1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof (Type 2, Clear S)
Variety of the 1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar struck at the San Francisco Mint
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Metal
- Copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel
- Weight
- 8.1 g
- Diameter
- 26.5 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof (Type 2, Clear S) worth?
Value depends entirely on whether the coin is genuine and on its condition. Have any candidate authenticated before you buy or sell.
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
Quick answers
- Is the 1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof (Type 2, Clear S) rare?
- Yes. It's a variety or error, not a regular issue.
- Is the 1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof (Type 2, Clear S) silver?
- No. It's copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel. Circulating silver dollars ended with the 1935 Peace dollar. Some Eisenhower dollars with an S mint mark were made in 40% silver for collectors, but circulation Ike dollars are copper-nickel clad.
- Where is the mint mark on a 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar?
- On the obverse, to the left of Anthony's portrait, just above her shoulder (P, D or S). On this coin the mark is S, for San Francisco.
What to check on your 1981-S
- Make sure the mint mark really is an S. A worn or filled mark can be misread. It's what separates your coin from the 1981-P (3 million made).
- Judge the grade under good light. Check Anthony's cheekbone and the hair behind her ear, then the eagle's feathers. Most survivors are bright and lightly worn; uncirculated coins are common.
Proofs from 1981 come with and without frosted devices. Coins with strong contrast are labeled Cameo or Deep Cameo and are worth more.
The story of the 1981-S
More on the 1981-S
The 1981-S Type 2 proof was struck in the autumn of 1981 after the original mint mark punch wore out. The Mint cut a new punch that produced a sharper S with bulbous serifs. These coins are included in the 1981-S proof total of 4,063,083 and are somewhat scarcer than the 1979-S Type 2. Proofs struck earlier in 1981 used the older punch, as did all the 1980-S proofs.
Under magnification, the Type 2 S has noticeably rounder, heavier ends than the Type 1. The letter also looks crisper and more open. Compare with a known Type 1 if you can, since the difference is easier to see side by side than on its own. The Type 2 carries a collector premium. Coins with deep cameo contrast bring the most. It is generally considered the scarcest proof of the series. Check every 1981-S proof dollar you come across, especially in sets that have never been opened.
Falling output and collector-only 1981 coins (1980 to 1981)
With the 1979 dollars piling up unused, the Mint cut production sharply. Philadelphia struck 27,610,000 in 1980, Denver 41,628,708 and San Francisco 20,422,000. Many of these went straight into storage rather than into change, so uncirculated 1980 dollars are as easy to find as the 1979 coins. San Francisco also struck 3,554,806 proofs that year, all with a well-formed S. In both 1980 and 1981 Denver struck more dollars than Philadelphia, the reverse of the pattern in 1979.
By 1981 no more were needed for commerce. The 1981 dollars from Philadelphia (3,000,000), Denver (3,250,000) and San Francisco (3,492,000) were issued only in mint sets sold to collectors, so they were never released into everyday use. That makes them the lowest-mintage business strikes of the series, though nearly every one survives in uncirculated condition. Coins that have been out of their sets for years may show toning or handling marks. A fully original coin with clean surfaces is the one to look for.
The 1981-S proof, with 4,063,083 struck, also has two mint mark types. A worn punch was replaced in the autumn of 1981 with a new one that gives a sharper S with bulbous serifs. These Type 2 coins are somewhat scarcer than the 1979-S Type 2. When grading 1980 and 1981 coins, check Anthony's cheekbone and the eagle's feathers for wear, since most survivors are close to mint condition and small differences matter.
Elsewhere in US coinage in 1981
Susan B. Anthony dollars were made only for collector sets, ending the design until a final run in 1999.
How to recognize it
Frank Gasparro's portrait shows Susan B. Anthony facing right, her hair drawn back into a bun above a high collar. LIBERTY runs across the top, the date sits at the bottom and IN GOD WE TRUST appears in small letters to the right of her chin. Thirteen stars ring the field and the P, D or S mint mark is just above her shoulder on the left side. Both faces are framed by an eleven-sided inner border, added to help people tell the coin from a quarter by touch and sight. The reverse keeps the Eisenhower dollar's eagle adapted from the Apollo 11 insignia: an eagle with spread wings lands on the moon holding an olive branch, with the Earth above. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs over the top, E PLURIBUS UNUM sits beside the Earth and ONE DOLLAR is below. The coin is 26.5 mm across with a reeded edge.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Susan B. Anthony Dollar (1979–1999) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1981 |
| Mint | San Francisco Mint |
| Mint mark | "S" |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | Not recorded |
| Face value | $1 |
| Composition | Copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel |
| Weight | 8.1 grams |
| Diameter | 26.5 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Designer | Frank Gasparro |
Other 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-P Susan B. Anthony Dollar | 3,000,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1981-D Susan B. Anthony Dollar | 3,250,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar | 3,492,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof | 4,063,083 | Proof | – |
| 1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof (Type 2, Clear S) | – | Variety | – |
Mintage: US Mint records as published in standard references, each figure checked against at least two independent sources. How we build these pages.