Most Susan B. Anthony dollars are worth one dollar. More than 750 million were struck for circulation in 1979 and 1980, and a circulated coin from those years is face value. Uncirculated coins from rolls and Mint sets are worth approximately $2 to $5, and the 1981 coins, which were only sold in Mint sets, bring a little more. The ones worth real money are a short list: the 1979-P wide rim, also called the near date ($10 to $30 circulated and much more in top uncirculated grades), the Type 2 clear S proofs of 1979 and 1981 (roughly $50 to $250), and genuine striking errors. No Susan B. Anthony dollar was ever made of silver.
Quick answer
- Nearly every Susan B. Anthony dollar is worth $1, or $2-5 uncirculated.
- Check 1979-P coins for a date close to the rim, and S proofs for a clear S.
- The wide rim, Type 2 proofs and real errors are worth $10 to a few hundred.
How to check yours, step by step
A 5x or 10x loupe and daylight from a window are enough for every check below.
- Confirm the coin. The obverse shows Susan B. Anthony facing right, with LIBERTY above her head and the date below. The coin is silver colored, 26.5 mm across, with a reeded edge and an eleven-sided border inside the rim. The reverse shows an eagle landing on the moon, the same design as the Apollo 11 Eisenhower dollar.
- Read the date and mint mark. The date is on the obverse below the bust. The mint mark is on the left side of the obverse, just above Anthony's shoulder: P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, S for San Francisco.
- On a 1979-P, measure the gap between the date and the rim. On the common narrow rim, or far date, there is a clear gap between the bottom of the date and the raised rim. On the wide rim, or near date, the rim is visibly thicker and the date almost touches it. Lay the coin next to another 1979-P to compare; the difference is easy to see once both are side by side.
- On an S mint coin, decide if it is a proof. Proofs have mirror-like fields and frosted portraits, and they normally come in a hard plastic Mint case. Circulation coins from San Francisco look like any other dollar. Proofs were made in 1979, 1980, 1981 and, as a P, in 1999.
- On a 1979-S or 1981-S proof, look closely at the S. The Type 1 S is a filled, blobby letter where the openings are clogged. The Type 2 S is clear and sharply defined, with open loops and crisp serifs. Only the Type 2 carries the premium.
- Check the edge and weight if it feels wrong. A Susan B. Anthony dollar weighs about 8.1 grams. A coin that is far lighter, smaller or plain-edged may be a quarter, a foreign coin or an error worth a closer look.
- Judge condition last. Wear shows first on the hair above Anthony's ear, her cheekbone and the eagle's breast feathers. Only coins without any wear earn uncirculated prices.
Susan B. Anthony dollar values by year
These approximate values assume original coins without cleaning, scratches or corrosion. Proofs are valued in their original condition, with no cloudiness or spotting.
| Date and mint | Mintage (approx.) | Circulated | Uncirculated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-P narrow rim (far date) | About 360 million in total for 1979-P | $1 | $2-5 |
| 1979-P wide rim (near date) | Part of the 1979-P total, far fewer | $10-30 | $40-150, more in top grades |
| 1979-D | About 288 million | $1 | $2-5 |
| 1979-S | About 110 million | $1 | $2-5 |
| 1980-P, 1980-D, 1980-S | 20 to 41 million each | $1 | $2-6 |
| 1981-P, 1981-D, 1981-S | Mint sets only, about 3 million each | $2-4 | $5-15 |
| 1999-P | About 30 million | $1 | $2-5 |
| 1999-D | About 11 million | $1 | $2-5 |
Proofs and the Type 2 S mint mark
| Proof | Typical value |
|---|---|
| 1979-S Type 1 (filled S) | $5-10 |
| 1979-S Type 2 (clear S) | $50-120 |
| 1980-S | $5-10 |
| 1981-S Type 1 (filled S) | $5-12 |
| 1981-S Type 2 (clear S) | $100-250 |
| 1999-P proof | $15-30 |
The Type 2 S came from a new mint mark punch introduced partway through the proof run in 1979 and again in 1981. Because most proof sets of those years carry the Type 1, the Type 2 is the scarce one. The difference is in the letter itself, not the coin, so a sharp macro photo of the S answers the question. The same filled and clear S types appear on other denominations in those proof sets, and those are worth checking at the same time.
The 1979-P wide rim
The wide rim came from a modified obverse design that the Mint adopted late in 1979. Coins from the new dies have a thicker rim, which pushes the border closer to the date. It is not an error but a design change, and it is scarce because it was only used for a short time at Philadelphia. Circulated examples turn up in old rolls and coin jars often enough to make every 1979-P worth checking. In uncirculated condition the prices climb with grade, and gem examples sell for several hundred dollars or more.
