Ah, the classic 1979 Liberty "silver" dollar! Let's get one thing straight right out of the gate, because it's a wonderfully common misconception. Despite its silvery good looks, this coin is a bit of an impostor—it's actually the Susan B. Anthony dollar, and it contains zero silver. It’s made of a much more humble copper-nickel blend, so it's not going to help you fight off any werewolves.
Now, for the million-dollar question... which is, in this case, more of a one-dollar question. For the vast majority of 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollars you might find hiding in a piggy bank or an old jar, the value is exactly what it says on the tin: one dollar. You can pop it in a vending machine, but you probably can't trade it for a sports car.
However, don't get discouraged and spend it on a gumball just yet! There is a plot twist. A small number of these coins minted in Philadelphia (look for the "P" mint mark) are a special "Wide Rim" or "Near Date" variety. On these rarer coins, the date is noticeably closer to the edge of the coin than on the common version.
If you happen to have one of these wide-rimmed wallflowers, you're in for a treat. A circulated one in average condition could be worth around $5 to $8. If you have a shiny, uncirculated one that has never seen the inside of a cash register, its value could jump to between $25 and $60. So, you're most likely holding onto a dollar, but it's worth taking a closer look. You might just have the price of a fancy pizza in your hand instead.
