Most of the quarters in your pocket are worth only 25 cents, but some state quarters with rare errors or unique features could fetch thousands of dollars from collectors.
The U.S. State Quarter Program, which began in 1999, was hugely popular and introduced coins honoring all 50 states.
However, some of these coins were released with errors, making them valuable treasures. Let’s explore the 10 rare state quarters you should look out for!
1999 Delaware “Spitting Horse” Quarter
The first state quarter, Delaware’s “Spitting Horse” Quarter, features an unusual die crack near the horse’s mouth, giving the illusion that it’s spitting.
- Value: Up to $5,000 in top condition.
- How to Identify: Look for a small line extending from the horse’s mouth.
1999 Pennsylvania Double Die Quarter
The 1999 Pennsylvania Quarter is known for its “Double Die Reverse” error, where the reverse side’s text, especially the word “PENN,” shows noticeable doubling.
- Value: Up to $1,000.
- How to Spot: Check for doubled lettering on the coin’s reverse side.
2000 New Hampshire “Hanging Old Man” Quarter
This quarter features a die crack that looks like a rope around the neck of the Old Man of the Mountain, a famous rock formation.
While controversial, this error has become a collector’s favorite.
- Value: Up to $500, depending on the visibility of the error.
- Key Detail: Look for a rope-like die crack around the Old Man’s neck.
2000 South Carolina Doubled Text Quarter
The 2000 South Carolina Quarter has a minor but significant error where the word “South” on the reverse shows doubling.
- Value: Up to $250 for well-preserved examples.
- How to Identify: Look for slight doubling in the word “South.”
2004 Wisconsin “Extra Leaf” Quarter
The 2004 Wisconsin Quarter has two famous errors: the “Extra High Leaf” and the “Extra Low Leaf” on the corn stalk design.
- Value: Up to $1,500 in pristine condition.
- Key Feature: Spot an additional leaf on the corn stalk, either higher or lower than the rest.
2005 Minnesota Double Die Quarter
This quarter features a doubling error in the background trees, making it highly collectible.
- Value: Up to $300, depending on the extent of the doubling.
- How to Spot: Look for distorted or doubled trees in the background.
2006 Colorado “Cud Error” Quarter
The 2006 Colorado Quarter includes a “Cud Error,” where a die crack creates an extra mountain peak on the coin’s design.
- Value: Up to $250, especially for coins with a prominent error.
- Key Feature: Look for an extra peak in the mountain range design.
2008 Hawaii Double Die Quarter
The 2008 Hawaii Quarter has a “Double Die” error, most visible in the state name “HAWAII” on the coin.
- Value: Up to $500, depending on condition.
- How to Identify: Look for noticeable doubling in the state name.
2009 District of Columbia “Ellington Error” Quarter
This quarter features a misspelling of “Duke Ellington” on the reverse, missing the “T” in his name.
- Value: Up to $1,000 for uncirculated coins.
- How to Spot: Check the spelling of “Ellington” on the reverse.
State quarters are more than just a tribute to American history—they’re also potential treasures.
From quirky die cracks like the Delaware “Spitting Horse” Quarter to misspelled names like the District of Columbia “Ellington Error,” these coins are worth hunting for.
Whether in a coin jar or your pocket change, these rare state quarters could turn out to be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So, take a closer look—you might be sitting on a small fortune!