1890 Canadian 10-Cent (Dime) Value Guide — Victoria Diademed Head
Find out what your 1890 Canadian 10-cent coin is worth. Full price guide for the 1890-H Heaton business strike (G4–MS65+) and the rare London Specimen (SP63–SP66+), with February 2026 CAD market values.
A circulated 1890-H Canadian dime is worth $45–$600 CAD depending on grade. Mint State examples are rare and reach $1,100–$7,500+ CAD. The extremely rare London Specimen (no "H" mintmark) trades from $12,000 CAD upward.
- Circulated — Good to Very Fine (G4–VF20):$45–$220 CAD
- Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated (EF40–AU50):$400–$600 CAD
- Uncirculated / Mint State (MS60–MS65):$1,100–$7,500+ CAD
- London Specimen — No "H" (SP63–SP66+):$12,000–$25,000+ CAD
- Silver melt floor (any grade): ~$7.36 CAD at February 2026 spot prices
Is it silver? Yes — all 1890 Canadian dimes are Sterling Silver (92.5% Ag). They are non-magnetic; a quick magnet test screens out modern counterfeits. Shiny with no wear? If your coin has no "H" mintmark and shows sharply squared rims with satin or mirror-like fields, it may be the rare London Specimen — have it authenticated by ICCS or PCGS before selling. Found in a drawer or coin roll? Even the most worn example commands a strong premium well above its ~$7.36 CAD melt value; never sell it as scrap silver. All values in CAD as of February 2026. See the full value chart →
The 1890 Canadian 10-cent piece holds semi-key status within the Queen Victoria Diademed Head series (1858–1901). Its entire circulation issue of 450,000 coins was struck at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England, identifiable by a small "H" mintmark on the reverse below the date. No circulation strikes were produced in London that year; the only examples lacking an "H" are extremely rare London Specimens, created solely as presentation or archival pieces at the Royal Mint. The 1890-H suffers from a notoriously low survival rate in high grades — Mint State examples are genuine trophy coins. For values across the full Victorian and modern 10-cent series, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.
Note: Errors such as brockages, off-center strikes, and wrong-planchet errors exist for Victorian silver coinage but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
Obverse and reverse of a typical 1890-H Canadian 10-cent coin. The small "H" mintmark appears on the reverse, below the date and just above the rim beads — the critical diagnostic for this issue.
1890 Canadian Dime Composition & Melt Value
Alloy Breakdown
The 1890 Canadian dime is composed of Sterling Silver — the same alloy used for centuries by the British Empire and its dominions for fractional silver coinage.
- Silver (Ag) — 92.5%: Provides the coin's intrinsic value and its brilliant white lustre when in Mint State condition.
- Copper (Cu) — 7.5%: Hardens the alloy, slowing wear on the high points of the Queen's effigy and the maple leaf wreath details.
Melt Value (February 2026)
With silver spot prices at approximately $106.70 CAD per troy ounce as of February 2026 (approximately $3.43 CAD per gram), the intrinsic melt value of a single 1890 10-cent coin is calculated as follows:
- Total weight: 2.32 grams
- Silver purity: 0.925
- Net pure silver weight: approximately 0.069 troy ounces (2.146 grams)
- Approximate melt value: ~$7.36 CAD
For live silver spot data, see GoldBroker — Silver Price in CAD.
⚠️ Never Sell an Identifiable 1890-H as Scrap
Even the most heavily worn, low-grade 1890-H dime commands approximately $45 CAD — roughly a 600% premium above the ~$7.36 CAD melt floor. The melt value serves only as a theoretical baseline for completely dateless, holed, or otherwise destroyed culls. An identifiable example should always be sold through a coin dealer or auction house, never a scrap silver buyer.
Magnetic Properties & Authentication
Sterling Silver is non-magnetic. Hold a strong rare-earth magnet to any 1890 dime: if the coin sticks or shows strong attraction, it is a modern counterfeit (likely a nickel- or steel-based planchet). The 1890-H should exhibit zero magnetic attraction. Genuine examples also weigh 2.32 grams; worn coins may measure 2.25–2.30 g due to material loss, but any coin weighing below 2.10 g or above 2.40 g should be treated as suspect.
The Canadian Currency Act prohibits the melting of legal-tender Canadian coinage, and the numismatic premium on the 1890-H makes melting economically irrational in any scenario.
1890 Canadian Dime Value Chart by Grade & Finish
The 1890 Canadian 10-cent coin trades on two entirely separate value scales depending on whether you have a business strike from the Heaton Mint ("H" mintmark present) or the Royal Mint London Specimen (no mintmark). All values in CAD as of February 2026. For the NGC reference catalogue, see NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada 10 Cents KM-3 (1858–1901).
