Owner Comments:
Congress passed legislation authorizing the Roosevelt dime in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. Roosevelt had died unexpectedly at his therapy and vacation retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia in April of 1945.
The Roosevelt dime was introduced in 1946. John Sinnock, who was the chief mint engraver, designed this piece. It marked the first time since 1892 that an in-house mint engraver won the assignment to design a coin for general circulation.
Franklin Roosevelt contracted infantile paralysis in the early 1920s. After a difficult adjustment period, Roosevelt, who was paralyzed from the waist down from the illness, overcame his handicap. He was elected Governor of New York and then President of the United States. Today many historians regard Franklin Roosevelt as one of our greatest presidents.
One of President Roosevelt’s favorite charities was The March of Dimes. Given the president’s support and commitment to the organization, it was only fitting that the dime would be selected as the denomination that would be issued in his honor.
The coin shown above is very attractive cameo Proof piece. Although the cameo Proof finish is a stardard for modern Proof coins, it is rather unusual to see it on a Proof coin from this era.