How Much Is a Susan B. Anthony Dollar Worth?
The Susan B. Anthony dollar, minted from 1979-1981 and again in 1999, was the first U.S. coin to honor a non-mythical woman. Most SBA dollars are worth $1-$2, but several varieties carry premiums: the 1979-P Wide Rim (Near Date) is worth $10-$50+, the 1981-S coins from proof sets can bring $50-$200+, and various error types including off-center strikes and wrong planchet errors are worth $25-$500+.
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Why Knowing Your Susan B. Anthony Dollar Value Matters
The Susan B. Anthony dollar had a rocky introduction — its similar size and color to the quarter caused widespread confusion, and the public largely rejected it for everyday use. Despite this, the coin holds numismatic significance as the first circulating U.S. coin to depict a real woman rather than an allegorical figure like Liberty. Production occurred in two phases: 1979-1981 saw massive mintages across Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, with the coin eventually being pulled from production due to public resistance. In 1999, the Mint struck a final run of SBA dollars to bridge the gap until the Sacagawea dollar launched in 2000. Most SBA dollars are worth face value, but knowledgeable collectors focus on several key varieties. The 1979-P 'Wide Rim' or 'Near Date' variety, where the rim is wider and the date sits closer to the rim, is worth $10-$50+ depending on grade. The 1981 coins from all three mints had very low circulation-strike mintages (3-9 million each compared to hundreds of millions in 1979), making uncirculated examples scarce. San Francisco proof issues, especially the 1981-S Type 2 with a clearer 'S' mint mark, are worth $50-$200+. Error coins including filled S mint marks, off-center strikes, and double strikes round out the collecting opportunities.
Key Factors That Affect Susan B. Anthony Dollar Value
Understanding what drives the price of susan b. anthony dollar helps you get the most accurate valuation.
Year, Mint Mark & Mintage
1979 P, D, S: massive mintages (300-400 million per mint for P and D), $1-$2 value. 1980 P, D, S: moderate mintages (27-89 million), $1-$3. 1981 P, D, S: low mintages (3-9 million for business strikes, these were not widely distributed), $2-$10 uncirculated. 1999 P, D: moderate mintage (29-41 million each), $1.50-$4 uncirculated. San Francisco proofs (all years): $3-$15 standard, $50-$200+ for the 1981-S Type 2.
1979-P Wide Rim (Near Date) Variety
The 1979-P comes in two varieties: Narrow Rim (Far Date) — standard, common, worth $1. Wide Rim (Near Date) — the date sits noticeably closer to the rim, and the rim itself is wider. The Wide Rim variety is worth $10-$30 in circulated grades, $25-$50 in uncirculated, and $100+ in MS66 or higher. The key diagnostic is the distance between the bottom of the date and the rim — on the Wide Rim, this gap is significantly narrower.
Proof Types & Type 2 Mint Mark
San Francisco struck proof SBA dollars each year (1979-1981, 1999). The 1981-S exists in two types: Type 1 (filled or blobby 'S' mint mark): common, $5-$10. Type 2 (clear, well-defined 'S' mint mark): scarce, $50-$200+ in PR69 DCAM, $300+ in PR70 DCAM. The Type 2 clear 'S' was also used on some 1979-S and 1981-S coins. The 1979-S Type 2 is worth $30-$100+.
Condition & Grade
SBA dollars have a copper-nickel clad composition that shows wear and contact marks readily. Circulated examples: $1-$2 regardless of date. MS63-64: $2-$5 for common dates. MS65: $5-$15. MS66: $15-$75. MS67: $75-$500+. MS68: $500-$2,000+ (extremely rare). The 1981 dates are hardest to find in gem condition because most were never distributed for circulation. The 1999 dates are common in uncirculated grades from mint sets.
Error Varieties
Off-center strikes: $25-$200+ depending on percentage. Broadstrikes: $15-$75. Double strikes: $100-$500+. Wrong planchet errors (SBA dies on quarter planchets or vice versa): $200-$2,000. Die breaks and cuds: $10-$75. Clipped planchets: $15-$50. A particularly famous error is the SBA dollar struck on a Sacagawea planchet (or vice versa) — these transitional errors from 1999-2000 can bring $1,000-$5,000+.
