Some coins in American coinage have paved their way to the heart of an American history enthusiast! One is the 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollar coin produced by the US Mint. The 1979 dollar coin is a stunning creation with a short minting period.
The US Mint minted this coin for four years, from 1979 to 1981 and again in 1999. It featured this inspiring personality and was designed by Frank Gasparro. Public demand led to the introduction of the SBA Dollar coin, which commemorates her role in social reforms and women's rights.
The 1979 dollar coin value is influenced by various factors that will be discussed. Still, it also depends on metal composition, color, mint marks, and overall condition. This article will educate you on the famous 1979 Susan B. Anthony (SBA) dollar coin and its value in the current market!
Key Takeaways
- Susan Anthony pioneered female rights and was the first real woman featured on a coin.
- The 1979 SBA dollar coin was struck from 1979 to 1981 and one year in 1999, minted in Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
- This coin has a few errors in its strike and was produced with regular and proof conditions.
- The metal composition, grade, condition, and error influence the 1979 dollar coin value.
Who Was Susan B. Anthony and What Gave Rise to the Dollar Coin?
Susan B. Anthony was one of the most important figures in United States history during the Civil War. She was a Female Rights Activist and Social Reformer who was actively involved in the fight for women's right to vote. Through her struggle for social justice and anti-slavery petitions, she earned her place in the hearts of every US Citizen.
The background to the 1979 Susan Anthony dollar coin was that a new one was proposed, which could have carried remarkable designs, such as the American Silver Eagle. Nevertheless, Congressmen demanded that a real woman be depicted. Fortunately, this was a wise decision, which later prompted President Jimmy Carter to approve minting a one-dollar coin.
The government hoped this coin would circulate well in the US. However, it was often mistaken for quarter dollars, and vending machines took time to adjust. Unfortunately, with rising issues and a drop in demand, dollar coin production ceased.
The Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin was reintroduced in 1999 since the proposed Sacagawea gold dollar coin couldn’t meet the minting demand. Once the minting demands were fulfilled, the SBA Dollar coins were entirely ceased from production.
After four years of minting, the coins became rare and ideal for investment and collection. Apart from the common SBA dollar coins, the 1979 dollar coin is precisely sought after and will be discussed.
Specifications of Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin
| Mass |
8.1 g (0.260 troy oz) |
| Diameter |
26.5 mm (1.04 in) |
| Thickness |
2.00 mm (0.08 in) |
| Edge |
Reeded |
| Composition |
75 copper, .25 nickel, clad to pure copper core. |
| Years of minting |
1979–1981, 1999 |
Design of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin
The design of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin was the artistic creation of the US Mint's Chief Engraver, Frank Gasparro. For the first time, the obverse bears a real woman with the designer's initials and mint mark.
Mint and Mint Marks
The 1979 Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Dollar coin, generally known as the 1979 Dollar coin, was minted in three facilities of the US Mint: Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The mint marks highly influenced the value of the 1979 SBA Dollar coin.
Denver
The SBA dollar coins produced in Denver (D) are the most popular in the market. With high accessibility and mintage, the SBA Dollar coins with the “D” marking are comparatively less valuable and have an average sale price. However, the value can also soar high for coins in uncirculated and pristine condition!
Philadelphia
Generally, coins struck in Philadephia lack a mint mark, but these coins bear the “P” mint mark. These coins are considerably more valuable than Denver-produced coins. Depending on the condition and quality, these coins can be priced anywhere between $20 and $10,000.
San Francisco
Like the Philadelphia-struck coins, the 1979 Dollar coins bearing the “S” mint mark are more valuable. The coins struck in San Francisco had a few errors and varieties with the highest value. These coins can be priced between $28 and $4,850 depending on the condition, errors, and strike.
Errors and Varieties
1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Regular Strike
The 1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Regular Strike is a standard strike variant, which is the most common and easily accessible. The coin is struck with .75 Copper and .25 Nickel and bears the mint marks of Denver (D), Philadelphia (P), and San Francisco (S). Unlike modern Silver Maple Leaf coins, this dollar contains no precious metal content.
A Philadelphia Mint-struck coin with an MS67+ grade was listed on eBay in 2021 with an auction record of $6,995. A Denver mint specimen was sold for a hefty $1,528 in 2017, and a San Francisco NGC-certified coin was sold for $15,000 in 2021.
