The U.S. State Quarters Program, which ran from 1999 to 2008, was one of the most successful coin programs in history. Designed to commemorate each state’s unique heritage, it quickly captured the interest of collectors and the general public. While most state quarters are still in circulation and hold only their face value, there are a few rare and valuable state quarters that are worth much more than their 25-cent value. If you’re lucky enough to find one, it could be worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Here are five of the most valuable state quarter coins, each worth large amounts due to rare minting errors or unique variations. These coins could be hiding in your spare change or tucked away in your coin jar—so take a closer look!
1. 2004 Wisconsin State Quarter – Extra Leaf Error
- Value: $500 to $5,000+
- Mint: Denver (D)
One of the most sought-after state quarters, the 2004 Wisconsin State Quarter has a famous error known as the extra leaf on the corn stalk shown on the reverse side. Some coins were struck with an additional leaf on the corn, creating the so-called “high leaf” and “low leaf” varieties.
This error likely occurred due to a die change, and collectors have been eagerly searching for these extra leaf errors. Coins with this rare flaw are significantly more valuable than regular ones, especially in high grades.
How to Spot It: Look for an extra leaf to the left of the main stalk of corn. The leaf can appear higher or lower than the rest depending on the variety.
2. 2005 Minnesota State Quarter – Extra Tree Error
- Value: $300 to $3,000+
- Mint: Philadelphia (P)
The 2005 Minnesota State Quarter, which features the state’s iconic trees and lakes, has a well-known extra tree error. Some quarters were struck with a die that caused an extra tree to appear in the background, making these coins highly sought after by collectors.
This double die error occurred due to an error in the minting process, resulting in a second, unexpected image of a tree on some coins.
How to Spot It: Look for a second tree to the right of the main tree in the design. It should appear in the water next to the main cluster of trees.
3. 1999 Delaware State Quarter – Spitting Horse Error
- Value: $100 to $500+
- Mint: Philadelphia (P)
The 1999 Delaware State Quarter is famous for its “Spitting Horse” error. The coin features an image of Caesar Rodney riding a horse, but some quarters were struck with a die crack that caused a line to appear extending from the horse’s mouth, making it appear as though the horse was “spitting.” This die crack error is one of the most famous minting mistakes of the state quarter series.
How to Spot It: Check the horse’s mouth. If you see a raised line extending outward from the mouth, that’s the “spitting horse” error.
4. 2004 Ohio State Quarter – Missing Clad Layer
- Value: $2,000 to $10,000+
- Mint: Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D)
The 2004 Ohio State Quarter has a very rare error in which the outer clad layer of the coin was missing in some examples. This error caused the coin to appear with a copper center exposed. These “clad layer errors” are especially rare and very valuable among collectors.
How to Spot It: If the quarter appears to have a copper color (instead of the usual silver) and shows signs of wear, it could be a missing clad layer error.
5. 1999 Georgia State Quarter – Missing “In God We Trust”
- Value: $2,000 to $8,000+
- Mint: Philadelphia (P)
The 1999 Georgia State Quarter has a missing “In God We Trust” error. Some quarters from the Philadelphia mint were struck without the phrase, which is typically located on the front of the coin near George Washington’s portrait. These error coins are extremely rare, and collectors are eager to acquire them.
How to Spot It: Look at the obverse (front) of the coin, where “In God We Trust” should appear above George Washington’s head. If it’s missing, you might have one of the valuable error coins.
Are These Rare State Quarters Still in Circulation?
Yes, some of these rare quarters are still in circulation today. Though many error coins are quickly pulled from circulation by collectors, others may have been overlooked by casual coin collectors. You might find one of these valuable quarters in coin rolls, bank deposits, or even just by receiving change in everyday transactions.
Tips for Finding Rare State Quarters
- Examine Coins Closely: Look carefully at the design, especially for errors like extra leaves, missing inscriptions, or extra images.
- Use a Magnifying Glass: Small errors can be hard to spot without magnification.
- Know the Dates and Mintmarks: Most valuable quarters come from specific years and mints (e.g., Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D)).
- Look for Abnormalities: Errors such as misaligned dies, double strikes, or missing elements increase a coin’s value.
- Check Your Change: You might be surprised by what turns up in your pocket change.
Conclusion
While most state quarters are worth only 25 cents, these five valuable state quarters are an exception. If you find one of these rare error coins in your collection or everyday transactions, you could have a highly valuable treasure on your hands.
Always be on the lookout for unusual features and minting mistakes. With a bit of luck, you might just discover a coin worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars—one that could turn your spare change into a small fortune.
