The Coin That Got Me Thinking
Okay, so picture this.
It’s Saturday morning. I’ve got bedhead, mismatched socks, and an iced coffee sweating all over my kitchen table. I decide—out of absolutely nowhere—that today is the day I tackle the junk drawer. You know the one. Every house has it. That sacred chaotic shrine of randomness: dried-up super glue, birthday candles shaped like numbers we never used, a wad of twist ties, and like… six pens that definitely don’t work but I keep testing just in case one suddenly springs back to life.susan b anthony coin
Anyway, I’m elbow-deep in expired coupons and ancient keychains when I spot something weird tucked under a dog-eared takeout menu. It’s a coin. Not just any coin—a serious-looking one. Heavier than a quarter, kind of shiny, and wait… is that a woman’s face?
I squint. Flip it over. There’s an eagle flying dramatically across space (seriously?). And right there above the headshot: Susan B. Anthony.
Cue curiosity spiral.
Because who even was she really? And why is she on a coin I’ve literally never used to buy anything in my life?
That’s how this whole rabbit hole started. One random morning, one forgotten coin, and a whole new appreciation for a weird little piece of change that somehow tells a much bigger story.
It looked like a quarter, but chunkier. A bit more serious. Shiny, silver, and—wait—is that a woman’s face on it?
I turned it over, and boom: a bald eagle flying through space. I kid you not. It looked like it belonged in a Star Wars movie. Then I saw the name: Susan B. Anthony.
I’d seen this coin before—years ago. But I never really paid attention to it. This time, I stopped. I stared at it. And then, I did the one thing that sends any mildly curious person into a black hole of research:
I Googled it.
What I thought would be a five-minute scroll turned into a full-blown deep dive into U.S. history, coin collecting, and the random beauty of old change. So here we are. You, me, and this strange but wonderful little dollar coin with a feminist icon on the front and an outer-space bird on the back.susan b anthony coin
Let’s talk about the Susan B. Anthony coin—and why it might be cooler than you think.
Who Was Susan B. Anthony, Anyway?
Let’s get something straight: Susan B. Anthony wasn’t just some polite lady who posed for a coin photo. She was a straight-up rebel. The kind who didn’t take no for an answer.
Born in 1820 (yes, that long ago), she was one of the fiercest voices for women’s rights in America. She campaigned for decades for women to have the right to vote—back when that idea was basically laughed at. In 1872, she voted in a presidential election knowing it was illegal for women to do so. She got arrested for it. And she didn’t apologize.susan b anthony coin
Icon.
So it kind of makes sense that, in 1979, the U.S. decided to honor her by putting her face on a brand-new dollar coin. It was historic—she became the first real, non-symbolic woman on American money.
That alone is pretty badass.susan b anthony coin
So… Why Haven’t You Seen One Lately?
Honestly? Because the coin kind of flopped.
You’d think a coin with a groundbreaking feminist on it would be a hit, but nope. People didn’t love it. It was the right idea, but maybe the wrong execution.susan b anthony coin
Here’s Why:
- It looked too much like a quarter.
Like, really close. Same silver color, similar size, almost the same weight. People kept confusing the two. Ever paid $1 for a candy bar that cost 25 cents and walked away sad and broke? That’s the Susan B. Anthony coin’s legacy. - America just isn’t that into dollar coins.
We tried with the big Eisenhower dollar (a literal dinner plate), then the Susan B. Anthony, then the golden Sacagawea, then Presidential coins. And still, most folks want their ol’ reliable crinkly dollar bills. - Vending machines couldn’t figure them out.
Even machines thought they were quarters. It was chaos.susan b anthony coin
So yeah, despite good intentions and an awesome woman at the center of it all, the coin was kind of doomed from the start. It was minted for only three years—1979, 1980, and 1981—and then again in 1999 for a hot minute because the U.S. needed coins for trains and vending machines. And then… poof. Gone again.susan b anthony coin
My First Susan B. Anthony Coin
Story time.
