Even old quarters can sometimes hold significant value

People usually think of perfect, brilliant coins that have been carefully kept by collectors when they think of valuable coins. But even old quarters can sometimes be worth a lot of money.

You don't need to be a coin expert to find these special coins, as many of them are still in everyday change. Coins from important years, production mistakes, or interesting mint marks can turn a common quarter into a precious coin.

Special 2019-W and 2020-W West Point Quarters

In 2019 and 2020, the US Mint did something unusual by making a limited number of special quarters at the West Point Mint and putting them directly into circulation instead of selling them to collectors. These coins have a small "W" mark visible on the lower part of the coin, below "IN GOD WE TRUST."

The 1932-D Washington Quarter: A First-Year Treasure

The 1932-D Washington quarter is very important because it was made during the first year of the Washington quarter series at the Denver Mint, and only 436,800 of these coins were made. You can see the small "D" symbol above the letters "ER" in the word "QUARTER" on the reverse of the coin. This coin might be worth around $225 even if it seems very old and used, and more than $500 if it's in better condition.

The Rare 1932-S Washington Quarter

The San Francisco-made 1932-S quarter is much harder to find than the 1932-D. Only 408,000 were made, and today, experts say about 40,000 are still around. It also has a small "S" mark in the same place as the Denver coin. A 1932-S quarter in better condition could sell for over $360, while one that's extremely damaged might sell for about $85.

The 1937-S Washington Quarter: A Good Find

The 1937-S Washington quarter isn't as rare as the 1932 ones, but it's still something special to find. Even a very used one could sell for around $8. If the coin is in better shape, it could be worth $100 or even more. A coin that looks almost new might be worth $165 or higher.

The 2004-D Wisconsin Quarter with a Special Extra Leaf (Low Variety)

Something interesting happened during the 50 State Quarters program with the 2004-D Wisconsin quarter. The corn on the back of certain coins created an extra small leaf, which is called the "Low Leaf" variety, shows the extra leaf pointing down. Although millions of Wisconsin quarters were made, very few have this special error. The value of a well-maintained Low Leaf coin could be between $38 and $80.

The 2004-D Wisconsin Quarter with a Special Extra Leaf (High Variety)

There's also a "High Leaf" version of the 2004-D Wisconsin quarter. In this one, the extra leaf is partially covered by the grain and points upward. This version is even rarer than the Low Leaf one. If the coin is in better condition, it might be worth $75 or more, but a slightly worn coin might sell for about $45.

FAQs

How can I identify the special 2019-W and 2020-W West Point quarters?

Look for a small "W" mintmark visible on the lower part of the coin, below "IN GOD WE TRUST."

What makes the 1932-D Washington quarter so valuable?

1932-D Washington quarter is a rare first-year issue with only 436,800 minted at the Denver Mint.

What is special about the 2004-D Wisconsin quarter?

Some have an extra leaf on the corn, called the "Low Leaf" or "High Leaf" variety.