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Susan B. Anthony Dollar
(1979-1981)(1999)
Click for SBA Dollar Pricing Guide
Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906)
a pioneer of women's rights. It was the first time a woman, other than a
mythical figure, had appeared on a circulating United States coin.
The suffragist's portrait on the
obverse was a new design; however, the reverse was the same design used on the
Eisenhower Dollar the year before. Both the obverse and the reverse of the coin
were designed by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. His initials FG appear below the
portrait and the eagle.
The coin weighs 8.1 grams and has
a diameter of 26.50 mm. These dollars cannot be called 'silver dollars' as they
are composed of two outer layers of a copper-nickel alloy (75% copper, 25% nickel) bonded to an inner core of
pure copper.
The Anthony dollar failed to gain
widespread public acceptance and was discontinued in 1981. Coins dated 1981 were
never released for circulation - they were available in Proof Sets and
Uncirculated Sets only. A total of 868,511,516 Anthony Dollars were produced.
The Susan B. Anthony Dollar was
initially produced for three years 1979 to 1981. The Susan B. Anthony Dollar was
again struck in 1999. This new striking was due to the demand for dollar coins
by both the U.S. Postal Service, who use them in their vending machines, and by
casinos, who use them for dollar slot machines.
Terms and Mint Marks
BU (Brilliant Uncirculated): A
strictly uncirculated coin with attractive mint luster but noticeable detracting
contact marks or minor blemishes.
PRF (Proof Edition): The term
"Proof" refers to a method of manufacture which produces a superior
quality coin. Proofs are struck on specially prepared planchets using highly
polished dies. They are struck multiple times at low speed and are made
expressly for collectors in Proof Sets. Modern Proof coins are easily identified
by their mirror-like finish and frosted features.
T1/T2: The 1979 Type 1 Dollar has
a "filled S" which was hard to read. The die was re-cut creating the
Type 2 or "clear S." Similarly, in 1981, the die was re-cut creating a
Type 1 (filled S) and a Type 2 (clear S).
Far Date/Near Date: The first
Anthony Dollars produced in 1979 had a narrow rim on the obverse so the date was
farther from the rim, hence the term Far Date. Late in the year, the obverse was
modified to widen the rim. These modified Near Date dollars are more scarce than
the Far Dates because the dies were changed to strike the 1980 dollars shortly
after the rim modification. All subsequent issues have the wide rim.
The Anthony Dollars were stuck in
Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. The mint mark, either P, D, or S,
appears slightly above Anthony's right shoulder.
Facts and Figures:
Obverse Design | Susan B. Anthony |
Reverse Design | Apollo 11 Insignia, Eagle |
Mintage years | 1979-1981,1999 |
Mints | Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), San Francisco (S); Mint mark located behind Ms. Anthony's right shoulder |
Composition | Cupro-Nickel Clad Outer layers: 75% Cu, 25% Ni Inner core: 100% pure copper Overall Composition: 87.5% copper; 12.5 % nickel |
Edge | Reeded (133 reeds) |
Weight | 8.1 grams |
Diameter | 26.5mm (1.04") |
Thickness | 2.00mm |
Obverse Designer | Frank Gasparro; Initials "FG" located below Ms. Anthony's left shoulder |
Reverse Designer: |
Frank Gasparro |
COMMENTS: The Susan B. Anthony Dollar Act was signed into
law by President Jimmy Carter on October 10, 1978. Production began in
Philadelphia on December 13, 1978, in Denver on January 9, 1979, and in San
Francisco on February 2, 1979. The release date was July 2, 1979. The Anthony
Dollar is the first circulating U.S. coin to feature a real woman. The
"P" mint mark was used on a coin for only the second time in U.S.
coinage history, the first time being on the War Nickels of 1942-1945. The
1999-P proof Anthony Dollar, along with the 1942-P 5¢, are the only two proof
coins to bear a "P" mint mark. The Anthony Dollar also has the
distinction of having the longest period of time between being struck. It was
struck in 1981 and then not struck again until 1999, a lapse of 18 years. The
previous record was 17 years with the Morgan Dollar which was struck in 1904 and
then not again until 1921.
NOTE: The Peace Dollar was struck in 1935 and then again in 1964
(29 years). However, the 1964 pieces were never issued and supposedly all were
destroyed.
