How to Identify the 1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar
The first-year small-size dollar coin honoring Susan B. Anthony, notable for its compact size, eleven-sided inner border, and rim-width varieties.
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What It Is
The Susan B. Anthony Dollar, first issued in 1979, was the first US circulating coin to feature a portrait of a real woman, honoring women's suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony. It replaced the large Eisenhower dollar with a much smaller coin intended to save on metal costs and improve circulation.
Obverse Design
The obverse, designed by Frank Gasparro, shows a right-facing portrait of Susan B. Anthony, with LIBERTY above, IN GOD WE TRUST to the left, and the date below.
Reverse Design
The reverse reuses an adapted version of Gasparro's Eisenhower dollar design, showing an eagle landing on the moon with the Earth in the background, surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR.
Size, Weight, Metal, and the Eleven-Sided Border
The coin measures just 26.5 mm in diameter, much smaller than the 38.1 mm Eisenhower dollar, and weighs 8.1 grams in a copper-nickel clad composition with a reeded edge. A distinctive feature is the eleven-sided inner border running around the rim on both sides, added specifically to help vending machines and the visually impaired distinguish it from the similarly sized quarter.
Mint Marks
Mint marks appear on the obverse, below Anthony's bust and above the date. Coins were struck at Philadelphia ("P"), Denver ("D"), and San Francisco ("S," both business strikes and proofs in 1979).
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
Despite its small size and dull silver-gray color inviting comparison to a quarter, the eleven-sided inner border, larger diameter, and different portrait make it easy to distinguish once you know to look for it. Within the 1979 date itself, collectors recognize a "Narrow Rim" (Type 1) version, where the date sits farther from the rim, and a "Wide Rim" (Type 2) version, where the date sits closer to the rim, both struck at Philadelphia.
Judging Condition at a Glance
Look at Anthony's hair and facial details for wear, along with the eagle's wing and leg feather details on the reverse. Because these coins saw heavy circulation, finding one with strong original luster and sharp details is less common than finding a worn example.
Authenticity Red Flags
Because the coin was frequently mistaken for a quarter and often heavily circulated, be cautious of examples with unusually smooth, worn-down eleven-sided borders that could indicate excessive wear or alteration. Confirm the diameter (26.5 mm) and weight (8.1 grams) match specifications, and be alert to any date that looks re-engraved, particularly on coins marketed as the scarcer 1979 Wide Rim variety.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Susan B. Anthony dollar from a quarter?
Look for the eleven-sided inner border around the rim, which quarters don't have, and check the portrait, which shows Susan B. Anthony rather than George Washington.
What is the eleven-sided border for?
It was added to help distinguish the dollar from the similarly sized and colored quarter in vending machines and by touch.
What's the difference between the Narrow Rim and Wide Rim varieties?
It refers to how close the date sits to the coin's rim on 1979 Philadelphia strikes; Wide Rim has the date positioned closer to the rim than Narrow Rim.
Where is the mint mark on this coin?
On the obverse, just below Anthony's bust and above the date.
What is the coin made of?
Copper-nickel clad, giving it a dull silver-gray appearance rather than a golden color.