1981-S Type 2 Proof

The 1981-S Type 2 proof Roosevelt dime is the scarcer of the two proof varieties produced at San Francisco that year, carrying the redesigned Clear S mintmark punch that replaced the older Filled S style partway through the production cycle. Combined proof dime mintage for the year totaled 4,063,083 pieces across both varieties, and no official Mint breakdown was recorded between Type 1 and Type 2. Specialist dealer hoard analysis and certified-population data place the Type 2 share at roughly 15 to 20 percent of the combined total, with the remainder struck from the older Filled-S dies before the changeover. The same Type 2 mintmark transition occurred across all six denominations in the 1981 proof set, mirroring the earlier 1979 transition that had introduced the redesigned punch style, and the dime version sits as one of the more accessible Type 2 varieties because the dime's mid-clad-era proof market is well-developed.

Authentication of the 1981-S Type 2 requires confirming the Clear S characteristics under magnification: sharp, defined serifs at the top and bottom of the letter, crisp angular geometry through the curves, and no filling or rounding of the interior loops. The Type 1 Filled S, by comparison, shows soft contours with serifs merged into the body of the letter, producing a thicker, blob-like appearance. PCGS and NGC distinguish the varieties on the certification label, and specialists pursuing the Type 2 should require a graded slab with explicit Type 2 attribution rather than rely on raw photograph identification, since lighting and wear on uncertified examples can obscure the letterform details. Standard proof authentication applies on top: mirror fields, frosted devices on Cameo and Deep Cameo examples, squared rims, and 2.27 gram clad weight standard.

The 1981-S Type 2 commands a meaningful premium over Type 1 across all proof grade tiers. PR68 DCAM and PR69 DCAM trade at multiples of the corresponding Type 1 prices, and PR70 DCAM Type 2 sits as a genuine condition rarity in registry-set competition. Specialists pursuing the complete pair of 1981-S varieties (Type 1 and Type 2) face a price-and-availability curve that favors the more common Type 1 acquisition and concentrates difficulty on the Type 2 side, where dealer inventory turns less frequently and competition for high-grade Cameo examples runs persistent. For the broader history of mid-year mintmark punch transitions across the 1979 and 1981 proof sets, see the Roosevelt Dime series history.