Commems Collection Modern: 1978 Susan B. Anthony Dollar In Congress

The 95th Congress (January 3, 1977 - January 3, 1979) - particularly in 1978 - was busy considering revisions to the Coinage Act of 1965 that would bring about changes to the US dollar coin. The changes being considered would impact the dollar coin's size, weight and design.

Eventually, the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Act of 1978 would be passed and signed into law by US President Jimmy Carter. The new Act changed the dollar coin's diameter from 1.5 inches to 1.043 inches, and reduced its weight from 22.68 grams to 8.1 grams. The Act also specified that the coin "shall bear on the obverse side the likeness of Susan B. Anthony, and shall bear on the other side a design which is emblematic of the symbolic eagle of Apollo 11 landing on the moon."

The Susan B. Anthony dollar was first issued in 1979, with additional releases in 1980, 1981 and 1999. As the Act did not specify a change in composition, the new dollar coin was struck on Copper-Nickel Clad planchets, same as the circulating dime, quarter and half dollar coins.

The bill that became law was introduced in the Senate by William Proxmire (D-WI) in May 1978; the bill had seven co-sponsors. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The Committee reported the bill favorably with two amendments that were accepted by the Senate and reflected in the Act: 1) Reduce the weight of the coin from the proposed 8.5 grams to 8.1 grams, and 2) Continue the use of the eagle (on the reverse) that was symbolic of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The Senate passed the amended bill without issue and sent it to the House of Representatives for its consideration. It was referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs. The Committee was discharged from consideration of the bill so that it could be brought up for consideration in the Whole House.

The Senate bill passed the House without issue (in lieu of a similar House bill), was examined and signed in each chamber, then forwarded to the President for approval. As noted above, the bill was signed into law by US President Jimmy Carter - it was signed on October 10, 1978.

Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin in Philatelic-Numismatic Cover


It all seems neat and tidy...but it wasn't!

No fewer than 12 other bills were introduced in the 95th Congress (in the House of Representatives) that called for revisions to the Coinage Act of 1965 and changes to the US dollar coin.

All of the bills proposed the depiction of a woman from the annals of US history. Though suffragist Susan B. Anthony was referenced as the design choice on the vast majority of the bills, she was not the only choice to be proposed for the coin's obverse.

Here's a breakdown of the competing bills / design proposals that were not approved:

Susan B. Anthony: 9 bills
Georgia Neese Clark (Gray): 1 bill
Abigail Adams: 1 bill
Elizabeth Pole: 1 bill

Note: The above-referenced House bills are in addition to Senator Proxmire's Senate bill.

None of the bills gained traction, with only one going as far as to be passed by the House (one of the "Anthony" bills). The passed bill was Laid on the Table after its passage, however, with Senator Proxmire's moving forward instead.

Abigail Adams and Susan B. Anthony had previously been proposed to appear on two US gold coins. (See: 1975 Abigail Adams / Susan B. Anthony Gold for more.)

Though it has not achieved the collector popularity of the large silver dollars that came before it, the Susan B. Anthony dollar has continued to gain acceptance among collectors and has become a reasonably popular collector coin.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, and the occassional circulation coinage story, see: Commems Collection.