Tips for Valuing Susan B. Anthony Dollar
Get the most accurate valuation by following these tips when photographing your susan b. anthony dollar.
Check 1979-P coins for the Wide Rim (Near Date) variety — compare the distance between the date and the rim. The valuable variety has a noticeably closer date.
Look for the clear 'S' mint mark (Type 2) on 1981-S and 1979-S proof coins — it has crisp, defined serifs compared to the blobby Type 1.
Photograph both sides with emphasis on the mint mark area and date — these are the key diagnostic areas for valuable varieties.
Keep all 1981-dated SBA dollars regardless of condition — their low mintages (3-9 million) make them the scarcest dates in the series.
Check the edge of your SBA dollars for reeded (ridged) pattern — smooth edges or partial reeding indicate error coins worth $25-$100+.
Susan B. Anthony Dollar Market Insights
The Susan B. Anthony dollar market is a niche but active segment of modern U.S. coin collecting. Most of the market activity centers around the key varieties (1979-P Wide Rim, 1981-S Type 2) and error coins. Common dates in circulated condition have essentially no collector market — they trade at face value. The series benefits from being affordable for new collectors, with a complete date-and-mintmark set achievable for $30-$75. High-grade certified examples (MS67+) attract registry set collectors who drive premium prices. The 1981 business strikes remain underappreciated by many collectors despite their low mintages. Online sales dominate the market, with eBay being the primary venue for SBA dollar transactions across all price levels.
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Susan B. Anthony Dollar Valuation FAQ
How much is a Susan B. Anthony dollar worth?
Most SBA dollars are worth $1-$2. Key varieties with higher values: 1979-P Wide Rim (Near Date): $10-$50+. 1981 P, D, S business strikes in uncirculated: $5-$15. 1981-S Type 2 proof: $50-$200+. 1979-S Type 2 proof: $30-$100+. Error coins: $25-$500+. Complete uncirculated sets (all dates and mints): $30-$75. For common dates, the coin is worth $1 spent or $1.50-$2 if in crisp, uncirculated condition.
What years were Susan B. Anthony dollars made?
SBA dollars were produced in two periods: 1979-1981 (regular production) and 1999 (one-year resumption before the Sacagawea dollar launched in 2000). Specific dates and mints: 1979 P, D, S. 1980 P, D, S. 1981 P, D, S. 1999 P, D. Proof coins were struck at San Francisco (S) each year. The 1999 issue was produced because the Treasury Department needed more dollar coins before the new Sacagawea design was ready. Total production across all years was approximately 1.5 billion coins.
Why are Susan B. Anthony dollars confused with quarters?
The SBA dollar's unpopular design was similar to the quarter in size (26.5mm vs. 24.3mm), color (both copper-nickel clad), and weight. The differences were minimal: the SBA has a distinctive 11-sided (hendecagonal) inner border and reeded edge, while the quarter has a smooth edge. Despite these differences, the size similarity caused constant confusion in commerce, especially in low lighting or when handling coins by touch. This public rejection led to the SBA's suspension after 1981 and directly influenced the design of the Sacagawea dollar in 2000 — golden color and smooth edge to prevent confusion.
What is the most valuable Susan B. Anthony dollar?
The most valuable SBA varieties: 1999-P/Sacagawea mule or transitional error (wrong planchet): $1,000-$5,000+ (extremely rare). 1981-S Type 2 proof in PR70 DCAM: $300-$500. 1979-P Wide Rim MS67+: $200-$500+. 1981-S business strike MS67: $200-$400. Double-struck or major off-center errors: $200-$500+. The highest prices are for dramatic error coins, but for regular issues, the 1981-S Type 2 proof and high-grade 1981 business strikes are the keys to the series.
Should I save Susan B. Anthony dollars?
Save these: any 1981-dated SBA dollars (low mintage, worth $2-$15+), any with obvious errors (off-center, double struck, wrong planchet), 1979-P coins that might be the Wide Rim variety, and any in truly pristine uncirculated condition. Spend these: common circulated 1979 and 1980 P and D coins in average condition — they have no collector premium and are worth exactly $1. A reasonable strategy is to check each SBA dollar for the key varieties and errors (takes 10 seconds), save anything potentially valuable, and spend the rest.