1979 Susan B Anthony Liberty [Rare FG – Frank Gasparro] ONE DOLLAR U.S. Coin

The Susan B. Anthony dollar, minted from 1979 to 1981 and again in 1999, was a groundbreaking coin in American history. Designed by Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Frank Gasparro, it was the first circulating U.S. coin to feature a real woman instead of an allegorical figure. The coin’s obverse displays a portrait of Susan B. Anthony, the pioneering women’s rights advocate, while the reverse features the iconic Apollo 11 mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon, a design also created by Gasparro.

Although the coin’s release was met with mixed public reception, largely because its size and reeded edge were easily confused with a quarter, certain varieties have become highly sought-after by collectors. One such variety is identified by Gasparro’s initials, “FG,” which are subtly located on the obverse, near Anthony’s shoulder. While the initials are present on all of the coins he designed, certain rare errors and die variations can make a specific coin, such as a 1979 Philadelphia (P) mint with a “Wide Rim” or a 1979-S Proof Type 2 with a “Clear S” mint mark, particularly valuable. These subtle differences can turn an ordinary dollar coin into a rare and valuable collector’s item.