The first production strike of Susan B. Anthony Dollars took place at the Philadelphia Mint on December 13, 1978. The Director of the Mint, Stella B. Hackel, was joined by members of Congress, Treasury and Federal Reserve officials, and the news media for the event.
The authorizing legislation for the coin had been passed by Congress on September 26, 1978. President Carter signed the bill into law on October 10, 1978. On the day he signed the law, he had remarked that the new dollar coin would be “a constant reminder of the continuing struggle for the equality of all Americans.”
At the first strike ceremony, the Mint Director had remarked favorably on the prospects for the new Susan B. Anthony Dollar in commerce. She noted that the prior Eisenhower Dollar had limited usefulness because of its size and weight. The SBA Dollar was sized between the quarter and half dollar and weighed one third as much as four quarters. She said, “the size and weight were selected so the new coin would be more convenient and easy to use.”
The Susan B. Anthony Dollar would also have an eleven sided inner border to allow the coin to be differentiated by touch.
The potential cost savings to the federal government were cited if widespread use of the new dollar took place. The new coins costed about three cents to produce, compared to eight cents for the prior large sized dollar. Dollar coins were also explained to have a lifespan of 15 years or more compared to the dollar bill with a lifespan of only 18 months.
Although hopes for the new series were high, widespread use of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar would not take place. Americans found the coin too easily confused with the quarter dollar. After just two years, production of the new dollar coin for circulation was halted.
