The number of state quarters in use in the US is in the billions! It could be difficult for novice collectors to distinguish between coins worth their time and money from those that are not. For this reason, we've compiled a detailed guide to the most valuable state quarters and everything you need to know about valuing them. Read on to learn more!
Collectors and coin enthusiasts alike have come to adore the 50-state quarter program. Throughout its duration from 1999 to 2008, the initiative saw the issuance of five state quarters annually—several billions of coins were produced, with some states having more than others.
Although they are nice collectibles, 50-state quarters are not nearly as rare as other coins, so how do you value them? This post will provide an ultimate guide to the most valuable state quarters, outlining the factors that can affect their value and the coins that are worth the most. Let's jump right in!
Brief History Of The 50-State Quarters
The 50-state program was a series of circulating commemorative coins released by the United States Mint from 1999 to 2008. The program aimed to honor each U.S. state by featuring a unique design on the quarter's reverse—all quarters shared the same obverse design, depicting George Washington. The order in which the coins were minted was determined by the order in which each state had joined the Union.
This means that states such as Delaware and Pennsylvania, which were among the first to join the Union, were featured first. One unique feature of the 50-state quarters is that the phrases “The United States of America,” and “In God We Trust” are all relocated on the obverse—the state images were too large and occupied most of the reverse.
Top 10 Most Valuable State Quarters
As prementioned, the main factor affecting the value of a state quarter is the mint mark—if the coin's mintage is low and has a unique mint mark, it can be worth more than its face value. To fetch a higher value, the coin must either be proof, uncirculated, or have a mintage error. That said, the following is a list of the 10 most valuable state quarters.
| Coin name | Metallic composition | Estimated value |
| 1999-S 25C Delaware Statehood Quarter Silver PR70 Deep Cameo PCGS | Silver: 90%
Copper: 10%
|
$17,250 |
| 1999-P 25C Pennsylvania Statehood Quarter–Experimental Planchet–MS67 | Silver: 75%
Copper: 25%
|
$10,200 |
| 1999-S 25C Georgia Statehood Quarter Silver PR70 Deep Cameo PCGS | Silver: 75%
Copper: 25%
|
$6,038 |
| 2004-D 25C Wisconsin Statehood Quarte, Extra Leaf Low, FS-5902, MS67 PCGS | Silver: 90%
Copper: 10%
|
$6,000 |
| 1999-P 25C Delaware Statehood Quarter–Struck on Experimental Planchet–MS66 PCGS | Silver: 75%
Copper: 25% |
$4,888 |
| 1999-P Connecticut Statehood Quarter — MS67 | Silver: 90%
Copper: 10% |
$4,362 |
| 2003-P 25C Missouri Statehood Quarter — MS68 PCGS | Silver: 75%
Copper: 25% |
$4,313 |
| 2006-D 25C North Dakota Statehood Quarter — MS68 PCGS | Silver: 75%
Copper: 25% |
$3,760 |
| 2002-D 25C Indiana Statehood Quarter — MS69 NGC | Silver: 75%
Copper: 25% |
$3,760 |
| 2000-P 25C Massachuse Statehood Quarter — MS69 NGC | Silver: 75%
Copper: 25% |
$3,760 |
How to Determine the Value of State Quarters
Many factors come into play when determining the value of a coin. Some of the common factors include age, rarity, and condition. Old coins tend to be more valuable than new coins, and coins that are rarer or in good condition tend to be worth more.
When it comes to the 50-state quarters, the main factor you should be looking out for is the mint mark. The mint mark is typically located on the obverse (front) of the coin, near the bottom, and shows which mint the coin came from. Also, note that the coins were minted at different times; the following list shows the order in which the coins were minted from 1999 to 2003.
- 1999: Georgia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware.
- 2000: New Hampshire, Virginia, South Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts.
- 2001: Kentucky, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Vermont, New York.
- 2002: Ohio, Indiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana.
- 2003: Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Maine.
The Philadelphia and Denver mints produced the state quarters for official circulation. San Francisco is where the proof coins were made. The Oklahoma mint also produced circulation quarters, but because of their low total mintage, these coins are rarer than those from the other two mints.
Pro Tips: Focus on coins with errors or unique characteristics in uncirculated conditions, as they are worth more. Examples include the 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf High and Low Quarters, the 1999-P Connecticut Broadstruck Quarter, and the 2005-D Minnesota Double Die Quarter.
How to Identify A Valuable State Quarter
To identify a valuable state quarter, you should pay attention to several factors, such as:
- Minting mark: Look for quarters that were minted in San Francisco or Oklahoma, as they tend to have lower mintage numbers and are rarer than those minted in Philadelphia or Denver.
- Year: Some years have lower mintage numbers than others, making them more scarce and valuable. For example, the 1999-S Delaware Statehood Quarter has a mintage of only 804,565, valued at $17,250.
- Errors: Look for quarters with errors, such as those struck on an experimental planchet or those with missing or doubled letters or numbers. These types of errors can make a quarter rare and valuable.
- Condition: The condition of the quarter is also an important factor in determining its value. Coins in better condition, such as uncirculated or proof coins, are generally more valuable than coins that have been circulated.
- Certification: Having a quarter certified by a reputable third-party grading service can add value to the coin as it assures its authenticity and condition.
Considering these factors, you can identify a valuable state quarter that may be worth much more than its face value.
Where Can I Buy State Quarters?
Looking for a place to buy state quarters? Try the following options:
- Amazon
- eBay
- Etsy
- Live Auctioneers
- US Mint
- JM Bullion
- Little Coin Company
- PCGS
Bottom Line
The value of state coins varies greatly and depends on many factors, such as condition, rarity, and design. To fetch a higher value, you need coins with a lower mintage, such as those minted in Oklahoma and West Virginia. Even so, we recommend looking for coins with errors, as they can be highly valuable. If you can get error coins, try proof or uncirculated coins, as they are more desirable.
