1993 Canadian 10-Cent (Dime) Value Guide

The 1993 Canadian 10-cent coin pairs Emanuel Otto Hahn's enduring Bluenose schooner reverse — in continuous use since 1937 — with Dora de Pédery-Hunt's Third Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced in 1990 as the first Canadian-designed royal effigy. Produced in four distinct finishes (Business Strike, Proof-Like, Specimen, and Proof), the 1993 issue is also a pivotal transitional year in die technology: the shift from traditional denticles to modern beaded rims creates a rare and sought-after variety for specialists. This guide covers standard non-error values for each finish and the Beads vs. Denticles variety. For values across all years of the Canadian dime, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.

Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II Third Portrait — Diademed Head (Dora de Pédery-Hunt, 1990–2003). Reverse: The Bluenose schooner under full sail (Emanuel Otto Hahn, 1937–present). The standard 1993 rim shows circular beads along the inner border.

1993 Canadian Dime Composition & Metal Value

The 1993 Canadian dime belongs to the pure Nickel Era of Canadian coinage, which ran from 1968 through approximately 2000 before the transition to Multi-Ply Plated Steel began. All four finishes — Business Strike, Proof-Like, Specimen, and Proof — share an identical composition of 99.9% nickel. There is no silver variant of the 1993 10-cent coin.

The Silver Proof Misconception

Magnetic Properties as an Authentication Tool

Because the 1993 dime is composed of 99.9% pure nickel, it is strongly magnetic. A standard household magnet will adhere firmly to any genuine 1993 Canadian dime regardless of its finish. This simple, non-destructive test can be used to confirm authenticity: a non-magnetic response would suggest a foreign coin or a pre-1968 Canadian silver dime (which are not magnetic).

Why Nickel Composition Drives Condition Rarity

Nickel is significantly harder than the silver-copper alloys used prior to 1968. This hardness creates two important effects for collectors:

• Strike difficulty: The center details — specifically the Bluenose rigging and the Queen's hair above the ear — are often incompletely formed due to rapid die wear. A fully struck coin commands a premium at any grade.
• Bag marks: Hard nickel coins collide aggressively in mint bags, producing sharp, jagged gouges that are virtually impossible to avoid entirely in mass production. Finding a coin that survived this process with minimal marks in MS66 or higher is a genuine statistical rarity despite a circulation mintage exceeding 135 million pieces.

Because all 1993 dimes are base metal nickel, numismatic grade and finish value far exceed any intrinsic metal value.

1993 Canadian Dime Value Chart by Grade & Finish

The 1993 Canadian dime was struck in four distinct finishes, each valued on its own scale. Circulated examples in any grade — from G4 through AU50 — are worth face value (10¢). The market inflection point begins at MS65 for Business Strikes, where condition rarity dramatically outpaces supply. A key dynamic of this issue: at MS66 and above, a Business Strike is worth more than a same-grade Proof coin, because Proofs are engineered to be perfect while a perfect Business Strike is an accident of survival.

Grade comparison for the 1993 Canadian dime Business Strike: MS63 (left) shows the typical bag marks in the fields that result from hard nickel coins colliding in mint bags; MS66 (right) has clean, undisturbed luster across the fields. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1993 Canadian Dime — Business Strike (Circulation)

Mintage: 135,569,000. Despite this enormous production figure, the survival of mark-free, fully struck examples above MS65 is exceptional: the document source estimates fewer than 200 certified MS66 examples across all grading services, fewer than 25 at MS67, and fewer than 5 at MS68. These researcher estimates explain why the grade premium becomes so steep above MS65.

MS69 is not applicable for Business Strikes. Grading cost context: see FAQ below.

1993 Canadian Dime — Collector Finishes (PL, Specimen & Proof)

All three collector finishes share the same 99.9% nickel composition as the circulation strike. Mintages: Proof-Like 171,680; Proof 143,065; Specimen 77,351 (set mintage — the lowest of any 1993 dime finish). Despite holding the absolute scarcity advantage, the Specimen is often priced similarly to the higher-mintage Proof, suggesting potential undervaluation relative to rarity. High-grade examples (MS67+) frequently realize higher prices at US auction houses such as Heritage Auctions and GreatCollections due to competitive PCGS Registry Set demand.

Values in CAD as of 2025–2026. References: NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada 10 Cents KM-183 (1990–2000); auction data from the GreatCollections Auction Archive — Canada 1993 10 Cents Proof DCAM. For the complete denomination history, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1993 Canadian Dime Varieties

The 1993 Canadian dime presents one primary variety of specialist interest: a transitional rim type created by the Royal Canadian Mint's mid-production modernization of its die-making process. This is a deliberate tooling change — not an error — that occurred during the production cycle, creating two structurally distinct subtypes. The CoinVarieties reference for the 1993 10-cent coin documents this distinction.

Close-up diagnostic comparison of the 1993 dime rim types at 10x magnification. LEFT: Beaded Rim (Type 2, Standard) — perfectly circular dots that appear to float away from the raised rim edge. RIGHT: Denticled Rim (Type 1, Rare Transitional) — rectangular, elongated tooth-like projections rooted directly into the rim, creating a saw-tooth border. Shape is the key diagnostic — not merely spacing.

