1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar sits in that odd space where most examples are worth face value, yet certain branches push well beyond a buck.
Guide estimates from USA Coin Book range from about $10.00 to $163.00 depending on mint, finish and grade — those are reference figures, not guaranteed offers. The key is knowing which version you have.
A Philadelphia business strike in average condition is a very different animal from a scarce 1981-S Type 2 proof. Identify your mint, finish and variety first, then worry about grade.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar
The quickest way to start figuring out what you have is to upload clear photos of both sides of your coin. A front shot captures the mintmark and portrait details, while the back confirms the eagle design and edge condition.
From there, preliminary identification can point you toward the right branch and help you decide whether deeper evaluation is worthwhile.
1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Value
Upload both sides of your 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1981-S Type 2 proof, with its flatter, more bulbous S mintmark, carries a guide estimate of $163.00 at PR65 — far above the common Type 1 proof.
- The 1981-S Type 1 proof is the more available proof variety at roughly $10.00 in PR65, so telling the two apart is the single most important skill for this date.
Step 1: Identify Your 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Mint Mark and Version
Look on the obverse, near Susan B. Anthony's shoulder truncation, for the mintmark: P, D or S.
All 1981 SBA dollars are copper-nickel clad over a copper core — no silver whatsoever. They weigh 8.10 grams and measure 26.50 mm with a reeded edge.
Business strikes were made at Philadelphia (P), Denver (D) and San Francisco (S). Proofs came only from San Francisco and split into two recognized varieties: Type 1 and Type 2, distinguished by the shape of the S mintmark punch.
On the 1981-S Type 1 proof, the S appears somewhat filled or blobby. The 1981-S Type 2 proof has a flatter, more bulbous S shape.
These are year-specific distinctions — do not use 1979 Type 1/Type 2 reference images interchangeably, because the punch shapes changed between years.
A proof is a manufacturing finish, not simply a shiny coin. Proofs have squared rims, mirror fields and were sold in government-issued packaging.
If yours rattled around in a cash register, it is a business strike regardless of how nice it looks.
Step 2: Check Your 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Grade
Focus on three areas when grading a business-strike 1981 SBA dollar: Anthony's cheek, the hair above her ear, and the eagle's breast feathers on the reverse. In circulated grades, the cheek loses its fine texture first, then the hair strands flatten.
On the eagle side, breast feathers merge into a smooth plateau as wear progresses.
At About Uncirculated, you will still see most luster in protected areas but light friction on the high points. A Mint State coin retains full original luster with no wear, though contact marks from other coins hitting the surface are normal and affect the grade.
For proofs, grading works differently. Check for hairlines from improper handling, haze from storage, and contact marks.
Cameo contrast — frosted devices against mirror fields — is evaluated separately from surface preservation. Use a genuine same-type comparison image when judging; the reference photo alongside this guide shows circulated, AU and Mint State states for business strikes and treats proof finishes on their own terms.
Coin Value Lookup is a useful starting point if you want to look up other coin series or years while you are sorting through a group.
Step 3: Check 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Value by Mint and Version
1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — P
The 1981-P is the Philadelphia business strike, identifiable by the P mintmark beside Anthony's shoulder. It is copper-nickel clad, 8.10 grams, with a reeded edge.
A USA Coin Book guide estimate places this version at about $16.00 in MS63. Most survivors show bag marks from bulk storage.
Original surfaces matter — a cleaned or polished coin loses collector appeal and is harder to compare against graded reference examples.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
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Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — D
Denver's 1981-D carries a D mintmark in the same obverse location. The guide estimate sits at roughly $15.00 in MS63 per USA Coin Book, essentially on par with its Philadelphia sibling.
Like the P-mint, these were struck for commerce and spent little time in circulation before being hoarded or returned to banks. Look for original luster and minimal contact marks when evaluating grade.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
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Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — S
San Francisco also produced a small number of business-strike 1981-S dollars. These are not proofs — they lack mirror fields and squared rims.
The USA Coin Book guide estimate is about $26.00 at MS63, a step above the P and D issues, reflecting a lower mintage run. Confirm your coin is genuinely uncirculated with original surfaces before assuming this higher figure applies.
Cleaning or polishing reduces comparability to graded examples.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
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Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — S Type 1 PR
The 1981-S Type 1 proof is the more common of the two San Francisco proof varieties. Its S mintmark appears filled or slightly blobby when examined under magnification.
A proof is a special manufacturing finish — mirror fields, frosted devices, squared rims — not just a pretty coin. The USA Coin Book guide estimate is $10.00 at PR65.
Because millions of Type 1 proofs were produced and sold in government sets, supply is plentiful. Hairlines from careless handling are the most common grade-limiting problem.
Confirm you are looking at the 1981-specific Type 1 S punch, not referencing a 1979 image, since the shapes differ year to year.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 2
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PR 3
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
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PR 69
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PR 70
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1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — S Type 2 PR
Here is the one that gets people excited. The 1981-S Type 2 proof has a distinctly flatter, more bulbous S mintmark compared to the blobby Type 1.