I think I was around 9 or 10 the first time I found one. It was in my grandpa’s old coin jar—the kind you used to have to crack open with a hammer when you were desperate for ice cream money.susan b anthony coin
I picked up this shiny, quarter-like thing and said, “Hey Grandpa, what’s this?”
He smiled and said, “That’s a Susan B. Anthony dollar. Keep it. They don’t make those much anymore.”
That moment stuck with me. Not because I thought it was worth anything (spoiler alert: it’s usually not), but because it felt important. Like a little piece of American history had landed in my hand, tucked between old nickels and a Canadian penny.susan b anthony coin
Are These Coins Worth Anything?
Okay, I know what you’re wondering: Should I be checking my piggy bank for a retirement jackpot?
Well… maybe. But probably not. Most Susan B. Anthony coins are worth exactly one dollar.
BUT (and this is a big “but” for us treasure hunters), some versions are a little special. Here’s what to look for if you want to do some casual coin sleuthing:susan b anthony coin
Look for These:
- 1979-P “Wide Rim” (aka Near Date):
This version has the date sitting much closer to the edge of the coin. If you find one in great condition, it could be worth $50 or more. - 1981 Coins:
These weren’t released to the public, just to collectors. If you have one that looks shiny and untouched, it might be worth $10–$30. - Proof Coins (marked with an “S”):
Made in San Francisco, these are super shiny and fancy-looking. Some can be worth more if they’re in perfect condition. - Mint Errors:
Any time the mint messes up—like stamping something off-center, double striking, or missing details—collectors get very interested. These are the unicorns of the coin world.
I use a free app called CoinSnap to scan coins and get a rough idea of value. Or you can browse listings on eBay or visit a coin shop if you’re feeling retro.susan b anthony coin
Want to Collect Them? Here’s How to Start (Without Losing Your Mind)
I’m not a hardcore collector, but I’ve picked up a few tips from the coin-curious side of the internet. If you want to start hunting Susan B. Anthony dollars—or any cool coins, really—start small and keep it fun.susan b anthony coin
My Casual Collector Tips:
- Check your change.
You’d be surprised how often old coins sneak back into circulation. - Don’t clean your coins.
It’s tempting. But cleaning actually hurts their value. Leave that patina alone! - Use a magnifying glass.
Feels a little Sherlock Holmes-y, but it helps. You’ll need it to spot those “wide rims” or weird errors. - Buy a little folder.
Trust me, organizing your coins in a folder feels amazing. Like adult Pokémon cards. - Talk to older relatives.
You’d be shocked what your grandma might have stashed in a jewelry box. (That’s how I found a wheat penny that made me weirdly emotional.)
Why I Kind of Love the Susan B. Anthony Coin
The more I learned, the more I liked it.
It’s not just about the potential value. It’s about what the coin stands for. It’s about seeing a woman’s face on something as universal and everyday as money. It’s about how we tried to do something bold in 1979 and kind of fumbled it—but in a way that still feels meaningful.susan b anthony coin
There’s something charming about this odd little dollar. It’s a reminder that change (pun intended) doesn’t always happen smoothly. Sometimes it takes a few awkward coin rollouts and vending machine mishaps to make progress.susan b anthony coin
So… Should You Keep Yours?
If you find a Susan B. Anthony coin in your drawer, don’t toss it back in with the dead batteries.
Hold onto it.
It might not be worth a ton of cash, but it’s worth something else: a cool story, a feminist icon, a piece of 70s Americana, and maybe the start of a new hobby you didn’t know you’d enjoy.susan b anthony coin
Or you can be like me and keep it in a little zippered pouch marked “weird cool things.”
That works too.
Wrapping It Up: A Coin Worth More Than a Dollar
So yeah—next time you find yourself holding one of those “quarter but not a quarter” coins, give it a second look. Read the date. Feel the weight. Maybe even Google it. You never know.susan b anthony coin
Maybe it’s just a dollar. Maybe it’s worth fifty. Or maybe it’s worth a quiet moment thinking about how far we’ve come—and how far we’ve still got to go.
Either way, it’s not just a coin.
It’s a story.
also read buzzcraze