Not Worth a Dime?

Dimes are everywhere! Have they always been lying around in abundance and I’ve never noticed? I’m not sure. But in the last few weeks I have seen dimes on the ground in the Kroger parking lot, on the floor of my bedroom, on my kitchen floor, on the sidewalk in front of a favorite gift shop (Splendid Things in Bellevue, Kentucky, in case you’re interested), and on the floor at a Taco Bell—even one on the floor at church. 

I admit I’ve also seen an occasional penny and even one nickel, but it’s the dimes that seem to proliferate. Do people not care about ten cents anymore, or are they so small and thin that they slip out without anyone’s noticing? 

I’ve heard other people say “not worth a red cent,” but that was not my family’s term. My mother often said something was not worth a dime, and it was sometimes something she’d bought that she was disappointed in, such as overripe fruit or cloth napkins that wadded up in the dryer and had to be ironed. Often she referred to a man who was not supporting his family well or a woman who did not take care of her children or her home as Mother thought was appropriate. But, given as she was to being careful not to gossip or speak ill of anyone, she’d often add something to soften the comment, such as, “but he (or she) has always had a hard time—not many breaks in life.”

So I’ve always known that “not worth a dime” meant totally worthless. But I’m still not sure why there are so many dimes lying around these days. Is there a message that I’m missing? 

I know a very few people that I think “aren’t worth a dime.” But they are to God, I’m certain of that. So maybe these are constant reminders that a dime may be worthless, but those I’d label not worth one are actually worth a lot. 

Have you seen any dimes lying around lately? When do you use the expression “not worth a dime?”