How did Susan b Anthony get on the half dollar?
Unfortunately the Mint rushed the job and didn’t plan the coin well. Susan B. Anthony arguably has a somewhat forbidding image to begin with, and the picture on the coin was felt to be particularly unflattering. In addition it was struck in copper-nickel with reeded edges instead of being made of brass an multi- or smooth-sided, so it was often confused with a quarter. As a result public use of the coin was minimal and it was discontinued after only 2 years. A small run was made in 1999 to supply transit agencies and vending machine operators who needed a resupply of $1 coins pending availability of the Sacajawea dollars in 2000.
