Page "Susan B. Anthony dollar" Paragraph 25

Collectors have noticed that there exist a few varieties of the coin that differ slightly in their arrangement and pressing qualities.

Shortly after production of circulating coinage began there was a die change narrowing the distance from the date to the rim.

The earlier 1979-P ' near date ' or ' wide rim ' coins are somewhat scarcer than the later ' far date ' or ' narrow rim ' issue.

In the proof sets, the main varieties are the 1979-S Type I and Type II mintmarks, and the 1981-S Type I and Type II mintmarks.

In each case a blurry " S " mintmark was replaced with a clearer one, with the later coins much less common.

Also popular to collect are the ' full talon ' variety, which are generally recognized as having a superior strike as the talons of the eagle on the reverse are fully separated and rounded, and may even show the folds of skin on the toes.

' Full talon ' is not a function of die state, as ' full talon ' coins are known on both early and late state dies.