7 Rare Quarters Hiding in Your Pocket That Are Worth a Fortune
Most people hate carrying loose change. We throw it in a jar, leave it in the car cup holder, or ignore it completely. But coin experts warn that this is a massive mistake that could be costing you thousands of dollars.
While most quarters are just worth 25 cents, there are specific « error coins » and rare prints floating around in circulation right now. If you know exactly what to look for—like a tiny extra leaf or a specific letter—you could turn a handful of laundry money into a down payment on a house.
Here are the 7 rare quarters you need to stop and look for immediately.
1. The 1932-D Washington Quarter
This is the « Holy Grail » for many beginner collectors. 1932 was the very first year the Washington Quarter was minted. While millions were made in Philadelphia, the Denver mint (marked with a tiny « D ») only made a small batch.
What to look for: Flip the coin over to the tails side. Look just below the eagle wings for a small letter « D ». If you find one in decent condition, it can be worth $100 to $500. If it’s in uncirculated condition, it has sold for over $1,000.
2. The 2004 Wisconsin « Extra Leaf » Quarter
This is one of the most famous modern errors. When the Wisconsin state quarter was released, a machine error at the mint caused two varieties of the corn stalk to appear.
What to look for: Look at the ear of corn on the back. You are looking for an extra leaf sticking out of the bottom left side of the corn. There are « High Leaf » and « Low Leaf » varieties. Finding this simple error in your pocket change could net you anywhere from $50 to $150 depending on the condition.
3. The 1999 Georgia State Quarter (Experimental Metals)
When the State Quarter program started in 1999, the U.S. Mint was testing new metal alloys. Some of these experimental metals—intended for the Sacagawea dollar—accidentally got used for the Georgia quarter.
What to look for: These quarters have a distinct yellowish or greenish tint to them, different from the shiny silver of a normal quarter. They also weigh slightly more. If you find one that looks « gold-toned, » don’t clean it! It could be worth up to $10,000 to a serious collector.
4. The 1964 Silver Quarter
This is the easiest one to spot because you don’t need a magnifying glass. Before 1965, all U.S. quarters were made of 90% silver. After 1965, the government switched to a cheaper copper-nickel mix.
What to look for: Check the date. Any quarter dated 1964 or earlier is made of real silver. Even in terrible condition, the « melt value » of the silver alone is worth about $4.00 to $5.00 right now. That is a 1,900% return on your money instantly.
5. The 2020-W « Bat » Quarter
In 2019 and 2020, the U.S. Mint released a limited run of quarters from the West Point mint (marked with a « W »). These were released directly into circulation to create a treasure hunt for the public.
What to look for: Look for the National Park quarters released in 2020 (like the American Samoa « Bat » design). Check under the « In God We Trust » text for a « W » mint mark. There are only 2 million of these in existence. If you find one, it sells on eBay for $10 to $20 immediately.
6. The « Spitting Eagle » (1983-P)
This is a funny error that is highly sought after. A die crack on the machine caused a raised line to appear on the coin, making it look like the eagle is spitting.
What to look for: Find a 1983 quarter minted in Philadelphia (P). Look closely at the eagle’s mouth on the back. If you see a vertical line running from its beak down towards its wing, you have the error. These regularly sell for $50 to $300.
7. The 2000-P « Mule » Error (The Jackpot)
This is the rarest and most valuable error on this list. A « Mule » is a coin that was minted with the front of one coin and the back of another. In 2000, a few quarters were minted with a Washington Quarter front and a Sacagawea Dollar back.
What to look for: If you have a coin that looks like a quarter on one side, but has the soaring eagle from the gold dollar on the back, you have hit the jackpot. These are incredibly rare and have sold for $35,000 to $100,000 at auction. It is extremely unlikely you have one, but it’s always worth a look!
