Take a sec to give that state quarter a second look before you drop it in the parking meter or vending machine. There are tons of statehood quarters out there, but some of them are worth way more than 25 cents. That's because rare state quarter errors can give these coins a higher value. Some can be worth thousands, so grab your magnifying glass and look for these beauties!
Most Valuable State Quarter Errors
State quarters are fun to collect because of their variation, but some minting errors can bring another level of challenge (and value). Tiny variations in the dies used or the way the coin is stamped can result in unique coins that collectors covet. These are some of the most valuable state quarter errors, according to auction records.
| State Quarter Error | Value |
|---|---|
| 2004-D Wisconsin with an extra leaf (low) | $6,000 |
| 2009-D District of Columbia with doubled die obverse | $3,055 |
| 2004-D Wisconsin with an extra leaf (high) | $2,530 |
| 1999-P Georgia on experimental planchet | $2,160 |
| 2005-P Minnesota with doubled die reverse | $660 |
| 2005-S Kansas with dented bison | $288 |
| 1999-D Georgia with rotated reverse | $200 |
| 2007-P Wyoming with doubled die reverse | $168 |
2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter With an Extra Leaf (Low)
The Wisconsin state quarter features a cow, cheese, and an ear of corn. One version of this quarter gives the corn an extra leaf low on the ear. This may have happened when a tool was pushed into the coin's die, resulting in an artifact that looks like a leaf. Collectors love this coin, which sells for as much as $6,000.
Related: What the 5 Most Valuable State Quarters Are Really Worth
2009-D District of Columbia Quarter With Doubled Die Obverse
The obverse, or heads side, of the Washington DC quarter shows the familiar image of George Washington in profile, but there's something a little different on some of these coins. A double stamp resulted in the image of Washington and the writing on the coin having a slight echo or shadow. This is a rare error and is very valuable, with one example selling for $3,055 in 2015.
2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter With an Extra Leaf (High)
Like the variation with an extra leaf low on the ear of corn, a different version with a leaf high on the ear is valuable and rare. The artifact that looks leaf-like is another variation of the die, and some experts think it is rarer than the low-leaf version. One sold for $2,530 in 2006.
1999-P Georgia State Quarter on Experimental Planchet
The planchet, or coin blank, used when minting a coin is supposed to be consistent, but a really interesting Georgia state quarter error occurred when the Philadelphia Mint used the planchet for the new Sacagawea dollar in the dies for the Georgia quarter. The resulting coin is really rare and isn't the normal color for a quarter. One sold for $2,160 in 2020.
2005-P Minnesota State Quarter With Doubled Die Reverse
Like the Washington DC quarter with a doubled die, the Minnesota quarter also boasts a similar error in some cases. This time, the double stamping happens on the reverse (or tails) side of the coin, resulting in a shadow on the scene of a person fishing on a lake with trees. In some cases, the error creates an extra tree. One example sold for $660 in 2018.
2005-S Kansas State Quarter With Dented Bison
The Kansas quarter features the image of a bison, but in one weird state quarter error, the bison has a dent on its flank. It's unclear how this happened, but it's rare to find. If you happen to have one, it could be worth hundreds. An example sold for $288 in 2020.
You might also find a more common Kansas state quarter error that may have happened when there was grease between the die and the planchet. Instead of saying "In God We Trust," the coins say "In God We Rust." These can sell for around $10, depending on their condition.
1999-D Georgia State Quarter With Rotated Reverse
Another Georgia state quarter error that's very valuable is the rotated reverse. In this coin, the dies were twisted so the image of a peach on the back in not oriented the same way as Washington's profile on the front. It's a valuable error, selling for about $200 in 2003.
2007-P Wyoming State Quarter With Doubled Die Reverse
An interesting state quarter error that happened with the Wyoming coin is the doubled die reverse. The tails side of the quarter features a horse and rider, but in some rare cases, the coin is stamped twice with the die. This can result in shadows on the text and image. An example sold for $168 in 2018.
Related: 10 Valuable Error Coins Proving That Weirdness Is Worth a Lot
How to Spot State Quarter Errors
Anything that makes a coin rare adds to its value, and errors can be one of those things. The mint standards are very high, and most coins released for circulation are perfectly normal. However, when an error slips into circulation, it can be kind of a treasure. Here's what to look for.
- Watch for odd colors. A normal quarter is on silver-toned metal, but state quarters in other colors (like the gold tone of a Sacagawea dollar) can be worth more.
- Check for echoes and shadows. An echo or shadow in the text or image can indicate a doubled die.
- Compare for artifacts. If you get to know the normal design for a quarter, you can spot weird artifacts more easily (like an extra leaf on the corn for Wisconsin or a dent in the bison for Kansas).
- Flip it over to check for rotation. The heads and tails of a coin should be aligned properly, but some state quarter errors have them twisted or offset.
- Watch for missing text. Grease on a die can result in missing text on the coin.
- Look for cracks. Die cracks can look like small lines or threads on the coin.
Rare and Rewarding Errors
The statehood quarters are really fun to collect, especially if you try to find examples in good condition. Up the challenge rating (and the value) by looking for state quarter errors to add to your collection. They're rare but rewarding.
