Kids loved popping open these cards and seeing the little slots filled with coins, turning a simple gift into a bit of a treasure. Whether it was for a birthday, holiday or special occasion, these money cards made giving and receiving small cash gifts a lot more exciting.
The insert dime money gift card came onto the scene in the 1950s and stayed popular for decades, peaking through the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Each card had ten spaces for a dime, so gift-givers could add up to a dollar in coins.
While that might not seem like much today, a dollar went a long way back then, especially for a kid with a sweet tooth or a wish list of small toys! This simple yet clever idea brought a new spin to the tradition of giving money, adding a touch of novelty and fun to what could otherwise be a routine gesture.
These cards were especially popular during the holidays, when grandparents, aunts and uncles wanted to give younger family members something meaningful and memorable. Each card design often reflected the theme of the season — with Christmas, Easter and birthday-themed illustrations that made the card feel personal. Kids would get to experience the fun of actually handling money and imagining how they’d spend it. Plus, it allowed them to get involved with saving and budgeting in a way that made it feel like a game.
Today, the insert dime money gift card is a charming relic of a different time. Though the cost of a dollar’s worth of dimes seems small in today’s terms, it shows how these gifts were just as much about the experience as they were about the cash.
The thought that went into placing each dime made these gifts feel special, and they were loved and remembered by many. For anyone who received one, these cards carry memories of simpler times, filled with the excitement of receiving something tangible that could be saved or spent.
We’ve collected a selection of vintage insert dime money cards from the ’50s to the ’80s — perfect examples of these unique little pieces of history. With cheerful designs and slots for ten shiny dimes, these nostalgic keepsakes remind us of the many ways people used to make simple gifts extra fun for kids.
Vintage insert dime money gift card: Gumballs for Valentine’s Day
A Valentine treat just for you… Try some
Retro 70s “insert dime” coin birthday card
A magic money tree for you — Birthday card
Some Easter dimes for you: Money greeting card
Here’s a sweet vintage Easter card from the ’70s/’80s
ALSO SEE: Vintage Snoopy & Peanuts stickers sheets (’70s & ’80s)
Vintage Insert Dime Christmas tree greeting card (1950s)
Cash for Christmas! “A magic money tree for you”
Insert dime card – Christmas Santa (1950s)
1970s Valentine’s Day money gift card with spaces for coins
This “$something $special “card had a fun design and room for a dollar.
Vintage folded insert dime Valentine’s Day card
ALSO SEE: These retro Hallmark Valentine cards from the ’70s were super cute & super pink & super girly
5 Responses
What a great memory! The gumball is my favorite.
Is there any way to buy those cards?
How do I order these coin cards? I really want to have them. Than k You
In 1977 got one of these cards with ten dimes for my birthday. I had turned 22. It was a tie whether I was more surprised or disgusted at people’s cheapness. Would rather have just gotten a card or nothing at all. Sending someone 22 years old ten dimes for their birthday is like extending a middle finger.
I’ve never seen these, but growing up in the 70s, we had a similar idea in reverse. Every November, our church would give the kids cardboard “stockings” with slots for dimes that you were supposed to fill up during Advent. On Christmas, you put the filled stocking in the collection plate, whereupon the dimes would be used for a good cause, presumably.