What is a dime made out of?

As of 2014, the dime is made out of a blend of metals called "clad." A copper center is sandwiched between two layers of a 75-percent copper and 25-percent nickel blend. The total composition of a modern dime is 91.67 percent copper and 8.33 percent nickel.

Throughout American history, there have been several dimes minted. The dime was the first coin ever minted by the United States Mint and takes its name from the French word "disme." Older dimes were a blend of 89.24 percent silver and 10.76 percent copper. This composition continued until 1965 when the Coinage Act of 1965 was passed in response to rising silver prices. The change resulted in the more modern clad construction.