By CoinWeek ….
Have you ever looked through your change, wondering if any of the coins you have might be valuable? Some of them are. And while they won’t necessarily make you rich, they are worth more than their face value of 25 cents. So, in the purest spirit of coin collecting, here are five modern U.S. quarters that you can find in change that are worth money.
San Francisco Mint Washington Quarters, 2012-Present
While the San Francisco Mint is best known for producing the United States Mint’s modern Proof coinage, it began minting circulation-strike quarters in 2012. Available through the Mint’s website, these quarters are sold in bags, rolls, and other similar product options only to collectors. But while they aren’t intended for circulation, some may occassionally end up in pocket change.
San Francisco Mint circulation strike quarters with good eye appeal can be bought on websites like eBay for $3 to $5 apiece.
2020-W National Park Quarters with Privy Mark
2020 was the penultimate year of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. It was also the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Under the leadership of Director David J. Ryder, the Mint placed a special 75th anniversary privy mark on collectors-only versions of circulation-strike quarters. The privy mark is in the shape of the Rainbow Pool, which is part of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.. Inside of the “pool” is the inscription V75: a “V” for Victory and “75” for 75 years.
The Mint struck two million of these coins at the West Point Mint and so the “W” mint mark serves as yet another way to distinguish these quarters from regular issues.
The five America the Beautiful quarters issued in 2020 feature reverse designs honoring National Park of American Samoa, Weir Farm National Historic Site (Connecticut), Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve (Virgin Islands), Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Vermont), and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (Kansas).
Nice examples of 2020-W AtB quarters with the V75 privy mark go for about $25 to $30 each.
50 State Quarters in Mint State
The original multi-year, multi-design U.S. quarter program, the 50 State Quarters, started in 1999 and ended in 2008 (with District of Columbia and United States Territories quarters being issued in 2009). An immensely popular program, it introduced hundreds of thousands of Americans to the hobby of coin collecting. At the time, finding each new quarter design in pocket change was an exciting novelty, and pieces with good eye appeal were quickly pulled out of circulation.
Today, not only is it surprisingly hard to find 50 State quarters in change, period, but raw Mint State examples worth more money are downright scarce. Especially valuable are Gem Mint State (65 and above) specimens from the first year of the program–Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut–which go for an average price of $5.
50 State Quarter Errors and Varieties
Over time, coin collectors have become aware of a handful of error coins in the 50 State quarter series – the most famous example being the 2004-D Extra Leaf Wisconsin quarter, which itself comes in High and Low varieties. Extra Leaf Low examples go for about twice as much as Extra Leaf High examples, most likely because the extra leaf is visually more dramatic on the Low version.
But be careful looking for raw coins on websites like eBay, where prices for more mundane errors can vary wildly.
Mint State Bicentennial Quarters
Like the 50 State quarters, the Bicentennial Quarter is an extremely popular coin that has encouraged numerous collectors to get involved in the hobby. First struck in 1975 to celebrate the Bicentennial of U.S. Independence in 1976, generations of collectors have faithfully pulled Bicentennial quarters, half dollars, and dollars from circulation. And being relatively well known among the general public, it is often the subject of clickbait content.
In today’s market, a Bicentennial Quarter is worth $6 to $10 in Gem Mint State condition.
Gem 1969 Washington Quarters
Among this short list of modern (clad) quarters worth money, the 1969 Washington Quarter struck in Philadelphia is one of the hardest to find in Gem Mint State. Most examples are poorly struck, and most higher Mint State specimens originally came from Mint Sets. Appropriately graded, this condition rarity is worth about $20 to $30 in Gem and above.
CoinWeek’s Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker analyzed the 1969 Washington Quarter in greater depth back in 2012, calling it the “key date you don’t know about.”
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I have a 2005 buffalo nickel, and a 1769 an 1969 bicentennial quarter, an two more 1969 quarters with ths eagle head i. The other side , an 5 wheat back pennies.. one is a 1935 pennies.. wheat back.. ,, 1950 wheat back pennie… Ect..
@Lisa May Your bicentennial quarter should be dated *1776-1976*, representing the 2 centuries since the Declaration of Independence. There are no US coins dated 1769 because the US didn’t exist then. So many bicentennial quarters were made that unless it’s in uncirculated or proof condition, it’s unlikely to be worth more than face value.
If you look at any quarters made before 1999 except bicentennial ones, ALL of them have an eagle on the reverse side. Again, 1969’s not a rare year; they can occasionally be found in change.
A 2005 bison nickel is rare if it has the so-called “spear” error on the reverse side. Most however don’t and are worth only 5¢ despite their special design.
Wheat cent values are all over the map. Many are only worth 10 to 25 cents but others, especially earlier dates, can be worth more. However values are heavily dependent on date, mint mark, and condition.
