1979-S Type 2 Proof

The 1979-S Type 2 Proof Roosevelt Dime is the scarcer of the two 1979 San Francisco proof varieties and the issue that introduced the redesigned Clear-S mintmark punch to the Roosevelt proof line. The combined 1979-S proof mintage stands at 3,677,175 sets struck across both varieties, with no official breakdown between Type 1 and Type 2; estimates derived from dealer hoard analysis and certified-population data place Type 2 production at roughly 15 to 20 percent of the total, struck during the latter portion of the year after the older Filled-S punch was retired and replaced. The change came mid-production for technical reasons related to mintmark legibility on proof dies, and the new punch carried forward into the 1980-S and later proof issues with progressive refinements.

Authentication is precise and rests entirely on mintmark style identification, since both varieties share identical date, design, and proof surface diagnostics. The defining Type 2 feature is a clear, sharp S with cleanly defined serifs, a well-separated interior loop, and crisp transitions between the curved strokes; under 10x magnification, the S reads as a recognizable letterform rather than a rounded blob. By contrast, the Type 1 Filled-S shows indistinct serifs and a poorly defined or absent interior loop. PCGS and NGC both attribute Type 1 and Type 2 on the holder label, and any premium claim on a Type 2 requires explicit TPG attribution; raw coins or holders without the Type 2 designation should be treated as Type 1 by default until certified. Beyond the mintmark, the coin shows the standard proof diagnostics: deeply mirrored fields, squared rim transitions, crisp design detail, and the Sinnock obverse and torch reverse carried forward unchanged.

For collectors, the 1979-S Type 2 Proof is the variety pursuit of the year and commands a meaningful premium over the Type 1 at all grades. PR69 DCAM Type 2 examples trade at multiples of the equivalent Type 1, and PR70 DCAM Type 2 is the genuine high-grade rarity at the top of the scale, where prices climb sharply. The variety is essential for any complete Roosevelt proof set assembled at the date level and for any registry collector working the modern proof line. Original 1979 proof sets occasionally still surface from estate sources, and dealers and collectors regularly search that material for unattributed Type 2 examples that can be submitted for grading and attribution. The same mintmark transition occurred on the cent, nickel, quarter, half dollar, and dollar in 1979, so a Type 2 variety hunt across the full denomination spread is a natural specialist pursuit. For broader context on the late-1970s proof program and the Filled-S to Clear-S transition, see the Roosevelt Dime series history.