Two Susan B Anthony Proofs

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by scales, Oct 4, 2009.

  1. scales

    scales Junior Member

    I just found two Susan B Anthony Proofs one 1979 and one 1980

    I have seen them sell from $8-$30 What should they are probably VF-20 or 30 so what should I price them for?

    [​IMG]

    I am really desperate for cash and I am turning to coins (which has surprised me with what I have gotten for two dollars could get me 40!) thanks for the help Scales
     
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  3. Art

    Art Numismatist?

    Neither coin appears to be a proof. I'd guess they are worth $1.00 each. Sorry. You might want to go to your library and get hold of a RedBook and check out some of the coins that you can find in change/rolls that might produce a profit for you.
     
  4. scales

    scales Junior Member

    ^They both have the "S" Mint mark
     
  5. Art

    Art Numismatist?

    S mint marks are not always an indication of a coin being a proof. San Francisco Mint produced circulation grade SBAs in 1979. 1980, and 1981.
     
  6. scales

    scales Junior Member

    are you sure I looked it up and it said

    and into more detail on the '79

    and my '79 clearly has the "blob" mint mark I almost through it back into the pile until I realized it was not a "D" but an "S"

    I can not tell quite yet about the '80 if it is a proof but I am pretty sure.
     
  7. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Neither of the coins you pictured is a Proof. Yes, they both have the S mint mark, but both are type 1. It is the type II that is valuable. Both coins are worth $1. And yes, I am sure.
     
  8. scales

    scales Junior Member

    Care to elaborate on so I know why they are not a proof or are you going to just be short ended and **** me off
     
  9. Coinman1981

    Coinman1981 Junior Member

    Proof coins from the 1970s and after are unmistakably mirror-like; the devices (basically, the raised parts of the design) on modern proof coins also appear frosted.

    The coins you have are clearly not proofs because of those reasons.. Also, proof coins are much better struck than business-strikes. You see the details more clearly on most proofs.

    Unfortunately for those who have SBAs, trying to sell them for a profit is hard, unless the coins are in MS 63+ grades or proof. 1981 was the last year a business-strike coin was made with the "S" mint mark; you will find that, historically, it was NOT San Francisco but, rather Philadelphia which made proof coins. San Francisco did not begin producing proofs until 1968. The "disco era SBAs" (as I call them -- 1979-1981, not including the 1999 run), along with Lincoln cents made from 1968-1974 are the two examples of business-strike coins made at the San Francisco mint after the 1960s.
     
  10. scales

    scales Junior Member

  11. Coinman1981

    Coinman1981 Junior Member

    No problem; and it's good that you asked. Learning comes through asking questions and getting answers! :smile
     
  12. illini420

    illini420 1909 Collector

    While definitely not proof examples, the two coins pictured appear to be nice uncirculated examples. Based on what I've seen in rolls, these appear much much better looking. Aren't they worth at least a little more than $1 each????
     
  13. Coinman1981

    Coinman1981 Junior Member

    Any retail price guide probably would peg those coins at around $1.50-2 each, but I bet if I presented those two SBAs to any dealer, I'm not getting any more than $2 for BOTH of those coins. It's happened to me before a few times with uncirculated SBAs. As Rodney Dangerfield would say, SBAs "don't get no respect."
     
  14. scales

    scales Junior Member

    So how would you tell the difference between an circulated proof coin and a regular Susan B Anthony with the "S" mark?
     
  15. Coinman1981

    Coinman1981 Junior Member

    "S"-mint proof coins are deeply mirror-like - you can actually see your reflection in the fields of modern proof coins. The design areas (devices and lettering) will look frosted.

    Business-strike "S" mint coins (the kinds you would expect to find in circulation) have a more matte appearance -- shiny, but not mirror-like.

    If you happen upon a proof coin that somehow entered circulation, it may be covered in fingerprints and smudges, but its mirror-like surfaces will still be evident.
     
  16. Coinman1981

    Coinman1981 Junior Member

    I JUST thought! If you want to see an example of a proof SBA, check out my avatar: a proof 1981 SBA dollar. :cool:
     
  17. scales

    scales Junior Member

    Ok! Now I see what you mean by th "frosted" look
     
  18. jessash1976

    jessash1976 Coin knowledgeable

    Yes, the frosted look and mirror-like "fields",( the area around the head and letters). If yours was a proof, you could see your reflection in the field.
     
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