The $500,000 State Quarter: 3 Must-Have Coins in Your Collection!

Collectors have been fascinated with state quarters minted from 1999 to 2008. Due to errors or being struck with very unique features, some of these coins can now retail for some ludicrously high values.

And among them, some have sold on the open market for up to $500,000 at auctions. If it’s rolling around your pocket, here are three that may be treasured.

1999-P Delaware Spitting Horse Quarter

A minting error on the 1999-P Delaware quarter coined as the ‘Spitting Horse’ is known. A small raised line extending from the horse’s mouth, like spit, this error looks like a horse. This may just seem like a minor error for some, but it’s caught the attention of collectors. These quarters come in mint condition and have sold for thousands at auction; a fully graded one will be worth quite a bit.

2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter

This is one of the most famous errors in a state quarter. An extra leaf shows up on one of the corn stalks on the 2004-D Wisconsin quarter. There are two variations of this error: the low leaf and the high leaf. The variations of the coin make it very valuable, some of the finest examples reaching prices in excess of $30,000 at auction. That little bit of metal can equal big bucks, so always take a close look at your Wisconsin quarters and be on the lookout for this one.

2005-P Minnesota Doubled Die Quarter

The 2005-P Minnesota quarter also boasts a notable error: the doubled die. The extra tree next to the tree line is what this error is, which is caused by a minting mistake. That might be difficult to spot with your naked eye, but those that do pick up on this tend to find that their quarter really isn’t worth as much. This coin is high grade and has gone for thousands—it’s one of the most sought-after quarters for collectors.

Coin Name	Error Description	Auction Value (Up To)	Unique Feature
1999-P Delaware Spitting Horse	Raised line from horse’s mouth	$20,000+	Spitting Horse error
2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf	High and low leaf variation	$30,000+	Extra leaf on the corn stalk
2005-P Minnesota Doubled Die	Extra tree next to tree line	$5,000+	Doubling effect on trees

Conclusion

Finally, the State Quarter, equal to $500,000 or whichever other must-have coins make up your numismatic collection, isn’t just a great way to invest; it’s a taste of the fertile ground numismatics was trying to represent. 

Stories are told with each coin, generations and conversations about legacy and life stories. In the same way that a father-son partnership goes outside of the basketball court to nurture bonds and give passion, making coins brings fans together, connecting to family lines and accounts of our tradition. 

Investing in these coins, beyond the obvious aesthetic appreciation values, also provides you an opportunity to deepen the knowledge surrounding the parts of the stories that coins speak of in their multifaceted narratives. 

In short, each coin can inspire and connect, giving your collection real value, no matter where you are along your collection path—seasoned collector or not.

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