Quarters are only worth $0.25 right? That is technically true, but some quarters may be worth way more. A quarter at face value is only worth a quarter of a dollar, but some coins that have defects, are rare or are of a high mint state may be worth way more. To some collectors, certain coins can be worth thousands of dollars. Learn more about state quarters worth money to see if any of your change is worth a small fortune.
History of State Quarters Program
In 1999, the U.S. Mint launched a program to honor each of the fifty states, called the 50-State Quarters Program. These quarters would have a picture related to the state on the reverse or tail side, giving homage to their history, natural beauty, agriculture or other identifying features. To pay further respect to the states, the U.S. Mint had state governors select and recommend designs. The heads side would keep the classic image of George Washington.
The U.S. Mint planned to release five quarters per year, with the first five being released in 1999. It took 10 years for every state quarter to be released. The final five state quarters were released in 2008. Then, in 2009, six more quarters were released honoring Washington D.C. and the five U.S. territories.
These quarters had a widespread circulation and became a fun collection item for many people. Most of these coins aren’t worth anything more than $0.25. However, some coins with a high mint state (MS) rating, certain defects or important history may be worth more.
Most Valuable State Quarters
Wondering if any of your spare change is worth money? Here are some of the top state quarters worth money.
1. 1999 P Experimental Delaware State Quarter
As seen in the picture, this is no ordinary quarter. Delaware was the first state to receive a state quarter. Many were made and can be found in circulation today, but those aren’t very valuable. What makes this quarter special is the alloy used.
The Delaware State Quarter, along with Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Georgia quarters, were part of an experiment to find the best alloy for the future Sacagawea golden dollar to be released in 2000. Only a small number of quarters were created on this experimental alloy, and their rarity makes them valuable. They were minted in Philadelphia, PA.
These coins with a high MS rating can be sold for thousands of dollars.
2. 2000 P South Carolina State Quarter
The South Carolina State Quarter was the eighth to be released and minted in Philadelphia, but only a few were created and sent into circulation. Though they’re on the rarer side, most aren’t valuable. However, a few that were never in circulation have a rating of MS68 or higher. These coins are some of the most valuable state quarters, but they’ll only be found in bankrolls, mint sets and original coin bags. If you happen to find one in circulation, it may be fun to add to your collection, but it won’t be worth much money.
3. 2000 P Massachusetts State Quarter
The Massachusetts State Quarter was the sixth state quarter to be released, and the first to be released in 2000. Because of its historical significance, it’s a popular coin among collectors. Like most state quarters, the versions of these in circulation aren’t worth much. However, a few are remaining that were never in circulation and retain a high MS rating. One of these coins rated MS69 sold for over $4,000.
4. 2004 P Texas State Quarter
The Texas quarter, released in 2004 and minted in Philadelphia, was the 28th quarter to be released in the program. Standard versions of these quarters rated MS69 or above are worth a couple of thousand dollars. However, there’s another version of this coin that’s worth even more.
During the production of the Texas quarter, a grease clog affected the striking die and made the image blurry. Because of this, a few quarters were released with a blurred reverse side. The 2004 P Texas Grease Strike Through Error Quarter is rare and valuable, especially if it has a high MS rating.
5. 1999 P Experimental Connecticut State Quarter
The Connecticut State Quarter is a collector's favorite because of its intricate design. One version of it, minted in Denver, is valuable because of its detailed strike. Other versions of the quarter were minted in Philadelphia, including the quarters that were part of the Sacagawea alloy experiment.
The 1999 P Experimental Connecticut quarter, like the Delaware quarter, was struck on an experimental alloy to help determine the best material for the future Sacagawea dollar. Only a handful of these were created and are considered errors, making them rare and valuable. The experimental Connecticut quarter is heavier, with smooth edges.
6. 2008 D New Mexico State Quarter
The New Mexico quarter was one of the last five quarters to be released and was minted in 2008. While they were minted in Denver and Philadelphia, the Denver coins are favored by collectors. They have a superior strike and finish, with an attractive level of detail that complements the coin’s unique design. However, these coins have become rare and have increased in value. Even versions of these quarters with a lower MS rating, such as MS62, have sold for thousands of dollars.
7. 2004 D Wisconsin State Quarter Extra Leaf Low
Error coins are rare but are valuable in the eyes of collectors. This is true of the 2004 D Wisconsin quarter that was struck with an extra leaf on the corn husk. In this quarter, there are two leaves on the left side of the corn husk, one low and one higher. The extra low leaf is not included on most standard Wisconsin quarters, so finding a quarter with this flawed design is rare. This coin is so favored that even coins with an MS67 are worth thousands of dollars.
How to Identify Valuable State Quarters
It’s unlikely you’ll find an extremely valuable quarter in the change you receive from a grocery store. Most state quarters worth money have a high MS rating, meaning they weren’t in circulation at all or for very long, preserving their condition.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth looking at. Some quarters with die errors, such as the Wisconsin extra leaf or Texas grease strike-through, may be worth money despite having a lower MS rating. The best way to identify valuable state quarters is to check out online resources, such as coin collector websites and auctions. See what quarters are selling for a large sum and determine what makes them valuable.
Factors Affecting the Value of State Quarters
A few factors help determine a quarter’s value. Here are the things you should keep in mind when determining if your quarter is worth money.
- Rarity and scarcity: As with many collectibles, rare coins are much more valuable because there are fewer coins available than there are in demand. If a quarter had low mintage numbers, it’ll be harder to find one with a high MS rating. Additionally, coins that were created on an experimental alloy or have an error are typically only made in small batches making them more valuable.
- Condition and grading: One of the most important factors is the coin’s condition. No matter what the coin is, it won’t be as valuable if it has been in circulation for a long time and has a faded color and design. Quarters are graded by MS or mint state. A higher mint state means the coins weren’t in circulation at all or for very long and have been preserved. Many coins with a high MS rating were pulled out of circulation by collectors early on, preserving their value.
- Demand and popularity: Part of a quarter’s value is based on collector issues. For example, some coins are more popular among collectors than others, such as many coins minted in Denver. It’s a good idea to keep up with trends in coin collecting to identify which coins are popular.
More Than a Quarter
Everyone knows a quarter is worth $0.25, but a few coins may fetch a small fortune. Typically, these coins will be hard to find in circulation, but if you search bankrolls, coin bags and other collections, you may find an in-demand quarter that’s been preserved or has an interesting die mark. But before you purchase a collector coin, get a professional opinion to ensure it’s worth its price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a set of all 50 state quarters worth anything?
A set of 50 state quarters may not be worth much more than face value unless some or all the coins have a high MS rating or interesting die marks.
Which 2023 quarters are worth money?
In 2023, the U.S. Mint will be releasing the American Women’s Quarter series. The quarters in mint condition may be worth more than face value and could increase in value over time.
Which quarter is worth $35,000?
Some quarters released in 1970 were minted over Canadian quarters, and are worth tens of thousands of dollars.
About Savannah Munholland
Savannah Munholland is an investment writer passionate about helping people learn more about accessible alternative investments. She has more than three years of writing experience, focusing on alternative and traditional investing, technology, and education. Her expertise in writing about art and wine investments is grounded in an MFA with knowledge of and immersion in a wide range of art-related topics. She uses her skills in creative writing to bring an appealing level of interest to her journalistic work, shifting even the most basic financial and investment topics from humdrum to compelling. Her work has been published on Benzinga, FreightWaves, and Study.com.