Hidden Gems in Your Loose Change
Folks across the pond in America might have a small fortune tucked away in their coin jars without even knowing it. Washington quarters, those everyday twenty five cent bits with George Washington’s face on them, can sometimes be worth a bomb if they’re rare. We’re talking up to twenty six grand each for some special ones. These coins started in nineteen thirty two to mark Washington’s two hundredth birthday, and while most are just pocket change, a few stand out because of low numbers made or minting slip ups. In this piece, we dig into nine rare types that could make you proper chuffed if you spot one.
The Early Stars from Nineteen Thirty Two
The first year of Washington quarters brings two big hitters. The nineteen thirty two D from Denver had a tiny run of just over four hundred thousand, making it dead rare. In top nick, it can fetch around twenty six thousand dollars. Then there’s the nineteen thirty two S from San Francisco, with even fewer made, pulling in about twenty five grand. These low mintage coins are key dates for collectors, and their value comes from how few survived in good shape after all these years.
Error Coins That Pack a Punch
Minting mistakes add extra spice to some quarters. Take the nineteen forty two D with a double die obverse, where letters and numbers look doubled up. This error makes it worth about twenty grand. The nineteen forty three S stands out for being struck on the wrong blank, maybe a silver mix up during wartime, valuing at twenty two thousand. Then the nineteen fifty D over S shows traces of both mint marks, a cool overstamp error hitting seventeen grand.
Specs of Early Rare Quarters
| Year and Mint | Mintage | Material | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932-D | 436,800 | Silver | Low mintage |
| 1932-S | 408,000 | Silver | Low mintage |
More Mistakes and Modern Rarities
Jumping ahead, the nineteen fifty five without a mint mark has a double die error, especially clear on “In God We Trust,” and it can go for twenty four thousand. The nineteen sixty four D is special as a rare proof from Denver in the last silver year, worth nineteen grand. Then the nineteen sixty five, meant to be clad but struck on silver by mistake, hits twenty six thousand. No mint mark here too, adding to the mystery.
The Odd One Out from Nineteen Seventy
Wrapping up the list is the nineteen seventy S struck on a one cent blank. It’s smaller, thinner, and reddish, a proper oddball error that collectors love. This one can bring in twenty three thousand dollars. All these coins show how a tiny factory flub can turn a quarter into treasure. If you’ve got old US coins, grab a magnifying glass and check dates, mint marks like D or S under the eagle, and any doubling.
Specs of Error Quarters
| Year and Type | Error Type | Approximate Value | Why Rare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942-D | Double Die Obverse | $20,000 | Minting error |
| 1965 No Mint | Silver Planchet Error | $26,000 | Wrong material |
Tips to Spot Your Fortune
Don’t clean any suspects, as that drops the value. Get them checked by a pro appraiser or look up recent sales online. Weigh them too, silver ones are heavier than clad. Sound test by dropping on a table, silver rings nicer. Stories pop up of people finding these in change or granny’s purse, turning into life changers. With prices climbing in twenty twenty five, now’s the time to hunt. Who knows, you might be holding a winner right now.