1975, no "S" mark, dime 0

[zelaznogb]

I apologize if there is already a thread for this. My dad recently came across a 1975 dime that has no "S" mark. In doing a little bit of research, we found two situations: 1) there is supposedly only two of these dimes found that are legitimate, and have been purchased for over $400k. 2) There were over 585 million made in Philadelphia mint, that seem to have no real great value. 

I want to send the coin in for grading and getting a value designation to the coin, but when I saw NGC's "packages" it ranged from $19 to over $350, and for each "package" there is a ceiling limit of the value of the coin (the last tier having an "unlimited" amount. However, I do not want to pay $350+ only to have a response of "Our apologies, sir, but this coin is of the Philadelphia mint, and therefore not the valuable coin you are looking for" nor do I want to pay the $19-28 "package" and not have a response because the coin does end up being the rare one. 

Any suggestions in how to proceed? Attached are pictures of the dime we have. Any help and suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Have a blessed day. 

[RWB]

The valuable "No S" dime is a proof coin, not the normal dimes made for circulation, Your coin was struck for circulation and is worth 10-cents.

[Greenstang]

I agree

Not a proof, just a regular business strike minted in Philadelphia. Still worth 10 cents though.

[zelaznogb]

Thanks, RWB and Greenstang, for your replies. Just out of curiosity, how would one know the difference? The only difference(s) I could find was between the "no S" dime and the normal "S marked" ones in that the latter looked more chrome looking than the former. But, other than that, there didn't seem to be any images to show the difference between the valuable dime and the circulation ones. Thanks again for your time to reply and the info. I will definitely not be sending it in for grading then. 

Edited January 19, 2023 by zelaznogb

[Sandon]

   A proof coin of this era has fields with a mirror surface and a strong strike like the 1977-S proof dime shown below.  It may also, like this one, have frosted devices producing a "cameo" effect. (Proofs from 1978 are almost always "cameos".) These proofs were issued in sets (cent through dollar) sealed in plastic cases.  A proof that had been taken from a sealed proof set and spent would probably be indistinguishable from a circulation strike once as worn as your coin.  Notwithstanding what you may have heard on the internet, it's almost impossible to find valuable coins in circulation!  If you're interested in becoming a coin collector, we can direct you to legitimate sources of information.

Edited January 19, 2023 by Sandon

[J P M]

The coin you are looking for is very rare and would have come in a Proof set that would look like this 1975 set. The 1975 set had the 1776/1976 Bicentennial  Dollar. Half dollar and Quarter in with the 1975 Dime, Nickel and cent.

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by J P M

[VKurtB]

This is one of the frequent questions that genuinely makes my blood boil. If you don’t know what a proof coin is or looks like, you really are out of your element looking for ANY rare error or variety. And yes, most average folk have never set eyes on ANY proof coin.