1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth)

The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar value varies by mint mark and grade. Only 9,742,000 coins were struck in 1981 exclusively for collectors after production was suspended, making it the series’ lowest mintage year.

Most examples trade close to face value, but there are some differences: a 1981-P in MS condition sells for $16.00, while the 1981-S reaches $91.50. The 1981-S Type 2 DCAM variety commands $72.38.

The series ended in 1981, then briefly resumed in 1999 for vending machines. These production patterns help collectors identify which examples deserve professional grading.

 

1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Value By Variety

Collectors find significant value differences among 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollars depending on mint mark and condition, with San Francisco issues and Deep Cameo proofs bringing notably higher prices than Philadelphia or Denver pieces.

If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Susan B. Anthony Dollar Value (1979-1999)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Worth Money

High-grade 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollars command significant premiums in the collector market. The 1981-S MS67+ leads the series at $21,600, representing the finest known example with only one coin graded at this level. The 1981-S Type 2 PR70 proof reached $5,463 at auction, valued for its clear mint mark variety.

Mint mark location creates notable value differences across the series. The 1981-P ranks as the key date with the lowest mintage in the circulation strike series at just 3 million coins. The 1981-P MS67 achieved at $3,220, ranking the third place. The 1981-D MS68 at $2,938 shows how Denver coins also achieve strong prices in top grades. Meanwhile, the 1981-S Type 1 PR70 at $896 demonstrates the premium placed on San Francisco proofs.

These price variations reflect both condition scarcity and mint mark. Coins grading MS67 and above are almost unobtainable. Registry set collectors pursue these top-tier specimens, driving sustained market demand.

 

History Of The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar

Susan B. Anthony was a social reformer born in 1820 who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement. Her work helped pave the way for the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, giving women the right to vote, fourteen years after her death in 1906.

When Congress authorized a new smaller dollar coin in the late 1970s, organizations and individuals called for it to depict a real woman rather than an allegorical representation of Liberty, and Anthony was selected as the design subject.

The Susan B. Anthony dollar was first minted from 1979 to 1981 as a replacement for the larger Eisenhower dollar. President Jimmy Carter signed the legislation into law on October 10, 1978, declaring he was particularly pleased that the new dollar would bear the image of a great American woman for the first time in history. The coin featured Frank Gasparro’s portrait of Anthony on the obverse and retained the Apollo 11 mission insignia on the reverse.

The coin proved unpopular due to confusion caused by its similarity in size and metallic composition to the quarter. By 1981, production was suspended due to poor public acceptance, with only 9,742,000 coins struck across all three mints exclusively for collectors.

The Treasury had accumulated a surplus of 520 million coins by 1981. After President Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, the Mint quietly concluded production of the Susan B. Anthony dollar, marking the end of this brief but historically significant series.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

Is Your 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Rare?

The CoinValueChecker App provides instant identification and rarity assessment for your 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar through AI-powered image recognition technology, helping collectors verify grade, mint mark, and current market value.

 

Key Features Of The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar

Recognizing the distinctive characteristics of the 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar allows collectors to properly authenticate and evaluate these coins. Frank Gasparro, serving as Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, designed this historic piece that marked the first appearance of a real woman on circulating U.S. currency.

The sections below examine the obverse portrait, reverse imagery, and technical specifications that distinguish this collector-oriented release.

The Obverse Of The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar

A right-facing portrait of suffragette Susan B. Anthony dominates the obverse, showing her in a high-necked blouse with her hair pulled back into a bun. Just below Anthony’s left shoulder, designer Frank Gasparro placed his initials “FG”. “LIBERTY” stretches across the top portion, while “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears in small lettering to the right of her chin.

Encircling the inner rim are thirteen five-pointed stars—seven positioned on the left side and six on the right, with the right-side stars divided into two groups of three by the motto. Above Anthony’s right shoulder sits the mint mark (P, D, or S). Below her bust, the date “1981” marks the coin’s year of issue.

The Reverse Of The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar

Continuing from the Eisenhower dollar series, the reverse displays the Apollo 11 mission insignia with an eagle landing on the Moon. This design, originally created by Michael Collins, shows a left-facing eagle with spread wings descending toward the cratered lunar surface depicted across the lower third, with an olive branch gripped in its talons.