1890-H Victoria Diademed Head — Business Strike (Heaton Mint, Circulation)
Composition: Sterling Silver (92.5% Ag, 7.5% Cu) | Mintage: 450,000 | Mintmark: "H" on reverse below date
| Type / Design | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | EF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS63 | MS65 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890-H — Diademed Head (Obv 3) | $45 | $65 | $90 | $220 | $400 | $600 | $1,100 | $2,200 | $7,500+ | MS66 has realized ~$7,000–$8,500 CAD at auction (see Heritage/NumisBids record). Heaton strikes often exhibit soft detail on hair high points due to die wear — see grading notes below. |
ℹ️ The Value Cliff — Why Grade Matters Enormously for the 1890-H
Approximately 90% of surviving 1890-H dimes grade VG or Fine, making the jump from Fine ($90) to Very Fine ($220) the most important threshold for most collectors. The Fine-to-VF cliff reflects the genuine difficulty of finding examples with intact ear detail and distinct diadem jewels. Beyond VF, the curve steepens rapidly: EF ($400) requires visible mint lustre in protected areas, AU ($600) demands nearly full lustre, and Mint State ($1,100+) means no wear whatsoever — a statistical rarity for a coin that circulated heavily in the Canadian dominion. A weak Heaton strike can mimic wear: if the hair high point above the ear appears flat but shares the same surface texture and sheen as the surrounding fields, the coin is likely a weakly struck Mint State coin — not a lower-grade circulated piece. ICCS or PCGS authentication is strongly recommended at EF and above.
Grade progression for the 1890-H Canadian dime from heavily worn (G4) through near-mint (EF40). Note how the ear detail and diadem jewel definition serve as the critical grading benchmarks. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
1890 Victoria Diademed Head — Specimen (Royal Mint, London — No Mintmark)
Composition: Sterling Silver (92.5% Ag, 7.5% Cu) | Mintmark: None | Surviving Population: Fewer than 15 estimated | Authentication: Mandatory — ICCS or PCGS Specimen designation required
| Finish | Mint | SP63 | SP65 | SP66+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen (SP) | London (No "H") | $12,000+ | $18,000+ | $25,000+ | Extremely rarely trades publicly. Private treaty and major auction houses only. See The Norweb Collection — Stack's Bowers (1996) for historical rarity documentation. |
Victorian Specimen coins of this era are not modern mirror proofs. The 1890 London Specimen typically displays a satin or semi-matte field with sharply defined, highly polished devices — a finish physically impossible to replicate on the high-speed Heaton commercial presses. Squared, wire-sharp rims are the most reliable visual diagnostic. If you believe you have a "No H" coin in any circulated grade (G through EF), it is almost certainly a worn 1890-H with the "H" removed or filled — not a London Specimen. Specimens must be authenticated to be marketable.
⚠️ Never Clean Your 1890-H Dime
Victorian silver often develops rich grey or dark charcoal toning over 130+ years. Do not dip, polish, or clean the coin. A dark, original VF-20 at $220 CAD becomes a "Details — Cleaned" problem coin worth perhaps $80–$90 once hairlines are introduced. Grading services (ICCS, PCGS, NGC) assign a "Details" designation to cleaned coins, permanently destroying the numismatic premium regardless of underlying detail quality.
Side-by-side comparison of a typical 1890-H business strike (left) versus the surface characteristics of a Victorian Specimen finish (right). The Specimen shows squared rims, satin fields, and razor-sharp device definition impossible on commercial press strikes. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.
Most Valuable 1890 Canadian Dime Varieties
Unlike the 1891 (with Large/Small Date and 21/22 Leaves varieties) or the 1893 (Flat/Round Top 3), the 1890-H is a remarkably consistent issue. Rarity here is defined primarily by mint of origin and intended purpose of the strike rather than by die varieties. Advanced specialists, however, do pursue several documented split points.