1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Regular Strike (Wide Rim Variety)
In 1979, the same year of introduction, a slight modification was made to the coin design. The regular strike with a narrow rim was replaced with a wide rim. The wide-rim variant is comparatively more valuable due to its scarcity.
1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof Coins (Type 1 Variety)
The 1979 dollar coins were produced with a proof finish in its four years of coinage. These coins are already struck in lesser numbers, and this scarcity drastically influences the coin's value. Rare and historic coins have immense value in the current market, ranging from $5 to $175 and even more depending on condition.
1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof Coins Type 2 Variety
The 1979 Dollar coins minted in the San Franscisco (S) facility with a proof finish have two variants. Type 1 has a filled mint mark, and type 2 has a clear mint mark. Grading services priced these coins around $47 for type 1 and $175 for type 2.
1979-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof Type 1, “Blob” Error Coin
Continuing with the “S” Mint mark, these proof coins were still pressed by hand and had a worn punch. This resulted in the mint mark looking like a blob rather than a clear “S.”
In late 1979, the 1979-S SBA Dollar coin blob mint mark issue was resolved by crafting a new punch, and thus, the type 2 variant with a clear “S” was introduced. These coins are worth around $100 in the current market.
Comprehensive Table for the 1979 Dollar Coin Value
In the 1979 Susan B. Anthony coin transaction, you and the coin dealer were the two parties involved. The buy price is the price at which you buy/purchase the coin from the dealer. On the other hand, the sell value is the price at which you sell the coin to a dealer. This table elaborates on the retail prices of the SBA Dollar coins in all four years of mintage. The table includes the coin variants, mint marks, and year of issue that impact the 1979 dollar coin value and proof coins and excludes prices based on coin grades.
| 1979-P |
$2.00 |
$1.05 |
$3.00 |
$2.20 |
| 1979-P Wide Rim |
$10.00 |
$6.00 |
$30.00 |
$22.00 |
| 1979-D |
$2.00 |
$1.05 |
$2.50 |
$2.00 |
| 1979-S |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$2.50 |
$2.00 |
| 1979-S Type 1 Proof |
- |
- |
$8.00 |
$6.30 |
| 1979-S Type 2 Proof * |
- |
- |
$69.00 |
$52.00 |
| 1980-P |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$2.50 |
$2.00 |
| 1980-D |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$2.50 |
$1.90 |
| 1980-S |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$2.50 |
$1.90 |
| 1980-S Proof |
- |
- |
$5.00 |
$3.00 |
| 1981-P |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$4.50 |
$3.50 |
| 1981-D |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$4.90 |
$3.70 |
| 1981-S |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$5.20 |
$3.70 |
| 1981-S Type 1 Proof |
- |
- |
$7.00 |
$5.00 |
| 1981-S Type 2 Proof * |
- |
- |
$200.00 |
$175.00 |
| 1999-P |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$3.00 |
$1.50 |
| 1999-D |
$2.00 |
$1.10 |
$3.00 |
$1.50 |
| 1999-P Proof |
- |
- |
$20.00 |
$16.50 |
| Complete Date-Mint Set Total Coins: 11 |
$20.00 |
$15.00 |
$60.00 |
$45.00 |
| Complete Date-Mint Set With Proof and Varieties Total Coins: 18 |
- |
- |
$350.00 |
$300.00 |
| Complete Date Set Total Coins: 4 |
$8.00 |
$4.00 |
$15.00 |
$10.00 |
Final Thoughts
There it is; all the information you need about the value of the 1979 dollar coin and what impacts its worth. From the simple description of the coin to tabular form, this article will help you determine the value of the coin.
There is a vast area of American coinage. However, some of them can be described by their prominent characteristics. One of these beautiful and valuable coins is the 1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin, which is rare, designed uniquely, and has a considerable collector’s value.
Last but not least, the 1979 dollar coin value depends on its condition, grade, metal content, and rarity, which are sometimes affected by errors, varieties, and mint marks.
For collectors and history buffs, the Susan B. Anthony Dollar is a sign of development worth keeping in your wallet or collection.