Mintage Figures &
What Makes Up A Set of Susan B. Anthony Dollars
Below are the mintage figures for all Susan B. Anthony Dollars struck by the United States Mint. Also included in the list are the major varieties. What coins exactly make up a "complete" set is ALWAYS up to the individual collector. Some may collect one of every year and from every mint struck. Others will add major varieties, while some want every die variety known for the series no matter how minor. Some may simply collect just one of each year minted, yet others, such as myself, collect anything and everything related to the particular coin. The coins in the list below marked with an asterisk (*) are considered part of a conventional set of Susan B. Anthony Dollars.
Year/ |
Type |
Mintage Total |
Comments |
*1979-P |
Unc. |
360,222,000 |
Narrow Border Variety |
*1979-P |
Unc. |
Inc. Above |
Wide Border Variety |
*1979-D |
Unc. |
288,015,744 |
|
*1979-S |
Unc. |
109,576,000 |
|
*1979-S |
Proof |
3,677,175 |
Type 1 Mintmark |
*1979-S |
Proof |
Inc. Above |
Type 2 Mintmark |
*1980-P |
Unc. |
27,610,000 |
|
*1980-D |
Unc. |
41,628,708 |
|
*1980-S |
Unc. |
20,422,000 |
|
*1980-S |
Proof |
3,554,806 |
|
*1981-P |
Unc. |
3,000,000 |
Released only in 1981 Mint Sets |
*1981-D |
Unc. |
3,250,000 |
Released only in 1981 Mint Sets |
*1981-S |
Unc. |
3,492,000 |
Released only in 1981 Mint Sets |
*1981-S |
Proof |
4,063,083 |
Type 1 Mintmark |
*1981-S |
Proof |
Inc. Above |
Type 2 Mintmark |
*1999-P |
Unc. |
29,592,000 |
Mintage resumed after 18 years, |
*1999-D |
Unc. |
11,776,000 |
|
*1999-P |
Proof |
Estimated |
Only the 2nd proof coin in U.S. history to bear a "P" mint mark. The other: 1942-P 5¢ |
THE PCGS SET REGISTRY
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) lists the finest coin sets in existence today, and of all time as graded by them. Click on the links below to view the finest Susan B. Anthony Dollar lists.
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SUSAN B. ANTHONY DOLLAR VARIETIES
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1979-P Wide and Narrow Rim: These varieties are sometimes refered to as "Far Date" and "Near Date". This is actually inaccurate as the date was not moved, but instead the border was widened. The Mint began striking the 1979-P SBA Dollars with the "narrow rim". Late in 1979 the border was widened to give the coin a more aesthetic appearance. The "narrow rim" variety is found on all 1979 dollars from all of the mints. The 1979 "wide rim" variety can only be found on the "P" mint issues. The "wide rim" variety was used for the remainder of the series. According to information provided by George E. Hunter, the Assistant Director of Technology for the U.S. Mint at the time, there were 643 "wide rim" dies used at the Philadelphia Mint in 1979. With an estimated 250,000 strikes per die, that would give a mintage of 160,750,000 1979-P "Wide Rim" Susan B. Anthony Dollars, or nearly 45% of all 1979-P Anthony Dollars minted.
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1981-S "Type-1" This is the same Mint mark as introduced in the later part of 1979 for proof coinage production (and referred to as Ty-2 for that year). (It is the first one used in 1981 and is thus designated Ty-1 for that year.) It exhibits smaller rounded serifs and more oval shaped center loops than found on the Ty-2. It may come with or without clear fields or "attachments" within the center loops depending on the amount of punching pressure utilized to sink the image into the die and/or the amount of polishing the die receives. This is the more common variety for the year. |
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1981-S "Type-2" This Mint mark was introduced in the later part of 1981 for proof coinage production (and referred to as Ty-2 for this year). It exhibits large bulbous serifs and rounder center loops than found on the Ty-1. In spite of the fact that this variety is frequently and inaccurately referred to as "Clear S", it may come with or without clear fields or "attachments" within the center loops depending on the amount of punching pressure utilized to sink the image into the die and/or the amo unt of polishing the die receives. It does, however, have a greater tendency to be found with "clearer fields" within the loops than the Ty-1 but this is not a determining factor of type. |
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