State Quarters Worth Money
2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Low ($90 to $125, uncirculated)2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf High ($120 to $150, uncirculated)Certain uncirculated state quarters ($1.10 to $1.30, see table below)
History of the U.S. 50 State Quarters Program
On December 1, 1997, Congress passed Public Law 105-124 that created the 50 state quarters program. It called for the release of circulating commemorative quarters by the United States Mint. The program ran from 1999 until 2008 with a common obverse design in a unique reverse design commemorating each of the 50 states. The Mint released the coins at the rate of five new reverse designs per year in the order that the state joined the Union. The reverses are distinctive, bear the state name, the year that the state joined the Union, and the year of issuance. Each state was responsible for choosing the design for the reverse. Some states had a contest and invited citizens to submit designs, while other states selected their designs with a narrower scope. The governor of each state would choose the coin’s design and approved by the Treasurer of the United States. The program became the most successful coin collecting program in history. Experts estimate that half of the population of the United States collected these coins either casually or seriously with the intent to put together a full collection. In 2009, an additional six coins were issued to commemorate the District of Columbia and the five United States territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). The program was so successful that the Treasury Department decided to create another program based upon the fifty states, Washington DC, and the five territories. This new series is titled “America the Beautiful Quarters Program.” This series ran from 2010 until 2021. The coins honor a site of “natural or stork significance” from each of the fifty states, the five territories, and the District of Columbia.
Market Analysis
State quarters are still circulating and can be collected right out of your pocket change. Therefore, most circulated examples are only worth their face value of 25 cents. Nice uncirculated sets are worth slightly more. Coins that grade MS-68 and are authenticated by a third-party grading service, sell for thousands of dollars in Internet coin auctions. However, finding coins in this high grade is highly unusual.
Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties
The following state quarters in any condition, are worth more than common circulating state quarters.
2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Low2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf High
Condition or Grade
If your coin is worn and looks similar to the one illustrated in the link below, it is considered a circulated coin. If your coin looks similar to the one illustrated in the link below and has no evidence of wear due to being in circulation, it is considered an uncirculated coin. Watch out for coins that have been polished by unscrupulous collectors to make their coins look uncirculated.
Mint Marks
The United States Mint produced state quarters at three different mints: Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). As illustrated in the picture link below, the mint mark is located on the obverse side of the coin to the right of George Washington’s ponytail and below the motto “In God We Trust.”
Average Circulated and Uncirculated Values & Prices
The following table lists the buy price of what you can expect to pay to a dealer to purchase the coin and sell value being what you can expect a dealer to pay you if you sell the coin. These values are approximate retail prices and wholesale costs. The actual offer you receive from a particular coin dealer for your Washington quarter dollars will vary depending on the actual grade of the coin and some other factors that determine its worth.
