1979-S Type 1 Proof

The 1979-S Type 1 Proof Roosevelt Dime is the early-year variety of the 1979 San Francisco proof issue, struck with the older Filled-S mintmark punch carried over from prior years. The combined 1979-S proof mintage stands at 3,677,175 sets across both varieties, with no official breakdown; survival data suggests Type 1 represents the considerable majority, as the older punch was in use through most of the production run before being replaced. The Type 1 is the more common and more affordable variety and carries no premium over standard proof pricing at typical grades.

Authentication rests on standard proof diagnostics combined with mintmark style identification. Genuine examples show deeply mirrored fields with proof depth that no business strike can replicate, squared rim transitions instead of the rounded rims of a circulation coin, and crisp definition across Roosevelt's profile and the reverse torch and branches. The defining diagnostic for Type 1 is the Filled-S mintmark: a blob-like or partially filled S with indistinct serifs and a poorly defined interior loop, which is the result of an aging mintmark punch that had accumulated grease and wear by the time the 1979 proof program began. Under magnification at 10x or greater, the Type 1 S reads as a rounded mass rather than the sharp, serifed character of the Type 2. Cameo (CAM) and Deep Cameo (DCAM) designations are awarded based on contrast between frosted devices and mirrored fields and are common on this issue.

For collectors, the 1979-S Type 1 Proof is widely available through original 1979 proof sets and broken-set material. PR69 DCAM examples trade at modest prices and PR70 DCAM is the genuine condition rarity at the top of the grading scale. The Type 1 is the default Filled-S variety in the great majority of 1979 proof sets, and most collectors who want the year simply add a Type 1 and treat the Type 2 as a separate varietal pursuit. PCGS and NGC both attribute Type 1 and Type 2 on the holder label, which is essential for any Type 2 premium claim. For broader context on the late-1970s proof program, see the Roosevelt Dime series history.