1908 Canadian 10-Cent (Dime) Value Guide

On January 2, 1908, Governor General Earl Grey officially opened the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint — ending five decades of Canadian dependence on London and Birmingham for its silver coinage. The first 10-cent piece struck on Canadian soil is an immediate landmark in numismatic terms: with only 776,666 circulation strikes, the 1908 dime is one of the scarcest business-strike dates in the entire Edward VII series (1902–1910), produced at less than a third of the 1907 mintage. Beyond its low production numbers, the 1908 issue introduced two permanent legacies for Canadian coinage — the Medal Alignment standard that has defined domestic strikes ever since, and the very first official Canadian Specimen presentation sets, distributed to dignitaries at the inauguration in distinctive red card boxes.

This guide covers standard business strikes, the Charlton-listed 8/8 Repunched Date variety, and the 1908 Specimen Matte strike. For a full overview of the denomination across all eras, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.

Note: Production errors such as off-center strikes or planchet defects may exist for 1908 but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.

1908 Canadian Dime Composition & Melt Value

Sterling Silver Alloy

The 1908 Canadian dime is struck in Sterling Silver: 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper. The copper serves purely as a hardening agent — pure silver would be too soft for the rigors of circulation. This alloy was the inherited standard of British Imperial coinage, and the transition to domestic production at Ottawa changed nothing in the metallurgical recipe. The statutory weight of 2.32 grams and diameter of 18.03 mm had been consistent throughout the Victorian and Edwardian series, and the dimensions have remained remarkably stable even as the alloy shifted in later decades. The Royal Canadian Mint’s 10-cent denomination history page confirms this continuity.

Melt Value (2026)

With a silver spot price in the range of roughly $3.50–$4.00 CAD per gram as of early 2026, the intrinsic silver value of a 1908 dime is approximately $5.00–$7.00 CAD. Even a heavily worn G-4 example commands $10–$15 CAD — a numismatic premium of at least two to three times melt. Unlike common silver dimes from the 1960s (which are occasionally liquidated in bulk for silver content), the 1908 is invariably treated as a collectible. Its “key date” and “First Year of Issue” status ensure that numismatic value remains the primary driver at every grade level.

Magnetic Properties (Authentication)

Sterling silver and copper are both non-magnetic metals. A genuine 1908 Canadian dime should not respond to a magnet. If a claimed 1908 dime sticks to or is strongly attracted by a magnet, treat this as a serious authentication red flag — possibly a counterfeit struck on a base-metal planchet or a wrong-planchet coin. The magnet test takes two seconds and is the first physical field test to apply to any silver-era Canadian coin.

Hold a magnet near your 1908 dime: genuine Sterling Silver (92.5% Ag) does not attract to a magnet. A magnetic response is a red flag for an altered or counterfeit coin.

1908 Canadian Dime Value Chart by Grade & Finish

Grade comparison: Fine (F-12) with worn crown jewels and flat leaves; Choice Uncirculated (MS-63) with strong luster and minimal contact marks; Gem Uncirculated (MS-65) with blazing luster and sharp crown detail. The crown band and King Edward’s cheekbone are the critical wear diagnostics. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1908 Canadian Dime — Business Strike (Victorian Leaves)

The standard 1908 business strike is the Ottawa Mint’s inaugural circulation dime, featuring the Victorian Leaves reverse exclusively. There is no “Broad Leaves” variant for 1908 — that design change did not occur until 1909. All standard 1908 business strikes carry the Victorian Leaves reverse; this is not a premium variant but the baseline design. Values below are retail trends for problem-free, ICCS/PCGS/NGC-certified examples as of 2026.

Market commentary: G-4 through F-12 are the most available grades and represent the entry point for budget collectors. The EF-40 grade is the key pivot point — prices jump sharply here because problem-free, attractive circulated pieces become genuinely scarce. The AU-50 population is contaminated by cleaned EF coins masquerading as sliders (see the alert below). MS-63 is the primary target of registry-set builders. The MS-65 population is extremely low; auction records show strong variance based on eye appeal — blast-white examples toward the lower end of the range, while spectacularly toned examples have the potential to exceed $5,000.

1908 Canadian Dime — 8/8 Repunched Date Variety

The 8/8 is a Charlton-listed repunched date in which the final digit of the date was punched twice with a slightly misaligned second strike. For variety context within the broader Edward VII 10-cent series, see the Saskatoon Coin Club’s Canadian 10-cent variety guide. Premium data for the 8/8 relative to the standard coin was documented by Distinctive Coins (Western Coin News, January 2024).

