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ASSOCIATED PRESS
A rare 1894 dime that will be put up for auction Thursday Jan. 7, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. Only nine of the 24 dimes made at the San Francisco mint in 1894 are known today. The coin is expected to sell for more than $1 million in the auction.
TAMPA, Fla. >> Whatever disparaging cliche you’ve heard about the lowly dime — dime a dozen, nickel and dimed, dime’s worth of difference — it’s not true of this dime.
No, this particular coin that went to auction Thursday evening in Tampa sold for just under $2 million.
The 1894-S dime belonging to a private owner was struck at the San Francisco Mint. Only 24 were made, and only nine likely still exist.
Experts say the dime is a rare icon in the coin collector’s world and is in perfect condition.
Heritage Auctions says an experienced collector who wishes to remain anonymous outbid 15 others vying for the piece. The winner paid $1,997,500.
The auction was held during the Florida United Numismatists show.
“A penny for your thoughts”?