The 1979 United States dollar coin, which features the portrait of suffragist Susan B. Anthony, is a common subject of inquiry regarding its metallic composition. A prevalent misconception is that this coin is made of silver. However, based on numismatic information, the 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollar contains no silver. Its composition is a copper-nickel clad, consisting of a pure copper core with an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel. This composition gives the coin a silvery appearance but distinguishes it from earlier U.S. dollar coins that were struck in a silver alloy.
The value of a standard 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollar is typically its face value of one dollar. These coins were minted in large quantities in Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S) and remain common in circulation. Their value only tends to exceed face value if they are in pristine, uncirculated condition or are a specific, rare variety.
One notable exception that carries a significant numismatic premium is the 1979-P "Wide Rim" or "Near Date" variety. This version resulted from a modified die being used during production, creating a thicker rim and placing the date closer to the edge than on the more common "Narrow Rim" variety. This specific die variety is considerably scarcer and sought after by collectors, commanding a higher value in the numismatic market. For the vast majority of 1979 dollars encountered, however, they are copper-nickel clad coins worth their stated one-dollar value.
