4 State Quarters Worth Way More Than 25 Cents — Some Sell for Over $100
Written by
Angela Mae Watson
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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If you grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s, you probably remember collecting state quarters at some point. There were even cardboard maps in the shape of the U.S. where you could pop your latest finds into. And if you found a shinier or more interesting version of one you already had, you could swap it out.
But did you know that some of those state quarters are actually worth money now? These are mostly ones with tiny discrepancies, like minting errors or doubled-die versions. Some coins — like 90% silver proofs — are worth even more.
Check out these state quarters and see how much they’re worth.
2004-D Wisconsin ‘Extra Leaf’ Quarter
The Wisconsin State quarter was first issued in 2004, the same year coin collectors realized there were two valuable varieties:
- Extra leaf high variety: The leaf is positioned higher on the corn stalk than it should be and has a more curved, slender look. Between 5,000 and 10,000 were minted. It’s worth $65 to $85.
- Extra leaf low variety: The leaf on this coin is broader with a more noticeable curve and is located atop the cheese wheel. The ends of the leaf vanish behind the cheese. Between 7,000 and 15,000 were minted. It’s worth $50 to $65.
These designs appear to have been intentional rather than minting errors. Only the Denver (D) mint is worth any money. Back when it was first discovered, it was worth anywhere from $500 to $1,500, but once the hype died down, its value fell significantly.
2009-D District of Columbia Doubled-Die Quarter
The reverse side of D.C.’s quarter shows renowned pianist, composer and leader of a jazz orchestra, Duke Ellington, at a piano. Accompanying him are the words “Duke Ellington” and “Justice for All.”
The version of this quarter that’s worth more than your standard 25 cents has some distinct doubling on certain elements, like:
- Primary doubling on “ELL” with clear separation between them
- Secondary doubling on the piano keys
- Minor doubling on Ellington’s collar and bow tie
The raw coin’s value ranges from $50-$60 (XF-40 grade) to over $150 (MS-65 grade).
1999-P Delaware ‘Spitting Horse’ Quarter
Delaware’s was the first-ever state quarter to be minted and released to the public. But one particular error makes it worth some money.
You can identify the “Spitting Horse” error by a die break around the horse’s mouth that makes it look like it’s spitting — thus the name. It’s a raised metal line that stops between the “C” and “A” of “CAESAR.” It’s only on Philadelphia (P) coins.
As of last year, this coin now goes for $10 to $25 on auction and reseller sites. It used to be worth $250 to $500, but that was before collectors realized it was fairly common.
2005-P Minnesota Doubled-Die Quarter
More than 60 documented varieties of the Minnesota state quarter exist today. That’s a record. But just four of them are valuable. These are:
- WDDR-02 (Spread Trees): Several trees are moderately doubled with a spread appearance across the treetops. The coin is valued at $40 to $60 (AU condition).
- WDDR-04 (Ghost Forest): There’s minor doubling across the tree line, giving the forest the illusion of a shadow. It’s valued at $25 to $50 (AU).
- WDDR-01 (Extra Tree): The third and fourth trees on this coin are very clearly doubled. It even has an extra tree outline. The coin is valued at $75 to $100 (AU).
- Other varieties: Minor discrepancies in design, most of which require a magnifying glass to see, are worth $5 to $25. The exact value depends on how significant the doubling is.
The Minnesota state quarter was issued on April 4, 2005. Coins minted within a few weeks of that date tend to have the strongest doubling effect and the highest overall value.
90% Silver Proof State Quarters
The San Francisco Mint also produced 90% silver proof state quarters to go along with the U.S. Mint’s program. These coins exist in a more limited quantity (around 800,000 to 900,000 per design) and were especially created for collectors. Similar to quarters made before 1965, these coins are composed with just 10% copper.
As per Gainesville Coins, the most valuable amongst these are:
- 1999-S Pennsylvania ($35 to $40)
- 1999-S Delaware ($30 to $35)
- 2004-S Wisconsin ($12 to $15)
Completed sets range from $450 to $550 (for all 50 states) or $525 to $625 (including 2009 U.S. territories). Sets that still exist in their original packaging are around 10% to 15% more valuable.
Take the 50-state set in its original government packaging. Broken down, each quarter is worth:
- $9 to $11 x 10% = $9.90 to $12.10
- $9 to $11 x 15% = $10.35 to $12.65
Editor’s note: Data was sourced from Gainesville Coins and major coin auctions sites.
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