Quick Answer
Susan B Anthony dollars can be worth more than face value depending on date, mint mark, and condition. Key factors that impact value:
- Older dates – The 1979-1981 and 1999 dates are worth $3 to $5 if in uncirculated condition
- Mint Marks – Coins with the S mint mark from Philadelphia or D mint mark from Denver are common. The P mint mark from Philadelphia is scarcer and worth more.
- Condition – Uncirculated coins are worth more than circulated coins. Proof coins are worth even more.
Overall, common Susan B Anthony dollars are only worth face value. But there are certain scarce dates, mint marks, and condition combinations that make the coins worth a premium. Carefully checking your coins can reveal valuables.
Background on Susan B Anthony Dollars
The Susan B Anthony dollar is a small dollar coin minted by the United States Mint between 1979 and 1981, and again in 1999. The coin depicts Susan B Anthony, a prominent activist in the women’s suffrage movement. She was arrested in 1872 for voting illegally and fined $100, which she refused to pay.
Anthony dollars are about the same size as a quarter but depict President Eisenhower on the obverse and an image of the moon landing on the reverse. This similar size to other coins led to confusion, contributing to the short initial circulation of Anthony dollars.
When launched in 1979, the new coin was intended to replace inefficient $1 banknotes. But the public showed reluctance to adopting the new dollar coins, leading to a temporary halt in production after 1981. In 1999, improved production techniques led to a small run of Anthony dollars being minted.
But even the 1999 issue failed to gain traction in circulation. The last Anthony dollars were minted for collectors in 2000, and the coin was fully replaced in circulation by the Sacagawea and Presidential dollars starting in 2000.
Today, most Susan B Anthony dollars exchanged are either from the original 1979-1981 run or the brief 1999 production. Let’s take a closer look at which Anthony dollars carry collectible value…
Factors That Impact Value
There are a few key factors that determine if a Susan B Anthony dollar is worth more than face value:
Date & Mint Mark
Susan B Anthony dollars dated 1979 to 1981 are the most common, with hundreds of millions produced each year at both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. These common circulation strikes are only worth $1 except in perfect uncirculated condition.
But there are some exceptions based on date and mint mark combination:
- 1979-P and 1981-P – Anthony dollars with the P mint mark from Philadelphia are much scarcer than the D mint mark from Denver. Only about 1 million 1979-P and 2 million 1981-P coins were made before production shifted entirely to Denver. These Philadelphia issues can be worth $3 to $5 each in uncirculated condition.
- 1981-D – The 1981-D is by far the most common Anthony dollar with over 889 million struck. It’s only worth face value even in perfect uncirculated condition.
- 1999-P and 1999-D – When Anthony dollar production resumed in 1999, it was limited to coins intended for collectors. Only 750,000 1999-P and 1999-D dollars were struck. These late date coins trade for about $3 to $5 if uncirculated.
So in summary, the P mintmarked issues are worth more than the D mintmarked coins. And the 1979, 1981, and 1999 dates are the most valuable.
Condition
The condition of Susan B Anthony dollars also impacts their value significantly. There are three main condition grades:
- Circulated: Coins that have been used in commerce and show wear are considered circulated. They have generally lost their luster and might have contact marks or toning. Circulated Anthony dollars are only worth face value.
- Uncirculated: Uncirculated coins with no wear have bright, original mint luster. An uncirculated 1979-P dollar might sell for $3 to $5 if free of marks or spots.
- Proof: Special early strikes with mirrored surfaces and extra polish. 1981 and 1999 proof Anthony dollars can trade for $8 or more.
Proof and mint state uncirculated coins are worth well above face value for most dates, while circulated examples are only worth a dollar.
Errors & Varieties
There are a few minor variations in the Anthony dollar design to look for:
- 1979 Wide Rim – The 1979 dollars have either a narrow or wide rim on the reverse. The wide rim type is scarcer and popular with collectors.
- Filled S Mintmark – The 1999-S proof dollars have two versions of the S mint mark: hollow or filled in. The solid mintmark is rarer.
- Errors – Minor errors like off-center strikes bring a small premium. Dramatic errors like a broadstruck coin with no rim can be highly valuable.
Additionally, well-struck examples with strong design detail and no marks are preferred by collectors over weakly defined coins.
Most Valuable Susan B Anthony Dollars
Now that we’ve covered the factors that make Anthony dollars valuable, here is a quick summary of the most valuable coins:
| Year/Mint | Condition | Value |
| 1981-P | Uncirculated | $5 |
| 1979-P | Uncirculated | $3 |
| 1979-P or 1981-P | Proof | $8 |
| 1999-P | Uncirculated | $4 |
| 1999-P | Proof | $10 |
The 1999 proof and the scarcer 1979-P and 1981-P uncirculated coins are the most in-demand Anthony dollars. But even well-preserved common dates are worth saving.