The USA Coin Book guide estimate jumps to $163.00 at PR65 — over sixteen times the Type 1 figure at the same grade.
This variety was produced in smaller numbers, making it the branch worth your time to verify. You need magnification and a reliable 1981-specific reference photo.
Do not rely on 1979 Type 2 comparisons; the punch changed between years. Condition still matters — hairlines, haze and contact marks all affect the grade and, by extension, value.
If you believe you have one, professional grading service attribution is worth considering given the price differential.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 2
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PR 3
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
Coin Identifier
PR 69
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PR 70
Coin Identifier
1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Error List
1. 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — Off-Center Strike
An off-center strike happens when the planchet is not seated properly between the dies, producing a crescent-shaped blank area on one side while the struck design shifts in the opposite direction. On a 1981 Susan B.
Anthony Dollar, look for a visible unstruck arc alongside a displaced but otherwise complete-looking design. The date should remain readable for the coin to be identifiable.
The degree of off-center displacement and the preservation of the date both affect collector interest. Condition matters too — a damaged or corroded off-center coin is less desirable than a clean one.
Do not confuse this with a clipped planchet, one-sided die misalignment or post-mint flattening from a vise or other tool. No specific price data is available for this error, so individual assessment based on the severity and overall condition is necessary.
2. 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — Clipped Planchet
A clipped planchet error occurs when the blank is improperly punched from the metal strip before striking, leaving a missing curved, straight or ragged section. On a 1981 SBA dollar, check the edge for a smooth, factory-consistent absence of metal rather than a rough cut or filed notch.
A useful secondary diagnostic: look for weakness in the design directly opposite the clip. The strike pressure distributes unevenly when part of the blank is missing, so the design on the far side may appear softer.
If the edge looks filed, corroded or intentionally cut, that is post-mint damage, not a mint error. Value depends on the size and type of clip, the coin's overall condition, and how clearly the error presents.
No adopted price range is available for this variety.
3. 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — Wrong Planchet / Off-Metal Strike
A wrong-planchet error means the 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar design was struck on a blank intended for a different denomination or composition.
To identify one, compare the coin's weight, diameter and edge characteristics against the standard 8.10 grams and 26.50 mm of a normal SBA dollar. If those measurements are off and the design appears complete or nearly so, you may have something unusual.
Be cautious. Coins that look odd in color or weight can simply be plated, corroded, acid-treated or deliberately altered after leaving the mint.
A genuine wrong-planchet strike will show consistent, undamaged surfaces and a measurably different blank. No specific price data is adopted for this error on the 1981 dollar, so professional evaluation is the practical next step if you suspect one.
4. 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — Double / Multiple Strike
A double or multiple strike error shows two or more distinct impressions of the design, usually displaced or rotated relative to each other. On a 1981 SBA dollar, you would see overlapping but clearly separate images of Anthony's portrait or the eagle — not just slightly thickened lettering.
The key diagnostic is that each impression looks like a full or partial strike on its own, shifted from the other. This separates it from a doubled die, which shows consistent doubling from the die itself rather than repeated hits.
It also differs from post-mint impressions made by pressing the coin against another object. Value depends on how dramatic the displacement is and the coin's condition, but no adopted price data exists for this error on the 1981 issue.
5. 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — Doubled Die
A doubled die error is created during die manufacturing, producing consistent doubling that appears identically on every coin struck by that die. On a 1981 Susan B.
Anthony Dollar, look for design separation, notching, or split serifs on lettering and date numerals. The doubling should be uniform and repeatable — if it shifts direction across the coin, that is a red flag for something else.
Machine doubling is the most common lookalike. It tends to produce flat, shelf-like displacement rather than the raised, rounded separation of a true doubled die.
Reflections under certain lighting and post-mint impressions can also fool you. No specific price data is adopted for doubled die varieties on this date, so the error's visibility and condition will drive individual assessment.
6. 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — Brockage
A brockage occurs when a previously struck coin stays on the die and acts as a middleman, impressing its design — in reverse and incuse — onto the next blank that enters the press. On a 1981 SBA dollar brockage, one side will show the normal struck design while the other displays a mirror-image, sunken version of a design transferred through that stuck coin.
Check that the incuse image reads backward and sits below the coin's surface. Compare this against die clashes, which leave faint design traces but not a full incuse mirror image.
Also rule out coins that were deliberately pressed together after leaving the mint. No adopted price is available for this error, though brockages on dollar-sized coins tend to draw collector attention when authenticated.
7. 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar — Die Cap / Capped-Die Strike
A die cap error happens when a struck coin adheres to the upper die and keeps getting struck against subsequent blanks. The adhered coin gradually cups around the die like a bottle cap, and the coins struck beneath it receive a distorted, spread impression rather than the normal die image.
On a 1981 Susan B. Anthony Dollar, a capped-die strike will show a noticeably cupped shape with one progressively distorted side.
The coin struck through an existing cap, meanwhile, may display a mushy or spread design on one face. Do not confuse this with a coin that has simply been bent in a vise or shows a weak strike from worn dies.
No specific price data is adopted for this error, so professional evaluation is recommended if you believe you have one.