The 8/8 commands roughly double the standard coin price at F-12 and VF-20, and is significantly scarcer in EF-40 and above — often missing from dealer inventories entirely at those grades. MS-60+ pricing is speculative due to the near-absence of public auction records for the variety in Mint State.

1908 Canadian Dime — Specimen (Matte Finish)

Approximately 1,000 Specimen sets were produced to celebrate the Ottawa Mint’s inauguration. The 1908 Specimen dime features a distinctive Matte or Satin finish — silky, even, and without cartwheel luster — rather than the deep mirror fields associated with later Proof coinage. Many sets have been broken apart over the past century, with individual coins submitted for certification. Original cardboard packaging tends to impart rich toning in blues, grays, and russets over time, and attractively toned examples are especially prized. See Geoffrey Bell Auctions’ 1908 Specimen Set listing and coverage in Canadian Coin News for auction context.

SP-60 to SP-62 prices typically reflect impaired or hairline-scratched examples — common given that many were removed from their original housing. An SP-63 in a certified holder represents what many consider an undervalued “blue chip” entry point in Canadian numismatics. Genuine Gem SP-65 examples are museum-quality rarities.

Values in CAD represent retail trends for problem-free, certified examples as of 2026. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1908 Canadian Dime Varieties

The 1908 Canadian 10-cent series offers one major Charlton-listed die variety — the 8/8 Repunched Date — alongside the important design context that the Victorian Leaves reverse is the only standard type for this issue. There are no PL sets for 1908 (Proof-Like collector sets were a post-WWII introduction), and no “W” mintmark variants exist for this era.

The 1908 8/8 Repunched Date (“Double 8”)

Close-up of the 1908 8/8 Repunched Date: a secondary loop or outline is visible at the top or bottom of the final “8” in the date 1908. Look for a ghost “8” shadow behind the primary digit. Visible with a 10× loupe at F-12 and above. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

What It Is

In the early 20th century, dates were entered onto working dies by hand using individual digit punches. If the mint employee who punched the final “8” of “1908” judged the first impression to be too shallow or slightly misaligned and punched a second time — without perfectly aligning the punch with the first impression — a secondary image formed. The result is technically a Repunched Date (RPD), which is distinct from a doubled die (where the hub itself carries doubling) or machine doubling (caused by loose dies during striking). The 8/8 is listed in the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins and recognized by ICCS, PCGS, and NGC.

Diagnostics

• Location: The secondary impression appears as a loop or outline on the final “8” in the date, most often visible at the top or bottom of the digit — appearing as a shadow “8” peeking out from behind the primary digit.
• Tool required: A 10× loupe is standard. In G-4 or VG-8, wear and surface crud may obscure the doubling. At F-12 and higher, the variety should be clearly visible.
• Cherry-picker’s opportunity: Because many dealers sell raw 1908 dimes without attributing the date variety, it is possible to find the 8/8 in unattributed inventory. Always examine the final “8” of any 1908 dime with a loupe before purchase.

Value Premium

At VF-20, the 8/8 commands $120–$160 CAD versus $50–$70 CAD for the standard coin — approximately double the standard price. At EF-40, the premium grows to $300–$450 CAD versus $120–$160 CAD for a standard piece. In EF and above, the variety is often missing from dealer stock. See the 8/8 value table for complete price data.

A Note on Victorian Leaves (Not a Variant)

A common source of confusion: the 1908 dime features the Victorian Leaves reverse exclusively. The “Broad Leaves” redesign — featuring larger, broader leaves with deeper incuse veins — did not appear until 1909. Unlike the 1909 or 1910 issues, there is no leaf variety to check for on a 1908 coin. The Victorian Leaves on the 1908 reverse are the baseline design, not a premium variant. Collectors who have studied 1909 or 1910 dimes should note this distinction carefully.

1908 Canadian Dime Identification Guide

Use this 30-second checklist to confirm exactly what you have — and to identify anything that might affect value — before purchasing or selling a 1908 Canadian 10-cent coin.

1908 Canadian 10-cent: obverse with King Edward VII portrait (engraver: George William de Saulles) wearing the Imperial State Crown, legend EDWARDVS VII DEI GRATIA REX IMPERATOR; reverse with Victorian Leaves maple wreath, denomination 10 CENTS, and date 1908. No mintmark on either side — confirming Ottawa Mint origin.