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” follows the upper rim’s curve, complemented by “ONE DOLLAR” along the bottom edge. Below the eagle’s tail feathers, Gasparro’s initials “FG” appear once more. Earth rises in the background above, symbolizing our planet as seen from the moon’s surface.

Other Features Of The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar

A copper-nickel clad construction forms the coin—75% copper and 25% nickel bonded over a pure copper core. Despite its silvery appearance, the piece contains no precious metals. Physical dimensions include a 26.5-millimeter diameter and 8.1-gram weight.

Both sides feature an eleven-sided inner border created by smooth angular line segments forming an undecagon, a design element meant to differentiate the dollar from the quarter by touch and sight. Grooved reeding decorates the edge, though this feature’s similarity to quarter edges actually increased public confusion between the two denominations.

Also Read: Top 80+ Most Valuable Sacagawea Dollar Worth Money (2000-P to Present)

 

1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Mintage & Survival Data

The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar represents the lowest mintage year in the series across all three mints.

Philadelphia struck 3,000,000 pieces, Denver minted 3,250,000, and San Francisco struck 3,492,000 business strikes. The San Francisco Mint also struck over 4,063,083 proof coins, divided between Type 1 and Type 2 varieties based on the clarity of the mint mark.

Survival rates vary dramatically across different strike types. The chart shows business strikes from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco maintain exceptionally high survival rates above 98%. These coins were issued only in U.S. Mint and Proof Sets rather than for circulation, which explains their remarkable preservation.

The proof coins show markedly different survival patterns. The S Type 1 DCAM maintains a 64.8% survival rate with 2,632,877 examples remaining. The S Type 2 DCAM exhibits the lowest survival at just 16.2%, with only 658,219 specimens extant, making it significantly scarcer than its Type 1 counterpart and highly sought by collectors.

Also Read: Top 40+ Most Valuable Presidential Dollar Coins Worth Money

 

The Easy Way To Know Your 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Value

Evaluating a 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar requires examining three critical elements: the mint mark location above Anthony’s shoulder, the clarity of the “S” mark distinguishing Type 1 from Type 2 varieties, and the coin’s surface condition.

A magnifying glass reveals whether the San Francisco mint mark appears sharp or blurry, a subtle difference that separates common coins from valuable specimens.

Rather than manual research and comparison, the CoinValueChecker App transforms this complex authentication process into seconds. Its AI-powered recognition technology scans your coin’s image, identifies mint mark varieties automatically, assesses grade through surface analysis, and delivers instant market values—turning what once required expert knowledge into an accessible tool for any collector seeking reliable results.

 

1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Value Guides

The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar series encompasses five distinct categories, each with unique characteristics that appeal to different collector interests. All 1981 coins were struck exclusively for U.S. Mint and Proof Sets rather than circulation.

The business strike coins from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco represent the standard issues distributed in mint sets. Meanwhile, the proof varieties from San Francisco include the scarce Type II proof, which stands alongside the 1979-P Wide Rim variety and 1979-S Type II proof as notable rarities in the Susan B. Anthony series. Each category offers distinct opportunities for numismatic pursuit.

• 1981-P Susan B Anthony Dollar – Philadelphia Mint business strike, lowest series mintage
• 1981-D Susan B Anthony Dollar – Denver Mint issue, second-lowest mintage in series
• 1981-S Susan B Anthony Dollar – San Francisco business strike, collector-only distribution
• 1981-S Type 1 DCAM Susan B Anthony Dollar – Proof with filled “S” mint mark
• 1981-S Type 2 DCAM Susan B Anthony Dollar – Rare proof with clear “S” mint mark

 

1981-P Susan B Anthony Dollar Value

The 1981-P carries a premium tied directly to its mint-set-only distribution. These coins never reached circulation—every piece came from collector sets, but this advantage only materializes at higher grades. Most MS64 and below examples trade close to face value, making them accessible type coins rather than investment pieces.

The pricing structure changes at MS66 (now for about $50), where values begin their upward climb before jumping substantially at MS67. A top-grade example (MS67) sold for $3,220 at Heritage Auctions in December 2007. The difference between MS66 and MS67 isn’t incremental—it’s a significant value gap driven by actual scarcity.

