anthony dollar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Numismatic
Quick answer
What does “anthony dollar” mean?
A United States dollar coin minted from 1979 to 1981 (and again in 1999), featuring a portrait of suffragist Susan B. Anthony on the obverse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A United States dollar coin minted from 1979 to 1981 (and again in 1999), featuring a portrait of suffragist Susan B. Anthony on the obverse.
A small-size, silver-colored, eleven-sided coin that was the first U.S. coin intended for general circulation to feature a non-fictitious woman; often used as a historical or numismatic reference and sometimes confused with other small-dollar coins due to its unpopularity and brief circulation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in an American context. In British English, it would be recognized only as a specific reference to American currency history.
Connotations
In the US: historical curiosity, a failed coin design, women's history. In the UK: neutral, foreign currency fact.
Frequency
Extremely rare in UK English. Low frequency in US English, mostly in historical, financial, or collecting contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “anthony dollar” in a Sentence
The [year/mint mark] Anthony dollaran Anthony dollar from [year]to collect/hoard Anthony dollarsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anthony dollar” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- The government attempted to **Anthony-dollar** the public into using small change, but it failed.
adjective
American English
- He had a jar of **Anthony-dollar** coins from his old cash register.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in historical discussions of currency or vending machine adaptation.
Academic
Used in history, economics, or American studies courses discussing currency design or women's representation.
Everyday
Very low; most people refer to it as 'that small dollar coin' or 'Susan B. Anthony coin' if recognized.
Technical
Used in numismatics (coin collecting) with precise references to mint marks, proofs, and varieties.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anthony dollar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anthony dollar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anthony dollar”
- Pronouncing 'Anthony' as /ænˈθoʊ.ni/ (like the male name); the coin's name uses the common American pronunciation /ˈæn.tə.ni/.
- Confusing it with the later Sacagawea or Presidential dollar coins.
- Using it as a general term for any dollar coin.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Susan B. Anthony, a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement.
Yes, Susan B. Anthony dollars are still legal tender in the United States, worth one dollar.
The coin has eleven sides (a hendecagon). This was a distinctive feature intended to help visually impaired people and the public differentiate it from the round quarter, though the effort was largely unsuccessful.
The coin was not directly replaced until 2000, when the golden-colored Sacagawea dollar was introduced. The Anthony dollar was minted for general circulation only from 1979 to 1981, with a final minting in 1999 for collectors.
A United States dollar coin minted from 1979 to 1981 (and again in 1999), featuring a portrait of suffragist Susan B. Anthony on the obverse.
Anthony dollar is usually formal, historical, numismatic in register.
Anthony dollar: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.tə.ni ˈdɒl.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.tə.ni ˈdɑː.lɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) useful as an Anthony dollar (informal, rare) – implying something is obsolete or not readily accepted.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Anthony's Dollar was Ahead of its Time: A small coin for a big change (women's suffrage), but people didn't give it much change (acceptance).
Conceptual Metaphor
A FAILED EXPERIMENT / HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE (It represents a well-intentioned innovation that was rejected by the public.)
Practice
Quiz
What was a primary reason for the Anthony dollar's failure in circulation?