The reason your "dime" is the size of a nickel is that it's not a dime, it's a 5¢ coin. If you remember Roman numerals, V is the symbol for 5.
There's more information at the Related Question.
The "V" within the wreath on the back of the 1898 Liberty dime stands for "5" in Roman numerals. It indicates the denomination of the coin, which is 5 cents.
There is a wreath with the words "ONE DIME" within the wreath. It is known as a Barber dime being named after its designer, Charles Barber.
The coin is a 1898 Liberty Head nickel (1883-1912) most show very heavy wear and are valued at $5.00-$9.00.
If you remember your Roman numerals from elementary school, V stands for 5. If you look under the V it will say "cents". The woman is Miss Liberty, so what you have is called a Liberty nickel. This design was struck from 1883 to 1912, plus a few unauthorized pieces made illegally (but famously) in 1913. 1902 is a fairly common date for Liberty nickels; yours would retail at about $3 if worn from circulation, up to maybe $30 if almost uncirculated.
Indian head cents were minted from 1859 to 1909. The front side had a picture of Miss Liberty wearing a Native American headdress and the back side had a shield and wreath with the words ONE CENT.
Remember Roman numerals? V = 5, so you have a nickel. There's more information at the Related Question.
There is a wreath with the words "ONE DIME" within the wreath. It is known as a Barber dime being named after its designer, Charles Barber.
The letter V is the roman numeral for 5. What you have is a Liberty nickel, NOT a dime.
The coin is a 1898 Liberty Head nickel (1883-1912) most show very heavy wear and are valued at $5.00-$9.00.
Early and bust half dimes never had mintmarks. For seated liberty half dimes they appear in a variety of places. Between 1838-1859 and part of 1875 it will be in the wreath below "HALF DIME" on the back(tails) of the coin. Between 1860-1869 and from 1972-1873 it will be below the wreath on the back.
Prior to the Lincoln cent, first produced in 1909, the US one cent piece always (except in 1856-1858 with the flying eagle cent) had a representaion of Liberty on the front and a wreath with the denomination on the back. (Note that the "Indian Head Penny" is actually Liberty wearing an Indian headdress.)
If you remember your Roman numerals from elementary school, V stands for 5. If you look under the V it will say "cents". The woman is Miss Liberty, so what you have is called a Liberty nickel. This design was struck from 1883 to 1912, plus a few unauthorized pieces made illegally (but famously) in 1913. 1902 is a fairly common date for Liberty nickels; yours would retail at about $3 if worn from circulation, up to maybe $30 if almost uncirculated.
All quarters minted up till 1930 had a picture of Miss Liberty. Please post a new question with the coin's date and whether it has a mint mark: > Standing Liberty design - to the left of Miss Liberty's foot (not the "M" on the right; that's the designer's monogram) > All others - on the back under the eagle or wreath.
The obverse shows a liberty head with crown and 13 stars around the edges. The reverse shows a Roman Numeral 5 with wreath around it and CENTS below. The date is on the front below the head and the Words United States of America are around the wreath on the back.
Please check again and post a new, separate question. Buffalo nickels were first released in 1913. All 1898 nickels carried a Liberty head design with the Roman numeral V on the back.
Your coin has been altered outside of the mint. The mint mark position on a Barber dime is on the back under the wreath; in addition the Denver Mint didn't open until 1906. The damage will reduce its collector value. Unless it has an O mint mark on the back, its value would only be a few dollars without damage, so you probably haven't lost very much.
This is a 1869 3 Cent-Piece. It's fairly common with values of $15.00-$30.00 for a coin in average circulated condition.
within 5 to 21 work days.