Quarters are one of the most common coins in circulation, but some of them can be worth much more than their face value of 25 cents. Quarters Worth Money. In this article, we will explore some of the most valuable quarters worth money that you can find in your pocket change.
Pre-1965 Silver Quarters
Before 1965, quarters were made of 90% silver and 10% copper. Save these quarters for their $4.50 melt value (silver price: $25/oz), because each pre-1965 quarter contains roughly 0.18 troy oz of pure silver.
Some of the most valuable silver quarters are:
- 1932-D Washington Quarter: This is the key date of the Washington Quarter series because only 436,800 were minted in Denver. Depending on the condition, this coin can sell for $100 to $143,750.
- 1937 Washington Quarter: This coin has a doubled date and motto on the obverse. This rare error coin can fetch from $344 to $21,150.
- 1950-S Washington Quarter: This coin has a D/S over mintmark on the reverse. This coin is worth from $81 to $16,450.
State and Territorial Quarters
During the State and Territorial Quarters program, which lasted from 1999 to 2009, the U.S. Mint issued a series of quarters honoring each state and territory of the U.S. These quarters have a unique design on the reverse, that depicts a symbol or landmark of the state or territory.
Most of these quarters are not worth more than face value unless they are in uncirculated condition or have errors. However, some of the most valuable state and territorial quarters are:
- 2004 Wisconsin Quarter: This quarter has an error on the reverse, where some coins have an extra leaf on the ear of corn. There are two varieties of this error: one with a leaf pointing up and one with a leaf pointing down. The up-leaf variety can be worth up to $2,530.
- 2005 Minnesota Quarter: This quarter has an error on the reverse, where some coins have extra trees near the state outline. There are at least five different varieties of this error, with varying degrees of rarity and value.
- 2009 District of Columbia Quarter: This quarter has an error on the obverse, where some coins have the motto “E Pluribus Unum” doubled. This error is very scarce and can be worth up to $1,000.
Quarters Worth Money: America the Beautiful Quarters
Following the State and Territorial Quarters program, from 2010 to 2021, the U.S. Mint issued a series of quarters featuring national parks and sites from each state and territory as part of the America the Beautiful program. These quarters have a beautiful design on the reverse, that showcases the natural and cultural heritage of the U.S.
Unless uncirculated or with errors, these quarters are worth face value. However, some of the most valuable America the Beautiful quarters are:
- 2010 Yellowstone Quarter: This quarter has an error on the reverse, where some coins have a die crack that looks like a second ear on the bison. This error is very rare and can be worth up to $1,500.
- 2014 Great Smoky Mountains Quarter: This quarter has an error on the reverse, where some coins have a die crack that looks like a second tail on the bear cub. This error is also very rare and can be worth up to $1,500.
- 2020 Salt River Bay Quarter: This quarter has an error on the obverse, where some coins have a die crack that looks like a second eyelid on George Washington. This error is very recent and its value is not yet established.
Conclusion
Quarters are more than just pocket change. Some of them can be worth a lot of money if you know what to look for. Whether you are a casual collector or a serious numismatist, you can enjoy hunting for these valuable quarters in your spare time.
