The 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollar was the first small-size dollar coin in US history, and its debut year was plagued with production issues. The wide rim variety, multiple doubled dies, and various striking errors make 1979 SBA dollars a treasure trove for error hunters. Here is a comprehensive guide to every known 1979 dollar error.
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Scan My CoinThe most famous 1979 SBA variety. The rim is noticeably wider than normal, causing the date to nearly touch the rim. This was caused by a different hub design used early in production.
How to check: Compare the gap between the date and the rim to a normal 1979 SBA. On the wide rim, the date sits very close to or nearly touches the rim. Most obvious on Philadelphia (no mint mark) coins.
$15 - $200+Multiple doubled die varieties exist for 1979. Doubling is visible on LIBERTY, the date, and Susan B. Anthony's profile. Several die pairs show varying degrees of doubling.
How to check: Use a loupe to examine LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date numerals. Look for shelf-like or shadow doubling.
$25 - $300Doubling visible on the eagle, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the reverse.
How to check: Flip to the reverse and examine the lettering and eagle design under magnification for any split or shadow doubling.
$20 - $200The blank was misaligned during striking, producing a partial design with a crescent of blank metal. SBA off-center strikes are uncommon.
How to check: One side of the coin shows a blank crescent. Off-center strikes with the full date visible are more valuable.
$30 - $500+1979 SBA dollars have been found struck on planchets meant for other denominations, most commonly quarter or dime planchets.
How to check: Weigh the coin — a normal SBA weighs 8.1g. A coin significantly lighter or a different size indicates the wrong planchet. SBA on quarter planchet weighs ~5.67g.
$200 - $3,000+A portion of the blank was accidentally clipped during the planchet cutting process, leaving a curved bite out of the coin.
How to check: Look for a curved indentation at the edge. The opposite side often shows a weak strike area (Blakesley effect).
$15 - $100Cracks in the die produce raised lines across the coin. Large die breaks at the rim create cuds — raised blobs of metal.
How to check: Feel for raised irregular lines on the surface or lumps at the rim edge that are not part of the normal design.
$5 - $150Some 1979-S proof dollars have a filled or blob-like S mint mark where the details of the letter are partially obscured, known as the Type 1 (filled S) vs Type 2 (clear S).
How to check: Examine the S mint mark. Type 1 appears filled and blob-like. Type 2 has a clear, sharp S. The Type 2 clear S is the scarcer variety.
$10 - $75 (Type 2 clear S premium)The most valuable regular errors are wrong planchet strikes ($200-$3,000+) and significant off-center strikes ($200-$500+). The wide rim variety is the most commonly sought, selling for $15-$200 depending on grade.
Place the coin on a flat surface and look at the gap between the date and the rim. On a wide rim (near date), the gap is noticeably smaller — the date nearly touches the rim. Compare to a known narrow rim example for best results.
No. SBA dollars are copper-nickel clad (outer layer of 75% copper, 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core). They weigh 8.1 grams and are not made of silver, despite their silvery appearance.
The Type 1 (more common) has a filled, blob-like S mint mark. The Type 2 (scarcer) has a clear, sharply defined S. The Type 2 clear S commands a premium and is worth looking for in proof sets.
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