Top 10 State and ATB Quarter Errors Worth Looking For

Modern Quarters With Serious Value

The 50 State Quarters program (1999-2008) and America the Beautiful program (2010-2021) produced over 100 different reverse designs across 27 years. With billions of coins struck under tight production schedules, errors were inevitable — and some of them are worth serious money. Here are the 10 most collectible errors and varieties you can find in circulation.

1. 2004-D Wisconsin "Extra Leaf" — High and Low ($100-300)

The most famous State Quarter error. Two distinct die varieties show an additional leaf on the ear of corn on the Wisconsin reverse. The "Extra Leaf High" variety has the extra leaf pointing upward; the "Extra Leaf Low" variety has it pointing downward. Both are readily identifiable under 5x magnification. These were struck at the Denver Mint and are found exclusively on 2004-D quarters.

2. 2005-P Minnesota "Extra Tree" ($10-50)

A die gouge on the Minnesota reverse creates what appears to be an extra tree or doubled tree trunk in the design. Multiple die stages exist with varying degrees of prominence. The most dramatic examples show a clear additional trunk.

3. 1999-P Delaware "Spitting Horse" ($5-20)

A die crack running from the horse's mouth creates the appearance of the horse spitting. This is a progressive die crack — earlier die stages show a smaller crack, while later stages show it extending further. Named by the collecting community, it became one of the first widely-known State Quarter varieties.

4. 2005-P Kansas "In God We Rust" ($5-20)

Grease-filled die errors obscured part of "TRUST" on the Kansas reverse, making it read "IN GOD WE RUST." While filled-die errors are common across all denominations, this particular example became widely publicized and is actively collected.

5. State Quarter Broadstrikes ($20-50)

A broadstruck quarter was struck outside the retaining collar, resulting in a coin that is wider and thinner than normal. The design is complete but the edge is flat rather than reeded. These occur across all dates and mintmarks and are valued based on how dramatically the coin spread.

6. Off-Center State Quarters ($25-200+)

Quarters struck off-center show a crescent of blank planchet on one side. Value increases with the percentage off-center — a 5% off-center quarter might be worth $25, while a 50% off-center example with a full date is worth $200+. Finding the date is important for value.

7. Wrong Planchet Errors ($500-5,000+)

A State or ATB quarter struck on a planchet intended for a different denomination. Documented examples include quarters struck on cent planchets (smaller, copper), nickel planchets, and dime planchets. These are rare and valuable — a confirmed wrong-planchet State Quarter can sell for $1,000-5,000+.

8. Clad Layer Missing ($50-150)

Quarters struck on planchets where one (or both) of the copper-nickel clad layers is missing, exposing the copper core. These coins appear partially or entirely copper-colored. They're identified by weight (lighter than normal) and the visible copper surface.

9. Die Cuds ($10-50)

A cud is a raised blob of metal at the rim caused by a die that has cracked and broken away. Cuds on State and ATB quarters are collected by size and location. Large cuds covering significant design elements are the most valuable.

10. Rotated Die Errors ($10-50+)

Normally, when you flip a coin top to bottom, the reverse is properly oriented. A rotated die error means the reverse is turned — sometimes dramatically. A 180° rotation (where the reverse appears upside down when flipped) is the most dramatic and valuable. Minor rotations (5-15°) are common and worth less.

How to Search Efficiently

• Sort by date/design first. Focus extra attention on 2004-D (Wisconsin), 2005-P (Minnesota, Kansas), and 1999-P (Delaware).
• Use good lighting. Many of these errors are subtle and require proper illumination to spot.
• Check edges for broadstrikes. A coin with a smooth or irregular edge may be a broadstrike.
• Weigh suspicious coins. Wrong planchet and missing clad layer errors will be noticeably different in weight.

Explore State Quarter errors and ATB Quarter varieties in the NumisDex catalog.