Susan B. Anthony dollar
Despite the marketing attempts, the coin received an overwhelmingly negative reception from the public.
... many establishments throughout the country began refusing to accept them in payment.
... At the close of production, the Treasury encountered a dilemma:
- the Mint struck a large amount of dollars in anticipation of great public demand, resulting in a surplus of 520,000,000 coins in 1981.
Melting the coins was impractical; the cost of manufacture was approximately 2 cents, and the 98 cents earned from seignorage was applied to the national debt.
Had the coins been melted, their seignorage would have been added to the debt.
Accordingly, the coins were placed in government storage, to be dispensed as needed.