Only 21 coins have been certified at MS67, with none graded higher. Among circulation-strike Susan B Anthony dollars, the 1981-P ranks as the second toughest to find in top condition, trailing only the 1981-S. This creates steady interest among collectors pursuing registry sets and finest-known examples.

Lower-grade certified pieces show stable pricing across grade points, while MS66 and above command attention from serious collectors. The market treats this as a condition-driven issue where preservation determines everything.

Detailed auction histories document pricing trends across all certified grades.

Current market chart shows how collector interest has evolved through recent months.

 

1981-D Susan B Anthony Dollar Value

The Denver facility produced 3,250,000 pieces, all released through mint sets. In MS65 and above, the 1981-D appears more frequently than the 1981-P or 1981-S. This sourcing difference shows in certified populations and current availability.

A single MS68 specimen—the finest certified—sold for $2,938 at Heritage Auctions in January 2017. That grade holds terminal status with no examples graded higher at either major service.

Current retail asking prices place MS67 specimens near $375 (near 120 coins certified), MS66 at $65, and MS64at $18. These figures reflect the coin’s position within the three 1981 issues, with Denver specimens appearing more frequently in higher grades than Philadelphia or San Francisco examples.

The 1981-D functions differently in the market than the other two 1981 variants. Collectors assembling three-coin 1981 sets typically source the Denver piece first, then allocate remaining budget toward the scarcer Philadelphia and San Francisco examples where high-grade populations run tighter.

All notable past sales of the 1981-D dollar are summarized in the following auction record table.

Observing current market trends helps gauge collector attention and liquidity for this issue.

 

1981-S Susan B Anthony Dollar Value

San Francisco produced business strikes alongside its proof coins in 1981. When auction prices across the three 1981 mint marks are compared, the San Francisco business strike shows the widest premium gap.

Its MS67+ specimen reached $21,600 at Heritage in October 2022, while Philadelphia’s MS67 brought $3,220 in December 2007 and Denver’s MS68 achieved $2,938 in January 2017.

That MS67+ coin is the sole example at this grade. No finer San Francisco business strike exists at either major service. The 1981-S proves hardest to source in MS66 and above compared to Philadelphia or Denver, creating a supply constraint where serious collectors compete.

Business strikes from this facility attract added interest since San Francisco typically focused on proof production during this period. The narrow census at MS67 and above keeps registry competition active.

Comprehensive sale records document how certified examples have traded across auction platforms.

Market tracking shows consistent activity levels of this San Francisco dollar through the past year.

 

1981-S Type 1 DCAM Susan B Anthony Dollar Value

The 1981-S Type 1 Susan B. Anthony Dollar typically trades around $8 to $20 in PR69 Deep Cameo condition, with minimal collector premium over common proof issues.

By the closing months of 1981, the S mintmark punch originally made for the 1979-S Type 2 Dollars succumbed to wear, forcing the Mint to produce a replacement during autumn production. Most 1981 proofs received the deteriorated punch before the changeover occurred.

The Type 1 features a smaller S mintmark which is partially filled in and not as clear, directly reflecting this punch degradation from two years of service. The Type 2 mintmark displays bulbous serifs from the fresh replacement punch. Most of the 4 million proof sets made in 1981 contain the more common Type 1 S mintmark, as the new tooling arrived too late to affect the majority.

A PR70 example sold for $896 in October 2020, representing the documented auction peak. Current PR70 specimens bring $30 to $50 when available, while PR69 grades settle around $10 to $20 in routine transactions.

Comprehensive auction records trace this variety’s sales history across major numismatic platforms.

Market tracking chart reflects ongoing collector interest of the type 1 coin through recent months.

 

1981-S Type 2 DCAM Susan B Anthony Dollar Value

A worn mintmark punch replacement late in 1981 created the Type 2 variant, identifiable by its flat, sharply defined S. Only 8% of San Francisco’s 1981 proof dollars carry this clear mintmark, making it the scarcest modern Susan B. Anthony variety.

PR69 examples trade around $120, while flawless PR70 pieces reach approximately $400. In PR68 grade, values hover near $80 to $140, showing steady premiums across all preservation levels.

Professional grading services have certified 5,314 coins at the PR69 level and just 764 at PR70—numbers revealing how few survived four decades without surface issues. The tiny PR70 population drives competition among collectors building high-grade sets.

