by renowned American engraver John R. Sinnock. Below Roosevelt’s neck appears the designer’s initials, “J.S,” which, amid the early tensions of the Cold War, briefly sparked unfounded rumours suggesting they stood for Joseph Stalin. To the upper left of the portrait is the inscription “LIBERTY”, while “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears to the lower left, and the year of issue, “1966,” is positioned at the lower right.

The reverse of the coin features a central torch, symbolising liberty, flanked by an olive branch on the left representing peace and an oak branch on the right signifying strength — together alluding to the Allied victory in the Second World War. John R. Sinnock’s original concept envisioned a hand emerging from the earth, grasping the torch, olive branch, and oak branch, but this design was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Mint and set aside. Interwoven among the central motifs is the national motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (Out of Many, One). Along the upper rim appears the inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, while the denomination “ONE DIME” is engraved along the lower rim.

On April 12, AD 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had led the United States through the majority of the Second World War, passed away before the conflict had concluded. Merely weeks later, on May 3 of that same year, a member of Congress proposed replacing the Mercury dime’s design with Roosevelt’s likeness. The suggestion was inspired by the phonetic similarity between the coin’s denomination — the “dime” — and the March of Dimes, a foundation Roosevelt himself had established to combat polio. The proposal swiftly gained the support of the U.S. Mint. On January 30, AD 1946 — Roosevelt’s birthday — the newly designed ten-cent coin bearing his portrait officially entered circulation.

物件編號: A2671

年代: 公元 1966 年

材質: 白銅

尺寸: 17.7 x 17.7 x 1.1 mm

重量: 2.2 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是一枚發行於公元1966年，俗稱「羅斯福」的十美分硬幣。以公元1965年為分界，此前發行的羅斯福十美分為銀質，此後的材質改為白銅。

錢幣正面是美國知名雕刻師約翰·雷·辛諾克的作品，即面朝左側的小羅斯福總統肖像。肖像的脖子右下角有雕刻師的姓名戳記「J.S」，於冷戰剛揭幕的緊張局勢下，一度還被好事者誤傳是蘇聯領導人約瑟夫·史達林的姓名縮寫。肖像左上角鐫刻「LIBERTY」(自由)，左下角則是「IN GOD WE TRUST」(我們信仰上帝)，右下角為發行年份「1966」。

錢幣背面是兩側以象徵和平的橄欖和象徵力量的橡樹枝條裝飾火炬，寓意第二次世界大戰的勝利。起先辛諾克的設計是從土壤升出的手抓住橄欖枝、橡樹枝和火炬，但該構思遭到鑄幣局拒絕而被擱置。圖像中間穿插著美國的國家格言「E PLURIBUS UNUM」(合眾為一)。錢幣上緣鐫刻國名「UNITED STATES OF AMERICA」(美利堅合眾國)，下緣則是面額「ONE DIME」(十美分)。

公元1945年4月12日，帶領美國走向第二次世界大戰的小羅斯福還來不及看到戰爭結束便因病與世長辭。當年的5月3日，便有眾議員提出小羅斯福創辦的「美國畸形兒基金會」(March of Dimes) 恰好跟「十美分」(Dime) 諧音相同，因此提倡將原先十美分的墨丘利頭像改為羅斯福，得到美國鑄幣局的支持。公元1946年1月30日，新版十美分趕在小羅斯福總統冥誕這一天正式流通發行。