A — Trophy-Level: The Most Valuable 1890 Canadian Dimes
| What | Why It Commands a Premium | Minimum Requirement | Estimated High-End Value | Source / Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 London Specimen — No "H" | The only "No Mintmark" 1890 dimes in existence are Specimens. Fewer than 15 are estimated to survive. No business strikes were made in London. | SP-60 or higher; mandatory authentication as Specimen finish | $20,000+ CAD (Gem estimate; rarely trades publicly) | Norweb Collection, Stack's Bowers (1996) |
| 1890-H Heaton Presentation Specimen | The Heaton Mint occasionally struck presentation pieces of their colonial contracts. Even rarer than the London Specimen in high Specimen grades. | SP-65+ (Cornerstone quality) | Private treaty only — the Cornerstone Collection SP-66+ is a unique benchmark | Cornerstone Collection — Canadian Coin News |
| 1890-H Gem Business Strike (MS-66) | Condition rarity: a standard circulation coin that survived 136+ years without wear or cleaning. Top of the population report in certified holders. | MS-66 (PCGS or ICCS certified) | ~$7,000–$8,500 CAD (based on PCGS MS-66 Heritage Auctions realization; market has strengthened into 2026) | Heritage World Coin Auctions — NumisBids Archive (Aug 2019) |
Key visual diagnostics for the 1890 London Specimen: squared wire-sharp rims (arrowed), satin or semi-mirror fields, and extremely crisp device definition — features that cannot be replicated on Heaton commercial press strikes. Any worn coin lacking an "H" is almost certainly a Heaton coin with a filled or worn mintmark, not this rarity. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
B — Findable Varieties: What to Check
For the specialist collector, the following varieties have been documented in the literature. None currently command a separate price line in the Charlton Standard Catalogue, but they are worth examining.
| Variety | How to Identify | Status / Premium | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse 3 vs. Obverse 5 | Examine the first jewel in the Queen's crown: Obv 3 — jewel is round. Obv 5 — jewel is flattened / oval. Calgary Coin states "All 1890 are Obverse 3"; the Saskatoon Coin Club Obverse Study lists the "Victoria OT5" range as potentially including 1890-H. The catalogue conflict remains unresolved. | Market does not currently differentiate price. A confirmed Obverse 5, if certified, could attract a specialist premium — but Charlton assigns no separate value line. | Saskatoon Coin Club — Victorian 10-Cent Obverse Study |
| Repunched "I" in DEI | Under magnification, examine the letter "I" in DEI GRATIA on the obverse for visible doubling — evidence of die repair or die chatter during manufacture at the Heaton Mint. | Documented; carries a +10% to +20% premium with specialist variety collectors. See Collecting Victorian Cent Varieties (Calgary Presentation PDF). | Victorian variety literature; unlisted in Charlton |
| Die Clash (Heaton) | A ghostly outline of the reverse wreath visible on the obverse field (Queen's portrait area). Caused by the two dies striking each other without a planchet between them — a known characteristic of Heaton Mint production. | Minimal premium; primarily of interest to die-variety specialists. See Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 10-Cent Major Varieties. | Die-variety literature; unlisted in Charlton |
Side-by-side close-up of the first jewel in Queen Victoria's crown: Obverse 3 (left) shows a clearly round jewel; Obverse 5 (right) shows a distinctly flattened or oval jewel. This is the single diagnostic pickup point for the obverse variety split documented for the 1890-H. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
1890 Canadian Dime Identification Guide
Before consulting any value table, confirm exactly what you have. Misidentifying a later Victorian date, or confusing the London Specimen with a worn Heaton strike, are the most common and costly errors collectors make with this issue.
30-Second Field Checklist
Monarch & Legend Check (Obverse)
The obverse should show Queen Victoria facing left with a mature portrait, wearing a crown or tiara (Diademed Head). The surrounding legend reads: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA CANADA. If the portrait shows a very young queen wearing only a laurel wreath with no crown, the coin is an earlier type (1858–1859 Laureate Head) and not an 1890 issue.Reverse Design Check
The reverse features a maple leaf wreath topped by a crown, with 10 CENTS at centre and the date 1890 below the wreath. Confirm all four digits of the date are legible or recoverable.The Critical Mintmark Test
Flip the coin to the reverse. Look at the area directly below the date 1890 and just above the rim beads.- Small letter "H" present: You have the standard 1890-H Heaton business strike. Proceed to grading.
- No "H" on a worn coin (G–VF): Almost certainly a worn Heaton coin with the mintmark ground away by circulation. Value reflects the lower grade.
- No "H" on a high-grade coin (EF+) with squared rims and satin/mirror fields: This is the profile of the rare London Specimen. Do not sell — have it authenticated immediately by ICCS or PCGS.
Close-up of the 1890-H reverse showing the precise location of the "H" mintmark — below the date "1890" and just above the rim bead row. On heavily worn coins (G4), this mark can be partially or fully obliterated; examine under magnification with good raking light before concluding the mark is absent.
Edge Check
The 1890 dime has a reeded edge. Run your thumbnail around the edge: you should feel uniform, evenly spaced reeding. A plain or damaged edge on an otherwise silver-coloured coin is a red flag for a cast counterfeit or heavily corroded piece.Magnet Test (Composition Authentication)
Sterling Silver is non-magnetic. Apply a strong rare-earth magnet to the coin.