Rolls, bags and Mint sets
Unopened bank rolls and Mint bags of Susan B. Anthony dollars turn up in estates more often than people expect, because many were set aside in 1979 when the coin was new. A roll of common date dollars is worth roughly its face value plus a small premium, often $25 to $60 for a standard roll of 25 coins depending on date and how original it is. The reason to keep a roll intact is the 1979-P: a roll from Philadelphia can contain wide rim coins, and searching it is the cheapest way to find one. Mint sets from 1979, 1980 and 1981 sell for modest sums as complete sets, with the 1981 set worth a little more because it is the only source of that year's dollars.
Errors
Genuine Mint errors on Susan B. Anthony dollars include off-center strikes, clipped planchets and coins struck on the wrong planchet. A dollar struck on a quarter planchet, for example, is a known and valuable error worth hundreds to low thousands. Coins that are bent, pitted, plated or worn smooth were damaged after leaving the Mint and carry no premium. The error coins guide explains how to tell the two apart.
Why they are confused with quarters
The Susan B. Anthony dollar is famous for one reason: people hated it. At 26.5 mm, it is only 2.2 mm wider than a quarter, and it has the same silvery copper-nickel color and the same reeded edge. In a dark purse or a cash register drawer the two were easy to mix up, and plenty of people spent a dollar thinking it was 25 cents. The eleven-sided border inside the rim was meant to help by touch, but it was too subtle.
After huge mintages in 1979 and 1980, the coins piled up unused in Treasury vaults. Production for circulation stopped, the 1981 coins went only into Mint sets, and the design returned in 1999 only because stocks ran low before the Sacagawea dollar arrived. That history is why 1979 and 1980 coins are so common, and why the Sacagawea dollar was given a golden color: it had to be easy to tell apart from a quarter.
The same mix-up still matters when sorting a jar. A coin jar may hold Susan B. Anthony dollars mixed in with quarters, so it pays to check the size and the border. The quarters guide covers which quarters in that jar might be worth more than face.
Not silver, not gold
Susan B. Anthony dollars are copper-nickel clad over a pure copper core, the same composition as a modern quarter. A copper stripe is visible on the edge of every one. No silver versions were made, not even proofs, so a "silver" Susan B. Anthony is a misidentification or a plated novelty. Gold-plated versions sold as souvenirs are also worth about face value.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the 1979 date is rare. 1979 is the most common year of all. Only the wide rim variety of 1979-P carries a premium.
- Calling a near date from a photo taken at an angle. Perspective can make the gap look smaller. Compare the coin flat against another 1979-P, or photograph both together.
- Expecting silver. Every Susan B. Anthony dollar is copper-nickel clad. The edge stripe shows it.
- Removing proofs from their case. A proof handled with fingers picks up prints and spots that lower its value. Leave it in the original holder.
- Mistaking a filled S for a clear S because of lighting. Glare can make a Type 1 look sharp. Look for open loops in the S under a loupe, not just a bright letter.
- Pricing from asking prices online. Listings for "rare 1979 dollars" often ask hundreds for ordinary coins. Sold prices for common dates sit at a dollar or two.
- Cleaning coins before selling. Hairlines and an unnatural shine reduce value, especially on proofs and uncirculated wide rims.
What to photograph
Use daylight from a window, no flash, and hold the phone directly above the coin.
- The obverse straight on, with the date, the rim and the mint mark all visible.
- A close macro of the date and rim for any 1979-P, ideally next to a second 1979-P for comparison.
- A close macro of the mint mark for any S proof, sharp enough to see whether the S is filled or open.
- The reverse straight on to show wear on the eagle and the condition of the fields.
- The edge, if there is any doubt about the coin's composition or whether it is a dollar or a quarter.
- The original case or Mint packaging for proofs and Mint sets.
When to get it looked at in person
For common dates in any condition, a professional opinion costs more than the coin is worth.
- A local coin dealer can confirm a wide rim or a Type 2 S in a minute. Many will look briefly for a small charge or none. Expect offers below retail, usually 60-80 percent.
- PCGS or NGC grade coins for fees that start in the tens of dollars each, plus shipping and a membership or dealer submission. Grading makes sense for an uncirculated 1979-P wide rim, a 1981-S Type 2 proof with clean surfaces, or a strong error. It rarely makes sense for a circulated wide rim worth $10 to $30.
- Error specialists are the best route for off-metal strikes and other dramatic errors, since they know what those sell for.