Most people think of quarters as pocket change worth just 25 cents—but some are worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Thanks to minting errors, limited releases, and overlooked anomalies, a few rare quarters are still floating around in everyday circulation. If you’re lucky, you could find one in your change jar, vending machine, or coin roll. Here are 10 rare quarters to look for in 2025 that could bring you big money.
1. 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter (Extra Leaf Error)
- Value: Up to $10,000
- What to Look For: An extra leaf—either “low” or “high”—on the left side of the corn stalk on the reverse.
- Why It’s Valuable: Only a few of these error coins escaped the Denver Mint.
- Still Circulates?: Yes, though rare.
2. 1999-P Delaware Spitting Horse Quarter
- Value: $100–$500
- What to Look For: A die crack that looks like the horse is “spitting” a line of metal.
- Why It’s Valuable: A quirky and visible mint error that became a collector favorite.
- Still Circulates?: Occasionally found in change.
3. 2005-P Minnesota Quarter (Doubled Die Error)
- Value: $50–$300+
- What to Look For: Doubling in the trees behind the state outline on the reverse.
- Why It’s Valuable: Over 60 different doubled die varieties exist.
- Still Circulates?: Yes, especially in the Midwest.
4. 2009-D District of Columbia Quarter (Misplaced Initials)
- Value: $50–$250
- What to Look For: Doubling around Duke Ellington’s piano or missing designer initials.
- Why It’s Valuable: Several unique die varieties were made in this short series.
- Still Circulates?: Rarely, but still possible.
5. 1999-P Connecticut Quarter (Off-Center Strike)
- Value: $100–$1,000+
- What to Look For: An off-center design (5–50% misaligned).
- Why It’s Valuable: Off-center quarters from the State Series are prized errors.
- Still Circulates?: Occasionally.
6. 1965 Washington Quarter (Transitional Error on Silver Planchet)
- Value: $5,000–$10,000+
- What to Look For: A 1965 quarter that rings like silver and weighs about 6.25g.
- Why It’s Valuable: A few were accidentally struck on leftover silver planchets.
- Still Circulates?: Rare but confirmed found in rolls and old stashes.
7. 1983-P Washington Quarter (Double Die Reverse)
- Value: $200–$800
- What to Look For: Strong doubling in the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
- Why It’s Valuable: A striking example of doubling in the post-silver era.
- Still Circulates?: Yes, especially in East Coast coin rolls.
8. 1970-S Washington Quarter (Struck on 1941 Canadian Quarter)
- Value: $25,000–$35,000
- What to Look For: Foreign design details underneath the U.S. quarter.
- Why It’s Valuable: A freak minting accident with extremely limited known examples.
- Still Circulates?: Extremely rare, but one turned up years later in a collection.
9. 2022 Maya Angelou Quarter (Die Clash Error)
- Value: $100–$250
- What to Look For: Parts of the obverse design clashed onto the reverse, or vice versa.
- Why It’s Valuable: Die clashes are popular with collectors and often overlooked in new designs.
- Still Circulates?: Yes.
10. 2023 Bessie Coleman Quarter (Cud or Retained Die Break Error)
- Value: $50–$200+
- What to Look For: Raised lumps or blobs near the edge (called “cuds”).
- Why It’s Valuable: Newer issues are already showing dramatic mint errors.
- Still Circulates?: Absolutely.
Tips for Finding Rare Quarters
- Roll Hunt: Buy quarter rolls from your bank and check each coin.
- Use a Magnifier: A loupe or magnifying glass can reveal small errors.
- Weigh Your Coins: A silver quarter should weigh ~6.25g (vs. 5.67g for clad).
- Check Both Sides: Errors can be on either side of the coin.
- Watch for Odd Sounds: Silver coins have a distinctive “ring” when dropped.
Final Thought
You don’t need to be a coin collector to find treasure in your pocket. With a little awareness and patience, you could uncover one of these valuable quarters—and potentially walk away with hundreds or even thousands of dollars.