Lot #99: Five 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair Neutron Irradiated Dimes

Irradiated dimes were created to demonstrate atomic energy principles. A visitor to the American Museum of Atomic Energy at the Worlds Fair could have a dime, even from their own pocket, subjected to neutron radiation. This was a gimmick since the half-life of an irradiated dime was 22 seconds and the dime still looked like a regular dime. A potential problem presented by the five dimes in this lot is that they were not sealed, which means it is impossible to tell if they were irradiated, although the blue and white New York Worlds Fair dime holders are authentic. What is orbiting the dime in these holders is a neutron. The dates of the dimes are in agreement with what was being irradiated at the New York Worlds Fair because all of them date to before 1965. Prior to this year, dimes were 90% silver and 10% copper. Starting in 1965, dimes were made of nickel clad copper which could not be irradiated. The dates of these dimes are 1945, 1946, 1946, 1961, and 1964. There is one Mercury dime and four Roosevelt dimes.
Condition: See images.
Measurements: See description.