State quarters are supposed to be pocket change, but a handful of error coins from the 50 State Quarters program now trade for more than $500 each, and a couple can push toward $10,000 in top condition. Collectors are hunting very specific varieties, so knowing what to look for on coins from Wisconsin, Delaware, Minnesota, and a few others can literally turn spare change into rent money. Here are eight state quarters that recent reporting says are worth a serious second look.
1) The 2004-D Wisconsin Quarter with Extra Leaf
The 2004-D Wisconsin quarter with the famous Extra Leaf High and Extra Leaf Low varieties is the poster child for valuable state quarters. Specialist guides on Which State Quarters single out the Wisconsin Extra Leaf errors as some of the most desirable pieces from the entire series. The extra leaf appears on the left side of the corn husk, either carved higher or lower than normal, and that tiny design change is what pushes prices into the hundreds.
One detailed breakdown titled Extra Leaf High explains how to distinguish the two varieties and notes that clear examples in uncirculated condition can sell for well over $100. Another guide on Wisconsin State Quarters describes “Three Different Types of” 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarters and stresses that “Two of” those types are worth more than $100 each. When a coin that cost 25 cents at the register can realistically bring several hundred dollars, it is no surprise it shows up on lists of 8 state quarters now worth more than $500.
2) The 2005-D Minnesota Quarter with Doubled Die
The 2005-D Minnesota quarter with a doubled die reverse is another sleeper that can cross the $500 mark in the right grade. Error specialists describe the Minnesota Doubled Die and note it “Can be worth $50 to $300+” depending on how strong the doubling appears and how clean the surfaces are. On high-end lists of 5 state quarters worth $500 or more, the best preserved examples with dramatic doubling are the ones that push into that higher tier.
Collectors look for extra outlines in the trees or the inscriptions on the reverse, which signal that the die itself was misaligned when it was made. A separate rundown of state quarters worth highlights how these doubled dies, especially in mint-state grades, can command several hundred dollars from registry-set collectors. For everyday holders, the implication is simple, a Minnesota quarter with fuzzy-looking details might not be worn out, it might be a doubled die that turns pocket change into a serious collectible.
3) The 1999-P Delaware Quarter with Spitting Horse
The 1999-P Delaware quarter known as the “Spitting Horse” is one of the most famous state quarter errors and ranks among the two state quarters worth the most money. Error guides describe the Delaware Spitting Horse and state it “Sells for $20 to $500+,” with the strongest die cracks and highest grades bringing the top end of that range. A separate video titled How To Look Delaware Spitting Horse Die Crack State Quarter walks viewers through spotting the thin line that looks like spit coming from the horse’s mouth.
On social media, one clip bluntly says “Spitting Horse or Not? Why Your Delaware Quarter Could $300,” underscoring how aggressively collectors chase clean examples. Broader market roundups of state quarters worth point out that the rarest, highest-graded Spitting Horse pieces can approach the very top of the market, potentially up to $10,000. For anyone with a stash of late‑1990s change, that makes every Delaware quarter worth a quick inspection.
4) The 2005-P Kansas Quarter with Missing Clam
The 2005-P Kansas quarter has several quirky errors, and one of the most talked about is the so‑called “Missing Clam” look on the corn ear. In some high-value examples, parts of the design near the husk are weak or missing, creating an odd, incomplete shape that collectors compare to a missing clam shell. Lists of high-value state quarters group this Kansas issue with other pieces that can clear $500 when the error is bold and the coin is uncirculated.
Because the Kansas design already has a lot going on, from the buffalo to the state motto, casual holders might not notice a subtle missing detail on the corn. For specialists, though, that incomplete area signals a worn or clogged die, which means fewer coins were struck with the same flaw. That combination of scarcity and visual oddity is exactly what pushes certain Kansas quarters into the $500‑plus club and keeps them on dealer want lists.
5) The 2000-P Massachusetts Quarter with Die Crack
The 2000-P Massachusetts quarter with a dramatic die crack across the central design is another piece that can climb into the $500 range. Error-focused lists of state quarters worth flag Massachusetts examples where a raised line cuts through the pine tree or the outline of the state. That line is metal filling a fracture in the die, and the more obvious it is, the more collectors are willing to pay.
Unlike tiny die chips that show up on thousands of coins, the big cracks that run across the Massachusetts design are far less common, which is why they attract attention from advanced error collectors. When those cracks appear on bright, uncirculated coins, prices can jump from a few dollars into the hundreds. For everyday savers, that means a Massachusetts quarter with what looks like a scratch in the design might actually be a mint-made die crack that belongs in a holder, not a coin jar.
6) The 2004-P Arkansas Quarter with Die Break
The 2004-P Arkansas quarter has a well-known die break variety where extra metal forms what looks like an additional diamond shape in the design. In some cases, the break appears near the central elements, creating a raised blob that resembles an extra feature on the coin. Roundups of coins in your include this Arkansas quarter among pieces that can reach into the hundreds and, in exceptional cases, contribute to values up to $10,000 across a small group of standout coins.
Die breaks like this happen when the metal die starts to crumble, and only a limited number of coins are struck before the mint pulls it from service. That built‑in scarcity is why collectors pay attention to Arkansas quarters with odd raised bumps or extra “diamonds” in the design. For someone sorting through change, spotting that extra shape can be the difference between spending 25 cents and discovering a coin that sells for well over $500 in the right auction.
7) The 1999-D Pennsylvania Quarter with Rotated Die
The 1999-D Pennsylvania quarter with a rotated die error is one of the more dramatic state quarter oddities, and high‑grade examples can rank among the two most valuable issues. In a true rotated die, the reverse design, featuring the Liberty Bell and keystone, is turned significantly when compared with the obverse portrait. Market rundowns of quarters worth the note that extreme rotations, especially around 180 degrees, can push values into the thousands.
Because rotation is easy to see by simply flipping the coin, this is one error that even beginners can check for without magnification. The catch is that mild rotations are relatively common and not worth much, while the dramatic 180‑degree pieces are genuinely scarce. When one of those shows up in mint‑state condition, price guides suggest it can compete with the very top state quarter sales, potentially approaching $10,000 and easily clearing the $500 threshold.
8) The 2000-D New Hampshire Quarter with Die Varieties
The 2000-D New Hampshire quarter, featuring the Old Man of the Mountain, has several die varieties that make it a quiet favorite among error hunters. Some coins show extra lines in the trees or doubled elements in the inscriptions, creating a busier look than the standard design. Lists of 8 state quarters and broader rundowns of 10 coins in both highlight how certain New Hampshire varieties can move from pocket change into the high hundreds.
Because these are die varieties rather than dramatic strike errors, the value often hinges on sharp details and strong doubling that specialists can verify. When those traits line up on a clean, uncirculated 2000-D New Hampshire quarter, collectors are willing to pay well above face value, sometimes over $500, to secure a scarce variety. For anyone with rolls of early‑2000s quarters tucked away, giving the Old Man of the Mountain design a closer look could turn out to be a profitable habit.
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