In a small town in Pennsylvania, a woman discovered a Susan B. Anthony dollar coin in her washing machine, and it ended up being worth a fortune. The 1979-P Susan B. Anthony dollar, which shows the face of a women’s rights leader, is usually common and easy to find. Millions were made.
But this one stood out. Crumpled in laundry, it turned out to be a rare error coin. It was later sold for $39,500 at an auction. The surprising story has collectors excited and has many people checking their coins for possible hidden treasures like this one.
The Susan B. Anthony Dollar’s Story
The Susan B. Anthony dollar was first made by the U.S. Mint in 1979 to honor a key figure in the fight for women’s voting rights. It was the first American coin to show a real woman. But its look and size made people confuse it with a quarter, so it didn’t become popular.
Most are worth just a dollar today, but some rare ones have errors that can be worth much more. The coin found in the washing machine had an off-center strike, which means the picture wasn’t lined up right. That made it a special item for collectors.
A Lucky Find in the Laundry
The rare coin was found by a woman in Erie, Pennsylvania, after she did her laundry. She noticed a bent and marked-up coin that had come from a jeans pocket. It looked strange, so she took it to a local coin shop to get it checked.
Experts said it was a 1979-P Susan B. Anthony dollar with an off-center strike. This means the picture and design were printed in the wrong place, leaving a blank area on the coin. Graded by PCGS, the coin later went to auction in July 2025. It sold for an amazing $39,500 to a collector.
What Makes This Coin So Special
This coin’s value comes from both its rare printing mistake and its amazing survival through a washing cycle. An off-center strike happens when the blank coin isn’t in the right spot during the minting process. This causes a design that looks uneven or wrong.
This coin was about 50% off-center, which makes it very rare. Even though it was in the wash, it stayed in good shape and was given a high grade. Below is a chart that compares the value of different versions of the 1979-P Susan B. Anthony dollar based on type and error.
| Coin Type | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| 1979-P Off-Center Error | $5,000–$40,000 |
| 1979-P Near Date | $10–$50 |
| Regular 1979-P Susan B. Anthony | $1–$2 |
How to Spot a Valuable Coin
You might already have a rare Susan B. Anthony dollar and not even know it. First, check for the small “P” mint mark near the shoulder of Susan B. Anthony’s image. That means it was made in Philadelphia.
Look closely to see if the design is off-center or if any part of the coin is blank. Another clue is the date: if the 1979 is printed closer to the edge, it’s called a “near date” coin and can be worth more. Use a magnifying glass to look for small errors and store valuable finds in a soft cloth for safety.
A Lesson in Hidden Treasures
The story of this coin has gotten many collectors and hobbyists excited. People on social media are sharing it and telling others to check their change. It shows that rare coins can show up in the most unexpected places, like pockets or laundry machines.
If you find a Susan B. Anthony dollar, don’t ignore it. Take it to a coin expert or a grading company like NGC or PCGS. Even if it looks old or damaged, it might still be rare. This $39,500 sale proves that luck and history can turn a regular coin into a big prize.