— No attraction: Passes first authentication screen. Proceed to weight check.
— Sticks or shows attraction: The coin is almost certainly a modern counterfeit struck on a ferrous or nickel-plated steel planchet. Victorian Canadian silver will not attract a magnet under any circumstance.Weight Test
Place the coin on a digital scale accurate to 0.01 g. The target weight is 2.32 grams. Worn examples may read 2.25–2.30 g due to metal loss. Any coin weighing below 2.10 g (without obvious damage) or above 2.40 g should be treated as suspect.
The magnet test applied to an 1890 Canadian 10-cent coin: a genuine Sterling Silver (92.5% Ag) coin shows zero magnetic attraction. If the coin clings to the magnet, it is a counterfeit on a steel or nickel core. This quick test is the fastest first-line authentication for Victorian Canadian silver.
Finish Identification (Critical for Value)
- Business Strike (Heaton / MS): Cartwheel luster radiating from the centre; some bag marks or contact marks typical. Dies show normal working characteristics.
- London Specimen (SP): Satin or semi-mirror fields; razor-sharp, squared rims; devices of exceptional sharpness and relief. NO cartwheel luster. This finish is the result of hand-prepared dies and slow single-feed pressing — not possible on commercial Heaton output.
Alteration Red Flag — Removed Mintmark
Be aware that someone may have removed the "H" mintmark from a common 1890-H in an attempt to simulate the rare London Specimen. Always examine the area below the date under magnification: the field should be uniformly flat with no tooling marks, pitting, or disturbance. Any sign of mechanical alteration to that area makes the coin suspect. Combined with the finish identification test above (Specimen vs. business strike surface characteristics), this provides reliable screening.
💡 Grading the Heaton Strike — Weak Strike vs. Wear
Heaton Mint dies were often polished or slightly worn during production, resulting in business strike coins that may appear flat on the highest points (above the Queen's ear) even in Mint State. The diagnostic: if the flat area has the same surface texture and sheen as the surrounding fields, it is a weak strike — grade Mint State. If the high point is dull grey while the adjacent fields retain luster, that is genuine wear — grade AU or lower. This distinction can mean a difference of hundreds to thousands of dollars, and is one reason ICCS or PCGS certification is strongly recommended at EF and above.
1890 Canadian Dime Value FAQs
What is a 1890 Canadian dime worth?
The value depends entirely on grade and whether the coin carries an "H" mintmark. A circulated 1890-H (Heaton business strike) ranges from $45 CAD in G4 to $600 CAD in AU50. Mint State examples trade from $1,100 (MS60) to $7,500+ CAD (MS65), with MS66-certified coins realizing ~$7,000–$8,500 CAD at major auctions. The rare London Specimen (no "H") begins at $12,000 CAD for SP63 and can exceed $25,000 CAD in gem Specimen grades. All values as of February 2026.
Is the 1890 Canadian dime made of silver?
Yes. All 1890 Canadian 10-cent coins — both the Heaton business strikes and the London Specimens — are struck in Sterling Silver: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper. The coin weighs 2.32 grams and contains approximately 0.069 troy ounces of pure silver, giving it a melt value of approximately $7.36 CAD at February 2026 spot prices. The coin is non-magnetic; a magnet test immediately distinguishes genuine silver from modern counterfeits.
What is the "H" mintmark and where do I find it?
The "H" stands for Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England, which struck all 450,000 circulation coins for the 1890 issue under contract to the Canadian government. The mintmark appears as a small letter "H" on the reverse of the coin, directly below the date "1890" and just above the rim bead row. On heavily worn (G4) coins, the "H" may be partially obliterated — use a magnifying glass under raking light before concluding it is absent.
What is the rare "No H" London Specimen — and how do I know if I have one?
The Royal Mint in London struck a tiny number of presentation or archival pieces for the 1890 Canadian dime issue. These Specimen coins carry no mintmark because they were produced at Tower Hill (London), not Heaton. Fewer than 15 are estimated to survive. A genuine London Specimen will show: (1) no "H" mintmark, (2) sharply squared, wire-edged rims, (3) a satin or semi-mirror field finish with extremely crisp device definition impossible on Heaton commercial dies, and (4) absolutely no signs of circulation. If a No-H coin is merely worn (G–VF), it is almost certainly a Heaton coin with the mintmark worn away. Any suspected London Specimen must be authenticated by ICCS or PCGS — it should not be sold without a Specimen designation slab.
Should I get my 1890-H dime graded?