How to Check if Your Coins Have Value
Here are some tips for checking your Susan B Anthony dollars and identifying any that might be worth more than face value:
- Check the date – Look for 1979, 1981, and 1999 dated coins.
- Inspect the mintmark – A coin without a mintmark is from Philadelphia. A P or D mintmark indicates rarer pieces.
- Evaluate the condition – Worn, dirty coins are circulated and worth only $1. Clean, lustrous coins may be uncirculated.
- Compare to images – Search Google Images or eBay listings to match your coin to premium varieties.
- Consult a price guide – The Red Book or online resources like PCGS CoinFacts list values for Anthony dollars.
- Get professional appraisal – For very rare coins, have the coin certified and graded by NGC or PCGS.
Carefully checking the date, mintmark, and condition of each dollar can help identify those worth more than face value. Susan B Anthony dollars that are uncirculated or proofs are worth saving.
Reasons Some Susan B Anthony Dollars Are Valuable
There are a few key reasons why certain Anthony dollars are worth more than $1:
- Low mintage – The P mintmarked issues had much smaller production totals, increasing demand from collectors.
- Special releases – The 1999 dollars were sold directly to collectors and not meant for circulation.
- Condition rarity – Few Anthony dollars were preserved in pristine uncirculated or proof condition.
- High quality – Well-produced coins with sharp strikes and no marks are preferred.
- Errors – Defects and errors make some Anthony dollars intrinsically unique.
Essentially, the Anthony dollars that stand out for lower mintage, appealing condition, and interesting errors or varieties hold more value to collectors and dealers.
What Makes a Coin Worth More Than Face Value?
For any coin, there are a few main factors that can make it more desirable and valuable to collectors:
- Scarcity – Low mintage or rare dates/varieties
- Demand – Popular designs and certain key date coins
- Condition -mint state and proof coins are preferred
- Quality – Excellent strikes and no damage or marks
- History – Some coins have added value from historical significance
These forces combine to make some coins trade for prices much higher than their face value. While modern coins often get used as money, older and scarce coins get collected.
Understanding which factors make a particular coin valuable helps collectors know which ones to save and which to spend. For Susan B Anthony dollars, the main exceptions from face value are uncirculated, proof, and mint error coins.
Silver Content?
All circulation strike Anthony dollars were minted from a copper-nickel clad composition containing no precious metals. They have no melt value for their silver or gold content.
This sets the Anthony dollar apart from earlier silver dollar coins produced up until 1935 that did contain precious metal content. So do not expect your Susan B Anthony dollars to have any intrinsic bullion value.
The lack of precious metal content in base metal Anthony dollars is one reason they did not initially circulate well. The public expected dollar coins to contain silver, not base metals.
Long Term Value Outlook
While many Susan B Anthony dollars are only worth a $1 today, some experts speculate their collectible value could rise over the long term for several reasons:
- Low survival rates – High face value led to spending, not saving.
- Historic design – As a pioneering coin for women’s rights.
- 1990s nostalgia – Younger generations may have fond memories.
- Few major errors – Unlike some series, discoveries still possible.
- Low populations – Many dates and varieties are tough to find.
As an unsuccessful issue with meltable base metal composition, few Anthony dollars were set aside at the time of issue. This scarcity of pristine examples could send more prices higher in the future.
Already, grades like MS67 that were once priced under $100 are now valued in the $300 to $500 range for keys like the 1981-P. Further price appreciation is likely for scarce mint state and proof coins.
Casual collectors may want to hold onto any nicer looking Anthony dollars they acquire, even common 1981-D coins. Building a complete date and mint set of uncirculated coins could be rewarding.
Conclusion
While most Susan B Anthony dollars are only worth their face value of $1, there are some exceptions that carry higher collector premiums, especially examples grading mint state or proof.
Key factors that impact an Anthony dollar’s value include:
- Mintage – Scarcer Philadelphia and 1999 issues are worth more
- Condition – Clean, mark-free uncirculated coins command higher prices
- Special variants – Wide rim, filled mintmark, and major errors
Carefully checking the date, mintmark, condition, and appearance of your Anthony dollars can reveal hidden rarities worth $5, $10, or even more. While most entering circulation have minimal value, uncirculated and proof Susan B Anthony dollars are definitely worth saving.