P.S. “etc.”
I am just starting out on collecting and don’t really have anything woth alot but its fun
I just started but frustrated. When I go to a Local Dealer he’s not interested. I know I have a few FINDS but I guess it’s not worth a lot of money he can rip me off with
I have found the same. While a certain book by a well known Numismatist claimed riches awaited me in my pocket change, the truth is most of the coins shown would a) never be found in the pockets of me or anyone I know or b) the condition of any coin that was found in change would be far below a grade that anyone would be interested.
That being said, what I did get out of that book is a beginners class in what to look for as far as looking for varieties and errors. Then I bought Dr. Alan Herbert’s guide to coin errors and varieties. One one the must haves if you are looking for those types of coins. Anyway, you’re not alone.
T.L. Oeltjen
Glad to hear you’re enjoying coin collecting there are tons and tons of wheat back pennies in circulation looking you’ll find many more
Where can I cash my coins ?
@Alethea Zimmerman Well you don’t want to “cash them in” at e.g. a bank because they will only give you face value. You need to know which of the coins are marketable, which requires
(a) determining their dates, conditions, mint marks, and sometimes designs;
(b) consulting a numismatic price guide such as the Red Book or a *curated* website (not a general auction site) to see what the market is actually asking.
(c) allowing for the fact that buying prices can be at least 1/3 less than retail prices
Love hunting coins and I always think of the history of the coin by its date many in the 70s when I was a teenager growing up and filled with excitement about living when my hormones were kicking in and the fun things that I did. Also wondering who handled the coin and what journey they went through.
I’ve always wondered the same thing. They should make a movie about a coins journey.
most of my coins journey end up, in any Bar in Baja. or maybe in a liquor store in Lynwood. Ca. perhaps Helen’s liquor by Atlantic blvd.
That’s exactly how I feel too James. I have many coins that are valuable to me but not to anyone else. The one thing that I stay focused on is how much fun I have doing this. I have a 50 peso coin and 100 peso coin that a lady that I helped insisted I took this purse of hers so I did. A few years later I got the feeling in the strap of the purse and noticed that there was something in it. So I carefully unstitched strap and that’s where these two coins came out. She was of Spanish descent and the thought of her secretly helping me in her own way possibly makes these coins so valuable in my opinion. I hope I get to get many more memories with coins like this cuz it’s priceless.
There you go
1999 state quarter.Also how much is it worth no copper
@Daniel martinez If no copper shows on the coin’s edge you should have it examined by an expert. It could be as valuable as an off-metal strike (very unlikely), an S-mint coin that was somehow put into circulation, or just a minting variation that allowed some of the cladding to cover the coin’s edge.
I have been having some I found a1922 penny and a 1923 Quarter and lot ot old quarters it fun maybe one day I will get lucky.
I have a2023 quarter with a woman on the flip side . It does not have any writing or it ?? I am puzzled
It’s one of the Women’s quarters being minted between 2022-2025. Each year, five women are honored.
Jovita Idar. Her blouse has lots of writing on it. A magnifying glass will help. The lack of the normal dates, words, etc. was part of the design.
Where can you actually cash in the coins for the value theses coin apps say they’re worth??? I have no clue about this but would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions! Thanks in advance
Value is subjective. Think of coins like art: they’re worth what someone is willing to pay for them. If they’re rare, such as a specific error that collectors actively search out, then their value increases. If they’re easy to come by and not made of silver or gold, they’re most likely not going to be worth much more than face value.
I have a 10 lbs bag of wheat head cents that individually are listed on eBay for anywhere between $1-$1,000 but that doesn’t actually make a “rare 1941 cent NO MINT!!!!” actually valuable
@Ash Thank you for your well-grounded replies. It’s both frustrating and angering to see how many people are being scammed by sellers who falsely claim the lack of a mark is a “rare error” :(
You’re already lucky in one sense and spend your money on what ever makes you happy that would be a lifetime movie and yes they ought to teach a history class on money and if you find a place to sell your coins for the price they say on some apps you’ll be rich if I left anyone out I apologize . Larry B.
I have a 2023p Edith kanaka’ole in cod we trust quarter, is it worth anything?
@John West Yes, 25¢ It’s one of the American Women series issued since 2022. Billions have been struck.
FWIW the motto “In God We Trust” doesn’t help to ID any US coin. It’s been on all denominations struck since 1938, and many before that. It was first used on Civil War-era 2¢ pieces issued 1864-73.
I have a 1965 quarter with a 5 point star directly beside the 5 (in the date) it is very faint but it surely is there. I have yet to come across anything online or anywhere actually 2 be honest about anyone else finding one such as this? Anyone with any knowledge or idea? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much