30-Second Identification Checklist

1. Monarch Check: The obverse shows King Edward VII in profile, facing right, wearing the Imperial State Crown. The portrait was executed by George William de Saulles, Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint in London. The surrounding legend reads EDWARDVS VII DEI GRATIA REX IMPERATOR. If the portrait shows a different monarch or any different inscription, you have a different coin entirely.
2. Reverse Check: The reverse shows 10 CENTS and 1908 beneath a small St. Edward’s Crown, surrounded by a wreath of maple boughs in the Victorian Leaves style — smaller, more delicate leaves with subtle veining. This is the only reverse type for 1908; no Broad Leaves variant exists for this date.
3. Date Check: Confirm the date reads “1908.” Then, with a 10× loupe, examine the final “8” carefully for any secondary loop or outline at the top or bottom of the digit. If present, you have the 8/8 Repunched Date variety (see Varieties section).
4. Edge Check: The edge is reeded (milled/serrated). A plain edge on a claimed 1908 dime is a serious authentication red flag.
5. Magnet Test: Hold a magnet near the coin. A genuine 1908 dime is 92.5% sterling silver and should not attract to the magnet. Any magnetic response signals a potential counterfeit or wrong-planchet issue.
6. Mintmark Check: There is no mintmark on an authentic 1908 Ottawa strike. The “H” mintmark (Heaton, Birmingham) appeared on earlier pre-1908 issues; from 1908 onward, the absence of any mintmark became the default identifier for Ottawa production. If you find a letter mintmark on a “1908” dime, it warrants careful scrutiny.
7. Die Alignment Check — Medal Alignment: Hold the coin by its top and bottom edges. Rotate it on its horizontal axis (as though flipping a page). If the reverse image stays upright after the rotation, you have Medal Alignment (↑↑) — the expected standard for all 1908 Ottawa strikes. If the reverse appears upside-down, the coin has Coin Alignment, which would be anomalous for this issue and warrants expert examination.
8. Finish Identification (Critical for Value):
   • Business Strike: “Cartwheel” luster — rotating bands of light sweep across the fields as you tilt the coin under a light source. Normal contact marks from bag handling may be present.
   • Specimen (Matte / Satin): A silky, even, fine-grain surface texture — no cartwheel luster. The rims are sharply squared (“wire rims”). The coin has a diffused, glowing luminosity rather than a spinning shine. The Matte finish was a deliberate stylistic choice of the era. Do not mistake the absence of cartwheel luster for poor quality; Specimens are higher-prestige coins, not inferior ones.
9. Variety Check: At F-12 or higher, use a 10× loupe on the final “8” in the date. A secondary loop or outline at the top or bottom of the digit confirms the 8/8 Repunched Date.

Business Strike (left) vs 1908 Specimen Matte (right): the Business Strike shows a cartwheel luster pattern as the coin is tilted; the Specimen displays a silky, even, non-cartwheel surface with sharply squared wire rims. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Medal Alignment test: hold the 1908 dime by the top and bottom edges, then rotate on the horizontal axis. The reverse should remain upright — confirming the Ottawa Mint standard (↑↑) adopted from 1908 onward. An upside-down result would be anomalous for this issue. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1908 Canadian Dime Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide represent retail market trends for problem-free, certified (ICCS/PCGS/NGC) examples as of 2026, drawn from the following primary references:

• NGC Price Guide: Canada 10 Cents KM#10 (1902–1910) — certified population and realized price benchmarks
• Numista: 10 Cents — Edward VII — Canada — specifications, design documentation, and die alignment data
• Saskatoon Coin Club: Canadian 10-Cent Coin Major Varieties — variety diagnostics and series context
• Canadian Coin News: Specimen Sets, Scarce Varieties Highlight Premier Auction — Specimen market auction results
• Geoffrey Bell Auctions: 1908 Specimen Set — auction context for inaugural Ottawa Specimen sets
• Calgary Coin Gallery: Canadian 10-Cent Coins — Buy & Sell — grading guidance and finish identification
• Distinctive Coins: Western Coin News, January 2024 — 8/8 Repunched Date variety premium documentation
• Royal Canadian Mint: 10-Cent Denomination History — official denomination specifications and history
• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — variety attributions and Charlton reference numbers (print reference; no URL)

Market values are retail price trends, not guaranteed sale prices. Actual realized prices vary with eye appeal, originality of surfaces, and prevailing market conditions. This guide covers standard business strikes, the 8/8 Repunched Date variety, and the 1908 Specimen Matte finish. Production errors are outside the scope of this guide.