How does the new Sacagawea dollar coin compare to the old Susan B Anthony dollar coin?

Answer 1

Here's a basic comparison:

• Both coins have the same diameter (26.5 mm), weight (8.1 gm) and electrical characteristics so that they're compatible in vending machines, transit fareboxes, coin sorters. and so on.

• Anthony dollars were made of the same clad composition still used in dimes, quarters, and halves: outer layers of copper-nickel bonded to a pure copper core. Sacajawea dollars have outer layers of manganese brass bonded to a pure copper core.
• Anthony dollars have reeded (grooved) edges. Sacajawea dollars have smooth edges on coins made in 2000-2008, and lettered edges since then.
• While neither coin has been a rousing success due to continued production of $1 bills, Sacajawea dollars are far easier to distinguish from other coins and do circulate in some parts of the country. Anthony dollars were by all accounts a failure, primarily because of their poor design and similarity to quarters in size and color.

Also, note that Sacajawea (or Sacagawea) dollars aren't exactly new, as they've been issued since 2000.