Type 2: Beaded Rim — Standard (Common)

The vast majority of 1993 circulation strikes, as well as all collector finishes (PL, SP, and Proof), exhibit the Beaded Rim. The transition to beads was part of the RCM's adoption of computerized scanning and laser-engraving technology in die production during the early 1990s.

Diagnostics (5x–10x magnification required):

• Shape: Perfectly circular or slightly oval dots.
• Separation: Beads appear to float distinctly away from the raised rim edge — they do not merge with it.
• Spacing: Gaps between beads are roughly equal to the bead diameter, creating a regular "dotted line" border effect.

If you have a 1993 dime, this is almost certainly the type you have. Its value is determined entirely by grade and finish, not by the variety designation.

Type 1: Denticled Rim — Rare Transitional

Reports of 1993-dated dimes with denticles — the tooth-like rim projections standard on 1992 and earlier Canadian dimes — are sporadic and represent a significant numismatic discovery when properly authenticated.

Diagnostics (5x–10x magnification required):

• Shape: Rectangular, elongated, or tooth-shaped — distinctly not circular.
• Connection: Denticles appear rooted into the rim itself, merging with the raised edge rather than floating away from it.
• Spacing: Tightly packed; the gap between denticles is narrower than the denticle itself, producing a "saw-tooth" border rather than a "dotted line."

Market significance: The 1993 Denticled Rim, when properly authenticated, commands a significant premium over the standard Beaded Rim. No specific catalog price is established for this variety at the time of this writing. Professional authentication is essential before any transaction at premium prices.

1993 Canadian Dime Identification Guide

Use this 30-second checklist to confirm exactly what you have — and to determine which finish and variety it represents.

30-Second Identification Checklist

1. Monarch Check: The obverse shows Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Diamond Diadem, a necklace, and earrings. This is the Third Portrait (Diademed Head) designed by Dora de Pédery-Hunt, in use from 1990 through 2003. It is distinguished from the earlier Machin Second Portrait (1965–1989), which shows a more mature queen wearing a tiara without the ornate diadem jewelry, and from the post-2003 Susanna Blunt portrait, which shows the queen bare-headed without a crown.
2. Reverse Check: Confirm the Bluenose schooner under full sail, with CANADA above and 10 CENTS below. The design by Emanuel Otto Hahn has been in use since 1937 and remained standard for 1993.
3. Date Check: The date 1993 appears on the obverse below the portrait truncation.
4. Rim Check — Beads vs. Denticles: Under 5x–10x magnification, examine the inner rim border. Circular dots that float away from the raised rim edge = Beaded Rim (standard for 1993). Rectangular teeth rooted into the rim edge = Denticled Rim (rare transitional — see Varieties section).
5. Magnet Test (Composition Verification): Apply a household magnet to the coin. A genuine 1993 Canadian dime is composed of 99.9% pure nickel and will be strongly attracted. A coin that does not stick may be a pre-1968 Canadian silver dime (issued 1858–1967) or a foreign coin. There is no 1993 silver dime in any finish.
6. Mint Mark Check: There are no mint marks on any 1993 Canadian dime — in any finish. The Royal Canadian Mint does not distinguish Ottawa from Winnipeg production on the coin itself for this era. No "W" mark is documented for 1993 dimes.

Finish Identification — The Critical Step

Correctly identifying the finish is the single most important step in valuing your 1993 dime. A Specimen or Proof coin from a collector set is worth significantly more than a generic uncirculated coin — but only if it is correctly identified and in undamaged condition.

Four-way finish comparison for the 1993 Canadian dime: Business Strike (cartwheel luster, satiny flow-line fields); Proof-Like (semi-reflective fields, brilliant devices); Specimen (fine parallel striated matte fields, brilliant glossy devices); Proof (deep mirror fields, heavily frosted devices — black-and-white deep cameo contrast). (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Magnet test for the 1993 Canadian dime: the coin sticks firmly to a household magnet, confirming its 99.9% pure nickel composition. A pre-1968 Canadian silver dime would not be attracted. This quick, non-destructive test is the fastest way to confirm you have a genuine 1993-era issue rather than an older silver dime.

Close-up of the deep cameo (DCAM) contrast on a 1993 Canadian Proof dime: heavily frosted devices — the Queen's portrait and the Bluenose — stand in brilliant white relief against deeply mirrored fields that appear almost black when tilted. Despite being struck in base nickel rather than silver, the 1993 Proof achieves the same striking visual drama as a silver proof coin. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1993 Canadian Dime Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide reflect auction averages and retail market listings as of 2025–2026 and are denominated in Canadian Dollars (CAD). Primary sources consulted include:

• NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada 10 Cents KM-183 (1990–2000)
• GreatCollections Auction Archive — Canada 1993 10 Cents Proof DCAM
• GreatCollections — Record PCGS Graded Coin Prices
• Stack's Bowers May 2025 Showcase Auction Catalogue
• CoinVarieties — Canada 1993 10 Cents Variety Reference
• Numista — 10 Cents Elizabeth II (3rd Portrait) Canada
• Royal Canadian Mint — 10 Cents Official Page
• Calgary Coin — Canadian 10 Cent Dime Values

Values represent typical market ranges and may vary with current market conditions. Coins should be professionally evaluated by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC before significant transactions. This guide covers standard non-error varieties only.