$880,000 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Still in Circulation — Here’s the Mark to Look For

The user wants me to write a 500-word description for a 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar, based on a caption that claims it’s worth $880,000 and has a specific “mark to look for.” The user has also provided an image of three Susan B. Anthony dollars, dated 1979, 1980, and 1999. There is no 1981 dollar in the image.

The caption “880,000 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Still in Circulation — Here’s the Mark to Look For!” is highly sensationalized and, based on my knowledge of numismatics, almost certainly inaccurate. A standard 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar, even in uncirculated condition, is not worth anywhere close to $880,000. In fact, most business-strike 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollars are valued at just a few dollars above their face value. The most valuable varieties of the Susan B. Anthony dollar are typically proof coins, or those with specific, well-documented errors, none of which command such an extraordinary price. The claim of “a mark to look for” is a common trope in clickbait articles and viral social media posts, often referring to a minor feature or a misrepresented error.

I cannot write a description that validates the $880,000 claim, as this would be providing false and misleading information. Instead, I will write a description that addresses the user’s request by first providing a factual and educational overview of the 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar. I will then gently but clearly debunk the sensationalist claims in the caption, explaining the actual value of these coins and what real marks or varieties collectors look for. This approach is responsible and provides the user with accurate information while still fulfilling the spirit of their request for a detailed description.

My plan for the description is as follows:

1. Introduce the Susan B. Anthony Dollar (approx. 100 words): Begin by describing the Susan B. Anthony dollar as a whole, its production years (1979-1981 and 1999), and its historical significance as the first circulating U.S. coin to feature a real woman. I will mention its design, including the portrait of Anthony on the obverse and the eagle on the reverse.
2. Focus on the 1981 Dollar (approx. 150 words): Narrow the focus to the 1981 issue. I’ll explain that while the coin was produced in 1981, it was not as widely circulated as the 1979 issue. The majority of 1981 dollars were sold in mint sets. This makes them less common in pocket change but still not rare. I’ll provide a realistic range of values for a typical 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar in different conditions.
3. Debunk the $880,000 Claim (approx. 200 words): Directly address the user’s caption. I will state that the claim of an “$880,000” coin is a gross exaggeration. I will explain the distinction between common coins and rare varieties, and why a standard 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar would not command such a price. I’ll mention the one real mark collectors look for on the 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar: the different styles of the “S” mint mark on proof coins from the San Francisco Mint (Type I “Filled S” and Type II “Clear S”). I will explain that even the rarest of these varieties only commands a fraction of the value mentioned in the caption, though they are still a significant premium over face value.
4. Conclusion (approx. 50 words): Conclude by summarizing that while it’s exciting to search for valuable coins in circulation, the real value of the 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar lies in its historical context and the fascination of collecting, rather than in the hope of finding a mythical million-dollar coin.

This detailed and informative response will provide the user with the description they requested while ensuring the information is accurate and responsible, preventing the spread of misinformation about coin values.The Susan B. Anthony dollar, first introduced in 1979, was a groundbreaking coin in American history, marking the first time a real woman, rather than an allegorical figure, was featured on a circulating U.S. coin. This distinctive one-dollar coin, known for its reeded edge and unique eleven-sided inner border, was an attempt to replace the bulky Eisenhower dollar. The obverse features a compelling portrait of Susan B. Anthony, the pioneering suffragist and women’s rights advocate. The reverse displays a striking design of an eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows, a design that was also featured on the Eisenhower dollar, symbolizing peace and strength. The image provided shows three of these coins from various years, including 1979, 1980, and 1999, which represents the span of its intermittent production.

The specific focus of the caption is the 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar. Following the initial minting of the coin from 1979-1981, production was suspended due to poor public acceptance. However, a limited number of 1981 coins were minted for inclusion in annual United States Mint sets, meaning that while they were not widely distributed into circulation, they are not particularly rare. A typical 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar, whether from the Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco mints, holds a value that is slightly above its face value, often ranging from a few dollars for circulated coins to maybe ten or twenty dollars for coins in pristine, uncirculated condition.

The caption’s claim of an “$880,000” value for a circulated 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar is a dramatic and completely unsubstantiated exaggeration. No such a coin has been officially recognized or sold at this price. Such a value would place it among the most valuable coins in U.S. history, and there is no documented evidence to support this. It is highly likely that this figure originates from a viral internet post or a misunderstanding of a genuine, but far less valuable, error or variety. While many coin collectors enjoy the thrill of the hunt for a valuable find, it’s crucial to rely on reputable numismatic sources for accurate information.

The “mark to look for” on a 1981 Susan B. Anthony dollar does not lead to a multi-million dollar valuation. Instead, a genuine point of interest for collectors is the variety of the “S” mint mark on the proof coins from the San Francisco Mint. In 1981, two different styles of the “S” mint mark were used: a “filled S” (Type I) and a “clear S” (Type II). The clear “S” variety is scarcer and more desirable, but even a high-grade, certified example would sell for a few hundred dollars at most, a far cry from the astronomical figure in the caption. The coin’s primary value is in its historical context and its place in a collection, not as a lottery ticket.