Coin collecting became more popular among the public through State heritage theme designs under the U.S. Mint State Quarter Program (1999–2008). A few U.S. State quarters error coins have gained popularity as collectibles while a couple of extremely rare samples have hit the astronomical price of $150 million. Here is a review of remarkable minting errors with the reasons for their unique popularity.
Delaware “Spitting Horse” Quarter (1999)
The 1999 Delaware Quarter, the initial release of the State Quarters series, has Caesar Rodney riding horseback. In production, there was a mistake which resulted in the creation of what collectors refer to as “Spitting Horse” since a crack in the die created a line running from the horse’s mouth in a way that resembled spit.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Error | Die crack near the horse’s mouth |
| Value | Estimated up to $150 million (high grade) |
| Collector Appeal | Unique and recognizable error |
The fascinating error with the State Quarter has turned it into one of the strongly sought-after blunders that are actively hunted by collectors.
Wisconsin’s “Extra Leaf” Quarter (2004)
The 2004 Wisconsin Quarter brings together three significant state symbols of agriculture: cows with cheese wheels and corn stalks. The corn stalk got unintended alteration with a mint mistake which created two leaf variation variations.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Error Variants | High extra leaf and low extra leaf |
| Value | Significant premiums over face value |
| Collector Appeal | Highly desirable due to unique design error |
The two varieties of the extra leaf flaw are appealing to collectors who give the pieces higher and higher prices based on their condition and availability.
Kansas “In God We Rust” Quarter (2005)
The 2005 Kansas Quarter was famous due to the “In God We Rust” typo which appeared on its design with a bison and state motto.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Error | Missing “T” in “TRUST” due to a grease-filled die |
| Value | Significant premiums for uncirculated examples |
| Collector Appeal | Popular for its humorous and ironic error |
Individuals throughout the numismatic community have universally accepted this mistake due to its unique flaw that renders it a perfect talking point among coin collector communities.
Other Notable State Quarter Errors
Various other errors found in State Quarters also hold valuable appeal to collectors.
| State | Error | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut (1999) | Broad strike (expanded coin size) | Over $1,000 |
| New Hampshire (2000) | Die crack through the design | Over $500 |
| Minnesota (2005) | Extra tree in the design | Over $1,000 |
| Georgia (1999) | Missing mint mark | Over $700 |
The discovery of these mistakes proves that important findings exist throughout regular currency circulation.
Factors Determining Value
The value of error quarters hinges on several key criteria.
- Rarity: The less common the coins with the error, the greater the value.
- Condition: The money that is in perfect condition gets the best market price.
- Error Type: Those errors that contain unique unusual characteristics like added components or missing letters have higher value.
- Collector Demand: Overall demand for both a coin series and error type directly impacts the market value.
Conclusion
The 1999-P Delaware and 2004 Wisconsin and 2005 Minnesota quarters represent three of the most uncommon U.S. coins since they fetch almost $150 million altogether. Fortune will smile upon you if you happen to find one of these coins since you could have found awesome value in your hands.
FAQ’s
What is the Delaware Spitting Horse Quarter?
It is a 1999 Delaware quarter with a mint error that gives the horse the appearance of spitting.
Why is the Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter worth something?
It possesses an additional leaf on the corn stalk from a minting error and is hence unique.