Varieties:
- 1981-S "Type-1" This is the same Mint mark as introduced in the later part of 1979 for proof coinage production (and referred to as Ty-2 for that year). (It is the first one used in 1981 and is thus designated Ty-1 for that year.) It exhibits smaller rounded serifs and more oval shaped center loops than found on the Ty-2. It may come with or without clear fields or "attachments" within the center loops depending on the amount of punching pressure utilized to sink the image into the die and/or the amount of polishing the die receives. This is the more common variety for the year.
- 1981-S "Type-2" This Mint mark was introduced in the later part of 1981 for proof coinage production (and referred to as Ty-2 for this year). It exhibits large bulbous serifs and rounder center loops than found on the Ty-1. In spite of the fact that this variety is frequently and inaccurately referred to as "Clear S", it may come with or without clear fields or "attachments" within the center loops depending on the amount of punching pressure utilized to sink the image into the die and/or the amount of polishing the die receives. It does, however, have a greater tendency to be found with "clearer fields" within the loops than the Ty-1 but this is not a determining factor of type.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | S Proof |
| 7,491,750,000 | 5,373,235,677 | 4,063,083 |
Cents
