To be frank, with a coin such as this, I wouldn't pay much attention to the "value" claimed by any guide. Raw such coins can quite often be had, fortunately or unfortunately, for just a few bucks.
What I've always thought was funny is that I've had local coin shops attempt to charge me insane amounts for SBA $1...while in the same sentence admitting that "no one ever, ever, ever asks for or buys them." If your 1981 is a Type 1, IMO it's not worth more than $2 raw. The Type 2, though, can bring pretty strong money.
The trouble is no one is willing to pay anything for these! At the coin show Sunday one dealer must of had 12 near dates in the junk or 1/2 price box on his table. A guy comes in he's got one and a binder full of state quarters that are very easy to find from pocket change varieties . He ask for values on just about everything he has. The dealer had SBA ' S near dates from $2 -12 and can't sell them. Oh he had 1 common CWT that was damaged that a dealer made an offer for $8 to be nice. He sold the token them complained that the dealer was going to make money on him. Duh. Sorry didn't mean to hijack but I don't know one collector who collects SBA dollars other than one for their type set.
I just put together a set last week because i was bored, i got about $65 in it. no type 2 proofs, though.
Well I'm glad as many people look at these and laugh. However they are a US coin, they are legal tender, and a part of history . But will add this I can see dollar coins going away as people here won't use them. As well as half's and cents. The Federal Reserve Bank of Baltimore has a supply of dollar coins so big I believe their vault is full. There's never any banks requesting them so they sit.
No problem if they had minted a dollar coin the year I was born I most probably would want one also. As I do have a set of my birth year. I even have a ring made from a 1954 Franklin half
