Thinking you might have a valuable 1979 silver dollar? It's a common question, and you've stumbled upon one of the most interesting coins of that era. The first thing you should know is that the 1979 dollar coin is actually the Susan B. Anthony dollar, and despite its silver-like appearance, it's made of a copper-nickel alloy, not silver. Because they are not made of precious metal and were produced in large numbers, most 1979 dollars you find in circulation are worth their simple face value of one dollar.
Even if your coin is in perfect, uncirculated condition, its value only increases slightly. A standard 1979 dollar from the Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), or San Francisco (S) mints might fetch between $1.50 and $4 for a collector. While this is a small premium, it's not the windfall some people hope for. The real value, and what you should definitely check your coin for, lies in a specific and rare error.
Here is where it gets exciting. You'll want to take a very close look at any 1979 dollar with a "P" mint mark (for the Philadelphia mint). A small number of these were struck with a "Wide Rim" or "Near Date" variety. On these rare coins, the date "1979" is much closer to the edge of the coin than on a standard version. If you are lucky enough to have this specific variety, its value jumps significantly, often trading for between $20 and $40.
So, while your 1979 dollar isn't silver, it still holds the potential for a fantastic discovery. Check the date on any "P" mint coin you have. Most will be worth a dollar, but you could be holding the rare "Wide Rim" variety that collectors are actively seeking out.