Album builders specifically need both Type 1 and Type 2 specimens, creating consistent buyer demand that should support continued appreciation as fewer gem examples remain accessible.

A review of past auction results provides insight into how collector interest and pricing have evolved over time.

Following that, the chart illustrates how these coins have performed in the market over the past year.

Also Read: 17 Rare Dollar Coin Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar Error List

The 1981 Susan B Anthony dollar marks the final year of the coin’s initial production run—a year when minting shifted exclusively to collector sets rather than circulation. This scarcity creates unique opportunities for error hunters.

Yet within this limited population, specific minting anomalies transform these modern coins into significant numismatic finds. Production flaws that escaped quality control now command substantial premiums in today’s market.

1. Off-Center Strike Errors

Manufacturing errors occur when planchets misalign between striking dies, producing coins with partial designs and blank crescents. Most discovered 1981 examples show displacement ranging from 5% to 20%, creating visually arresting pieces.

Authentication focuses on date visibility, which confirms the coin’s year and validates its status as a legitimate mint error. These misstrikes appear across all three facilities—Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. The limited 1981 mintage amplifies scarcity when combined with off-center striking.

Current valuations range from $150 to $500 depending on displacement percentage. Examples showing greater off-center percentages while retaining full date visibility occupy the premium tier. High-grade specimens attract competitive bidding at specialized error coin auctions, often driving final prices beyond standard estimates.

2. Clipped Planchet Errors

Clipping errors originate during blank preparation when cutting dies punch overlapping patterns into metal strips. The resulting coins display straight-edge clips from overlapping punches or crescent-shaped clips when partially missing metal creates curved voids.

The clipped area exposes the coin’s copper core through outer nickel cladding layers. Detection requires no magnification—the missing segment creates an immediately visible interruption to the circular profile. Weight verification provides additional authentication, as clipped specimens fall below the standard 8.1 grams proportional to missing metal.

Base valuations start around $25 for minor clips but escalate with severity. Larger clips affecting 15-20% of the planchet’s area command $75-$150, particularly in higher grades. Specimens in uncirculated condition with dramatic clips occasionally exceed $200 at specialized auctions.

3. Multiple Strike Errors

This error occurs when a planchet becomes trapped between dies and receives additional unintended strikes before ejection. The overlapping impressions create ghosted doubling effects where design elements appear in multiple positions with varying rotation angles.

Unlike die deterioration doubling, multiple strikes show completely separate impressions with distinct spacing. Authentication requires examining both obverse and reverse for corresponding overlapped elements—Susan B. Anthony’s portrait may show shifted secondary images alongside duplicated eagle features on the reverse.

The trapped planchet theory explains why these errors remained exceptionally rare throughout the series. Most surviving examples exhibit two strikes, though three-strike specimens occasionally surface. Market values begin at $500 for authenticated pieces, with dramatic examples commanding four-figure sums. Professional certification proves essential for market acceptance.

 

Where To Sell Your 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar ?

Now that you understand your 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar’s potential value, choosing the right selling platform becomes your next priority. Each marketplace offers distinct advantages depending on your coin’s condition and rarity.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

FAQ About The 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollar

1. Are 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollars rare and valuable?

Yes, 1981 coins are the rarest in the series. All three mint marks (P, D, S) had mintages under 3.5 million, making them the lowest-production Susan B Anthony Dollars.

Most circulated examples are worth face value, but uncirculated specimens command premiums—the 1981-S is particularly valuable, worth around $42 in MS65. In MS66 grade, the 1981-S can reach $500, and coins in MS67 and higher become exceptionally rare with dramatically increased values.

2. Do 1981 Susan B Anthony Dollars contain silver?

No, these coins contain no silver despite being dollar coins. They are made from copper-nickel clad composition, not silver.

The coins consist of outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core. This composition gives them their distinctive appearance but means their melt value is minimal—approximately $0.09 to $0.10 based on metal content alone.

3. What’s the difference between 1981-S Type 1 and Type 2 proof coins？

The distinction lies in the mintmark appearance. Type I proofs feature a filled or “clogged” S mintmark that was actually carried over from the 1979-S Type II design, while Type II proofs display a clearer, flatter S mintmark.

Type I specimens are far more common, representing 80-85% of the 4 million proofs struck, and typically sell for $5-20. Type II proofs are much rarer, and command values of $100 or more.