1976-S Proof

The 1976-S Proof Roosevelt Dime is the standard S-mint proof issue of the Bicentennial year, struck at the San Francisco Assay Office in a reported 4,149,730 sets and the highest proof dime mintage of the 1970s. The elevated figure reflects the broad surge in collector demand around the Bicentennial coinage program, which drove proof set orders to a level well above the surrounding years. The S mintmark appears below the date on the obverse in its standard proof position, and the dime carries no Bicentennial design change; only the quarter, half dollar, and dollar in the 1976 proof set used the dual-date 1776-1976 inscription and special reverses. The 1976-S Proof Roosevelt is therefore a standard Sinnock obverse and torch reverse with proof finish, dated only 1976.

Authentication rests on standard proof diagnostics. Genuine examples show deeply mirrored fields with proof depth that no business strike can replicate, squared rim transitions instead of the rounded rims of a circulation coin, and crisp definition across Roosevelt's profile and the reverse torch and branches. The S mintmark must be sharp and well-formed with a clean interior loop; given the very large proof mintage, late-state die wear can show as softened or partially filled S impressions, which should be distinguished from the famous 1975 No-S rarity by careful examination under magnification. Cameo (CAM) and Deep Cameo (DCAM) designations are awarded when contrast between frosted devices and mirrored fields is strong, and 1976-S DCAM populations are among the most plentiful of the decade given the size of the original mintage.

For collectors, the 1976-S Proof is one of the most common and inexpensive S-mint proofs of the clad era. PR69 DCAM examples are widely available through broken proof sets at modest prices, and PR70 DCAM is the only meaningful condition rarity at the top of the grading scale. The very large original mintage combined with strong survival in original government packaging has kept supply abundant across all grades through PR69 DCAM. For broader context on the Bicentennial-year proof program and the surge in collector participation, see the Roosevelt Dime series history.