Susan B. Anthony Coin Value Guide: Rarities, Errors & Worth

You’ve probably seen a Susan B. Anthony dollar in a coin jar and wondered if it’s worth more than a buck. Most are exactly $1, but a rare 1979-P Wide Rim error can fetch thousands at auction.

Mintage span: 1979-1981, 1999 ·
Mint locations: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco ·
Common value (circulated): $1.00 – $1.50 ·
Key rarity: 1979-P Wide Rim

Seven key specifications define the Susan B. Anthony dollar series.

Is a Susan B. Anthony coin worth anything?

Understanding face value vs. collector value

• Most circulated SBA dollars are worth face value ($1) or a small premium (U.S. Mint).
• Uncirculated and proof examples can be worth $3-$50 (CoinWeek).
• Rare errors and high-grade specimens can reach thousands (APMEX).

The U.S. Mint issued the Susan B. Anthony dollar for circulation in 1979, 1980, 1981, and then a limited reissue in 1999 (U.S. Mint). That short span means most coins saw light use, leaving many in uncirculated condition. Yet the overwhelming majority still trades for $1-$1.50 in pocket change.

What changes the math is condition and variety. A 1979-P Wide Rim in MS65 recently listed at $45-$50 (CoinWeek). Jump to MS67 and the same coin climbs to over $1,600. The gulf between face value and collector value is entirely driven by grade and the rim anomaly.

The implication: identifying the rim type is the single most important step for any SBA holder.

How do I know if my 1979 Susan B. Anthony coin is valuable?

Check the mint mark

• Coins without a mint mark are from Philadelphia (U.S. Mint).
• Mint mark is on the obverse above the date.
• 1979-P coins without a mint mark are the only ones that can be Wide Rim (CoinWeek).

Inspect the rim width

• Wide Rim (Near Date): the date is close to the rim, almost touching.
• Narrow Rim: the date has visible space between it and the rim.
• Compare against images from SusanBAnthonyCoin.com.

Assess the coin grade

• Grades MS65 or higher significantly increase value (CoinWeek).
• Professional grading (PCGS, NGC) is essential for top tier prices.

The pattern is simple: if you have a 1979-P coin, check the rim first. If the date nearly touches the rim, you have a candidate for serious value. If it doesn’t, the coin is still common but worth a second look if in high grade.

Which Susan B. Anthony coin is rare?

1979-P Wide Rim variety

• The key rarity in the series (Blanchard and Company).
• Only appears on Philadelphia-minted coins (CoinWeek).

Low-mintage 1981-P and 1981-D issues

• 1981-P mintage: 3 million; 1981-D: 3.25 million (U.S. Mint).
• Lowest business strike mintages of the series (APMEX).

Proof coins from 1979-S and 1981-S

• Proof coins are more common but can be valuable in high grades.
• 1981-S proof in original packaging: $5-$15 (APMEX).

The rare Susan B. Anthony coin is not just about low mintage—it’s the 1979-P Wide Rim, which is both a design variety and a scarcity. The 1981 issues are rare by dollar-coin standards but still trade for only small premiums unless in perfect condition.

What this means: the 1979-P Wide Rim is the only coin in the series that commands a true premium across most grades.

How much is a 1980 Susan B. Anthony coin worth?

1980-P value

• Circulated: $1.00-$1.25.
• Uncirculated: $3-$8 (CoinWeek).

1980-D value

• Similar values to 1980-P.
• No known valuable variety.

1980-S proof value

• In original packaging: $5-$15 (APMEX).

1980 SBA dollars are common. The only premium comes from pristine uncirculated or proof examples. No rim variety exists for 1980, so values stay low.

The catch: if you find a high-grade 1980 proof, it may have small collector value, but not enough to justify grading fees.

Why is the Susan B. Anthony coin rare?

Limited minting years

• Minted only 1979-1981 and a brief 1999 reissue (U.S. Mint).
• Public confusion with quarters led to hoarding (Blanchard and Company).

Poor public reception

• The coin was widely disliked and not widely circulated.
• Millions were stored and later melted by the Mint (Blanchard and Company).

Hoarding and melting

• Large quantities remained in Treasury vaults and were melted in the 1980s.
• Surviving coins in high grade are scarce.

The Susan B. Anthony dollar is rare not because it was minted in small numbers (over 500 million were struck), but because so many were destroyed and few were saved in pristine condition. That, combined with the Wide Rim error, makes the series a genuine numismatic collectible.

Comparison: Wide Rim vs. Narrow Rim

Three differences separate the two 1979-P varieties.

The pattern is clear: the Wide Rim consistently outperforms the Narrow Rim at every grade level, and the gap widens dramatically at higher grades.

Specifications table

Seven specs that matter for identification.

Pros and cons of collecting SBA dollars

The trade-off: for a beginner, the SBA series offers a clear path to a key coin; for a serious collector, the high-grade Wide Rim is the only real prize.

Steps to identify a valuable Susan B. Anthony coin

1. Step 1: Look at the date. If it’s 1979, check the rim.
2. Step 2: Use a magnifying glass. See if the date nearly touches the rim.
3. Step 3: Find the mint mark. No mark = Philadelphia = possible Wide Rim.
4. Step 4: Compare with known images of Wide Rim (SusanBAnthonyCoin.com).
5. Step 5: Have the coin professionally graded if it appears to be Wide Rim.

Timeline of the Susan B. Anthony dollar

• 1978: Congress authorizes the coin (U.S. Mint).
• 1979: First minting; Wide Rim error on early Philadelphia strikes.
• 1980-1981: Continued minting; low public acceptance.
• 1981: Minting suspended due to confusion with quarters.
• 1999: Limited reissue for vending machines.
• 2017: Auction $1,528 for 1979-P Wide Rim MS67 (Blanchard and Company).
• 2019: Record $13,781 for PCGS MS70 specimen.

Clarity: what’s confirmed, what’s not

Confirmed facts

• 1979-P Wide Rim is a confirmed error variety (CoinWeek).
• All SBA dollars are copper-nickel clad, not silver (U.S. Mint).
• 1981-P and 1981-D have the lowest business strike mintages (APMEX).

What’s unclear

• Exact number of 1979-P Wide Rim coins surviving in high grade.
• Whether the 1999 reissue will become collectible long-term.

Expert quotes

The 1979-P Wide Rim is the key variety of the entire Susan B. Anthony dollar series. In MS65 and MS66, it’s valued at about $45 to $50. In MS67, it rises to over $1,600.

— CoinWeek

The rim was altered after public criticism that the new dollar was easily confused with the quarter.

— Blanchard and Company

High-grade examples of the 1979-P Wide Rim are particularly sought after by collectors.

— APMEX

Summary

The Susan B. Anthony dollar is a coin of extremes: most are pocket change, but a single rim variation can turn a dollar into a thousand-dollar collectible. For the average finder, the advice is straightforward: check the date and the rim. For the collector, the 1979-P Wide Rim in MS65 or better is the only prize worth the hunt. The rest of the series remains a modest bargain.

For anyone sitting on a SBA dollar, the implication is clear: either spend it, or learn to spot the Wide Rim. That one millimeter could be the difference between a vending machine purchase and a coin dealer’s premium.

Related reading: Sports Card Shops Near Me Dublin: Find & Sell Cards · What Is Per Diem? Definition, Rates, and How It Works

For collectors interested in the historical context behind the coin, Susan B. Anthonys life and legacy provides a deeper understanding of the woman it honors.

Frequently asked questions