Grading makes economic sense at EF40 and above, where values range from $400 to $7,500+ CAD and the "weak strike vs. wear" distinction (see Identification section) has a material dollar impact. For VG and Fine examples, grading fees typically exceed the premium gained. For any coin that may be a London Specimen (No H, high-grade, Specimen finish), professional authentication is mandatory before selling. ICCS (Toronto) is the Canadian standard and carries strong credibility in the domestic market; PCGS and NGC slabs are preferred by US and international bidders at major auction houses such as Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers, and often realize higher realized prices for high-grade Victorian silver.
What is the difference between a Business Strike and a Specimen for the 1890 dime?
A Business Strike (the 1890-H) is a coin struck on the Heaton Mint's commercial presses at production speed for circulation among the public. It has cartwheel luster when uncirculated, with normal die characteristics. A Specimen (the 1890 London) is a presentation piece struck on specially prepared dies, often by hand-feeding single planchets, resulting in squared rims, satin or semi-mirror fields, and device sharpness that is physically impossible to replicate on high-speed commercial equipment. The two types have no price overlap — the Specimen begins where the finest Business Strike ends.
What are the Obverse 3 and Obverse 5 varieties?
Numismatic literature documents two possible obverse dies for the 1890 Victorian dime, distinguished by the shape of the first jewel in the Queen's crown: Obverse 3 has a round first jewel; Obverse 5 has a flattened or oval first jewel. Calgary Coin states all 1890-H coins use Obverse 3; the Saskatoon Coin Club Victorian obverse study suggests Obverse 5 may also appear on the 1890-H. The Charlton Standard Catalogue does not currently assign a separate price line for this distinction, and the general market prices 1890-H as a single entity. Specialists examine this point, but it has no documented price impact as of February 2026.
How do I spot a fake or altered 1890 Canadian dime?
Three red flags: (1) Magnetic attraction — genuine Sterling Silver is completely non-magnetic; any attraction to a magnet indicates a base-metal counterfeit. (2) Wrong weight — should be 2.32 grams; significant deviation suggests a plated counterfeit or wrong-metal fake. (3) Altered mintmark area — a relatively common alteration is removing the "H" to simulate the rare London No-H Specimen; examine the area below the date under magnification for tool marks, pitting, or disturbed metal. Genuine London Specimens also have a distinct Specimen finish that cannot be faked on a business strike without leaving obvious surface damage.
Will cleaning my 1890-H dime increase its value?
Never clean a Victorian coin. Cleaning — whether by dipping in silver cleaner, polishing, or even wiping with a cloth — destroys the original luster and introduces microscopic hairlines visible under magnification. Grading services (ICCS, PCGS, NGC) assign a "Details — Cleaned" designation that permanently marks the coin as problem-grade. A dark, original VF-20 at $220 CAD becomes a "Details" coin worth perhaps $80–$90 after cleaning. Original grey or charcoal toning is a feature, not a flaw.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide reflect typical dealer asking prices and auction realizations aggregated for the February 2026 market. All prices are in Canadian Dollars (CAD). Primary sources consulted:
- Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — primary reference for variety attribution, mintage context, and KM classification
- NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada 10 Cents KM-3 (1858–1901) — attribution, specifications, comparative global pricing
- Numista — 10 Cents Victoria Canada — mintage cross-referencing and frequency data
- Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian Circulation Coin Mintage Quantities
- Saskatoon Coin Club — Victorian 10-Cent Obverse Design Evolution — die variety studies
- Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 10-Cent Major Varieties
- The Norweb Collection — Stack's Bowers Galleries (1996) — London Specimen rarity documentation
- Canadian Coin News — Cornerstone Collection — pedigree and provenance context
- Heritage World Coin Auctions ANA Signature Sale 3075 — NumisBids (Aug 2019) — MS-66 auction realization record
- GoldBroker — Silver Price in CAD — February 2026 silver spot pricing
- Collecting Victorian Cent Varieties — Calgary Presentation — Victorian variety diagnostics
Market values are typical estimates and may vary with silver spot price fluctuations, individual coin eye appeal, and regional auction premiums. This guide covers standard (non-error) coins only.
A note on images: To help illustrate coin diagnostics and rare varieties — especially complex errors that are difficult to describe in text alone — this guide uses AI-generated images. All written values, diagnostics, and variety attributions have been manually reviewed against the cited sources above. While our editorial team works to ensure every image is accurate and helpful, AI-generated illustrations may occasionally misrepresent fine details. If you spot any discrepancy between an image and its written description, please contact us or leave a comment below — we review all feedback and correct errors promptly. Numismatic knowledge is a community effort, and your input helps us build a more accurate resource for everyone.