Most Susan B. Anthony dollars are worth face value — but a handful of dates and varieties are worth serious collector premiums. Here's how to tell which one you have.

Susan B. Anthony Coin Value Guide 1979–1999

The Susan B. Anthony coin value is $1 for the vast majority of circulated examples — these coins saw heavy production and wide distribution, and most have no collector premium above face value. However, understanding which dates, mint marks, and varieties command real money is the difference between spending a dollar and holding a coin worth $50, $100, or more.

In total, the SBA dollar series ran from 1979 through 1981, then returned for a single year in 1999 before the Sacagawea dollar replaced it. That final year makes the 1999 issues particularly interesting to collectors.

History of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar

The Susan B. Anthony dollar arrived in 1979 as the first U.S. circulating coin to feature a real woman — a landmark in American numismatic history. In particular, Congress chose Anthony, the 19th-century suffragist and civil rights activist, as a recognition of the women's rights movement. Notably, Frank Gasparro, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, designed the portrait that would appear on the obverse, while the reverse recycled the iconic Apollo 11 eagle-landing design from the Eisenhower dollar.

However, the coin immediately ran into a serious practical problem. At 26.5mm in diameter, the SBA dollar was only slightly larger than a quarter — and its reeded edge and similar color made the two coins easy to confuse in everyday transactions. The public disliked it intensely. Specifically, vending machine operators struggled to calibrate their equipment, and cashiers made constant errors. Despite enormous mintages in 1979 and 1980, the coins piled up in Federal Reserve vaults rather than circulating.

As a result, the Mint dramatically reduced production in 1981, then stopped entirely. The SBA dollar sat dormant for nearly two decades until transit systems and vending machine operators requested dollar coins in 1999, prompting a final production run before the Sacagawea dollar took over in 2000.

Susan B. Anthony Coin Value — What Makes Some Worth More

For most SBA dollars, condition and date are the primary value drivers. In particular, these factors push certain examples above face value:

Susan B. Anthony Coin Value Chart — All Dates & Mint Marks

Values below reflect the current collector market for business strike and proof SBA dollars. Circulated examples of common dates trade at or near face value. Furthermore, the real premiums appear in high mint state grades and key proof varieties.

Proof Values

Values are estimates based on current market data and vary with grade, certification, and demand. Always verify against recent auction results before buying or selling.

How to Identify the Key Varieties

1979-P Wide Rim vs. Narrow Rim

To identify the Wide Rim variety, examine the obverse rim near the date. On the Narrow Rim (common) variety, there is a clear gap between the "1" in 1979 and the coin's rim. On the Wide Rim (Near Date) variety, the date sits noticeably closer to the rim with little space between them. Additionally, the rim itself appears broader and more prominent. This variety requires no magnification to identify — the difference is visible to the naked eye once you know what to look for.

1979-S and 1981-S Proof Type 1 vs. Type 2

Both the 1979-S and 1981-S proofs exist in two mintmark varieties. On Type 1 coins, the S mintmark appears filled or blobby — the interior loops of the S are partially closed due to die fill. On Type 2 coins, the S is cleaner and more defined, with open loops clearly visible. A loupe or magnifier at 5x or higher makes identification straightforward. The 1981-S Type 2 is the rarest variety in the entire SBA series and the one most worth authenticating through PCGS or NGC.

Grading Susan B. Anthony Dollars

SBA dollars grade similarly to other clad dollar coins. The high points to check on the obverse are Anthony's cheekbone, the hair above her ear, and the top of her head. On the reverse, the eagle's breast feathers and the top of the landing gear show wear first.

For business strikes, original cartwheel luster is the key indicator of mint state grades. Many SBA dollars were carelessly handled in mint bags, producing contact marks that distinguish MS-60 through MS-63 coins from the cleaner MS-64 and MS-65 examples worth meaningful premiums. In fact, the jump in value from MS-65 to MS-67 is significant for most dates — genuinely mark-free, well-struck examples in MS-67 are scarce across the entire series.

For proofs, cameo contrast — the frosted white devices against mirror fields — is the primary premium driver. Coins without strong cameo contrast grade as straight proofs and carry modest values. Deep Cameo designation from PCGS or NGC (labeled DCAM and Ultra Cameo respectively) adds the strongest premiums, particularly for the key 1979-S Type 2 and 1981-S Type 2 varieties. If you're researching Susan B. Anthony coin value for a proof example, cameo designation makes a larger difference than the numerical grade alone.

For related coin values and precious metals pricing, see our current coin prices guide and our U.S. Silver Dollars page. Collectors who enjoy the SBA series often also collect Morgan Silver Dollars and precious metals.

Where to Buy & Sell Susan B. Anthony Dollars

Common circulated SBA dollars trade at face value — your local bank will exchange them at $1 each, and there is no collector market for worn examples without variety attribution. However, for high-grade and variety coins, the market is active and liquid.

Selling Key Varieties & High-Grade Examples

eBay provides the widest buyer pool for SBA dollars in the $10–$100 range. For the 1981-S Type 2 proof in PR-69 DCAM or MS-67 business strikes worth $200 or more, Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers achieve consistently stronger results than fixed-price listings. PCGS or NGC certification is strongly recommended for any example you believe is worth $50 or more — it protects both buyer and seller and typically adds more value than the grading fee costs.