Susan B. Anthony Dollar

Susan B. Anthony Dollar is a coin that was minted from 1979 to 1981, and again in 1999, as part of the United States dollar coin series. The coin was designed by Frank Gasparro, the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, and features a portrait of Susan B. Anthony, a leading figure in the women's suffrage movement in the United States, on the obverse side, while the reverse side features an image of the Apollo 11 mission insignia, which was designed by Michael Collins. The coin was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1965 and was intended to honor the contributions of Susan B. Anthony to the women's rights movement, as well as to provide a new dollar coin for circulation, as the Eisenhower Dollar was being phased out. The coin was also seen as a way to promote the United States Mint and its products, such as the American Eagle coin and the American Buffalo coin.

● Introduction

The introduction of the coin was a significant event, as it was the first time a woman's portrait had been featured on a circulating coin in the United States. The coin was unveiled on December 13, 1978, at a ceremony attended by President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and other dignitaries, including Bella Abzug and Gloria Steinem. The coin was also seen as a way to promote the women's rights movement, which had been gaining momentum in the 1970s, with the help of organizations such as the National Organization for Women and the American Civil Liberties Union. The coin's introduction was also covered by major news outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and NBC News, and was seen as a significant event in the history of the United States.

● Design

The design of the coin was created by Frank Gasparro, who was the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint at the time. The obverse side of the coin features a portrait of Susan B. Anthony, which was based on a photograph of her taken in the 1890s. The reverse side of the coin features an image of the Apollo 11 mission insignia, which was designed by Michael Collins. The coin's design was also influenced by the work of other artists, including Augustus Saint-Gaudens and James Earle Fraser, who had designed other coins for the United States Mint, such as the Indian Head eagle and the Buffalo nickel. The coin's design was also seen as a way to promote the space program, which had been a major priority for the United States government in the 1960s and 1970s, with the help of organizations such as NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

● Minting_and_distribution

The coin was minted from 1979 to 1981, and again in 1999, at the Philadelphia Mint, the Denver Mint, and the San Francisco Mint. The coin was distributed through the Federal Reserve System and was available for circulation at banks and other financial institutions, such as Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. The coin was also sold to collectors and investors through the United States Mint and other coin dealers, such as Apmex and JM Bullion. The coin's minting and distribution were overseen by the United States Treasury Department, which was headed by Secretary of the Treasury W. Michael Blumenthal and later by Secretary of the Treasury Donald Regan. The coin's production was also influenced by the work of other government agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the Comptroller of the Currency.

● Reception_and_circulation

The coin was initially met with enthusiasm by the public, with many people eager to get their hands on the new coin, which was seen as a way to promote the women's rights movement and the space program. However, the coin's circulation was limited, and it was eventually withdrawn from circulation in 1981 due to a lack of demand, as well as the introduction of the Presidential dollar coin program, which was authorized by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. The coin's reception was also influenced by the work of other organizations, including the American Numismatic Association and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, which provided grading and authentication services for the coin. The coin's circulation was also covered by major news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and CNN, and was seen as a significant event in the history of the United States.

● Collectibility

The coin is highly collectible, with many rare and valuable varieties available to collectors, including the 1979-S and 1980-S proof coins, which were minted at the San Francisco Mint and feature a special proof finish. The coin's collectibility is also influenced by its condition, with coins in good condition being more valuable than those in poor condition, as determined by grading services such as the Professional Coin Grading Service and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. The coin's collectibility is also influenced by its rarity, with some varieties being more rare than others, such as the 1981-S proof coin, which was minted in limited quantities. The coin's collectibility is also promoted by organizations such as the American Numismatic Association and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, which provide information and resources for collectors, including the Red Book and the Coin World.

● Legacy

The coin's legacy is significant, as it was the first coin to feature a woman's portrait and helped to promote the women's rights movement and the space program. The coin's legacy is also influenced by the work of other organizations, including the National Organization for Women and the American Civil Liberties Union, which continue to promote the women's rights movement and other social justice causes, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The coin's legacy is also celebrated by the United States Mint, which continues to produce coins that promote the history of the United States and the values of the United States, such as the American Eagle coin and the American Buffalo coin. The coin's legacy is also recognized by the Congress of the United States, which has passed laws such as the Coinage Act of 1965 and the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 to promote the production and circulation of coins, including the Susan B. Anthony Dollar. Category:Coins of the United States