Susan B. Anthony dollar

Susan B. Anthony dollar. The Susan B. Anthony dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1979 to 1981 and again in 1999. It was the first circulating U.S. coin to feature the portrait of a non-fictional woman, honoring the prominent suffragist and social reformer Susan B. Anthony. Intended to replace the large Eisenhower dollar, the coin's similar size and color to the quarter led to public confusion and its ultimate commercial failure.

Design and specifications

The coin's obverse features a right-facing portrait of Susan B. Anthony designed by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro, who also created the reverse depicting an eagle landing on the Moon adapted from the Apollo 11 mission insignia. With a diameter of 26.5 millimeters, a mass of 8.1 grams, and a reeded edge, its physical specifications were nearly identical to those of the contemporary quarter. The coin's composition is a clad copper-nickel sandwich, with outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core, identical to the dime and quarter. The small eleven-sided polygonal shape was a unique feature intended to aid the visually impaired, though it proved insufficient for easy tactile differentiation in daily commerce.

History and production

The coin was authorized by the Congress via the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin Act of 1978, following the retirement of the bulky Eisenhower dollar. Production began in 1979 at the Philadelphia Mint, Denver Mint, and San Francisco Mint, with the latter producing proof versions for collectors. Initial mintages were high, with over 750 million coins struck across the three mints in 1979, but public rejection quickly led to a dramatic reduction in output by 1980. The final production for circulation occurred in 1981, after which the coin was effectively shelved. A limited final mintage occurred in 1999 to fulfill a continuing demand from the vending machine industry and to provide a circulating dollar coin in anticipation of the new Sacagawea dollar, with all 1999-dated coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

Public reception and use

The coin was met with immediate and widespread public resistance, primarily due to its visual and tactile similarity to the quarter, leading to frequent confusion in transactions. Despite a major Mint publicity campaign and efforts by institutions like the United States Postal Service to promote its use, it never achieved significant circulation. The coin was derisively nicknamed the "Carter quarter" after President Jimmy Carter, and its failure was a frequent subject of discussion in media outlets like The New York Times. It remained largely stored in Federal Reserve vaults or collected by the public, failing to achieve its goal of replacing the one-dollar bill in daily commerce and becoming a notable case study in unsuccessful currency design.

Collectibility and numismatic value

While common in uncirculated condition, certain issues possess higher numismatic value, particularly the 1979-P "Near Date" variety, the 1981-S proof, and coins with the "S" mint mark intended for collectors. The 1999-P mintages, though produced in relatively small quantities, are also sought after by series completists. The coin is a staple in type sets of modern United States coinage and is often collected alongside its successor, the Sacagawea dollar. Grading services like PCGS and NGC have certified many high-grade examples, with perfect proof specimens from the San Francisco Mint commanding significant premiums in the collector market.

Category:Coins of the United States Category:1979 introductions Category:Susan B. Anthony