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All 50 US State Quarters Explained
Between 1999 and 2008 the US Mint produced one 25-cent coin for each of the 50 states. The 50 State Quarters Program was the largest coin program in American history, minting 34.3 billion quarters and pulling an estimated 147 million Americans into collecting. Most of those coins are still worth exactly 25 cents. But a handful, thanks to mint errors, low mintages, and pristine grading, now sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This guide identifies which state quarters are worth serious money in 2026, what to look for on the coins in your pocket, and how the program was structured.
How much are state quarters actually worth?
Circulated state quarters in average condition are almost all worth face value, 25 cents. What creates value is one of four things: a mint error, an ultra-high grade certified by PCGS or NGC, a silver proof version from the San Francisco mint, or being among the lowest-mintage issues. The valuable quarters below are ranked by realized auction prices for typical high-grade examples.
| Coin | Type | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf High | Die variety error | $150 to $6,000 |
| 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Low | Die variety error | $130 to $3,000 |
| 2005-P Minnesota Doubled Die Reverse | Extra tree variety | $50 to $700 |
| 2005-P Kansas In God We Rust | Grease-filled die | $50 to $200 |
| 2000-P South Carolina Struck on Sacagawea planchet | Wrong planchet | $3,000 to $10,000 |
| 1999-P Connecticut Broadstruck | Off-center strike | $50 to $300 |
| 1999-P Delaware Spitting Horse | Die crack error | $10 to $50 |
| Any state quarter, MS-68 or MS-69 | Ultra-high grade | $100 to $2,000 |
| Silver proof any state, DCAM 70 | San Francisco 90% silver | $50 to $200 |
The 2004 Wisconsin Extra Leaf, the crown jewel
In late 2004 collectors began noticing 2004-D Wisconsin quarters with an extra corn leaf on the ear pictured on the reverse. Two distinct varieties emerged, differentiated by the position of the extra leaf. The Extra Leaf High shows a leaf pointing upward beside the ear. The Extra Leaf Low shows one pointing downward. Both were minted only at the Denver facility, and both are believed to result from a die that was accidentally gouged during production.
PCGS-graded MS-67 Extra Leaf High examples have sold at auction for $6,000 or more. Circulated examples that show only the tell-tale extra leaf still command $150 to $400. Total known population across both varieties is estimated in the low thousands, out of a mintage of 226 million Wisconsin quarters from the Denver mint.
Other error quarters worth checking
Beyond the Wisconsin extras, a handful of other state quarter errors turn up regularly in change and sell for real money.
- 2005 Kansas In God We Rust: A grease-filled die on some 2005-P Kansas quarters caused the T in TRUST to fill in, leaving the motto reading In God We Rust. Circulated examples fetch $50 to $100.
- 2005 Minnesota Doubled Die: A die error caused an extra tree to appear in the treeline on the reverse. Multiple die states exist, with the strongest doubling worth several hundred dollars.
- 2000 South Carolina on Sacagawea planchet: A famous mint error where a South Carolina quarter die was struck on a golden dollar planchet meant for the new Sacagawea coin. Only two examples are known.
- 1999 Delaware Spitting Horse: A die crack from Caesar Rodney's horse's mouth creates a spitting appearance. Very common, usually worth only a few dollars.
- 1999 Connecticut broadstrikes: Coins struck off-center or without the collar die. Values scale with how dramatic the error is.
How the 50 State Quarters Program was structured
Congress authorized the program in the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act of December 1997. Starting January 1999, the Mint released five state quarters per year for 10 years, in the order the states ratified the Constitution or were admitted to the Union. Delaware was first because it ratified in December 1787. Hawaii closed the program in November 2008 as the 50th state, admitted in August 1959.
Each design featured the state name, year of admission, year of coin issue, and an image chosen by the state's governor from designs submitted by residents. The obverse retained the George Washington portrait but was redesigned by William Cousins to fit the state name. Coins were struck at both the Philadelphia mint, marked with a P mint mark, and the Denver mint, marked with a D. Uncirculated versions and both clad and 90 percent silver proofs were minted at San Francisco with an S mint mark.
Release order year by year
The Mint released the 50 quarters in five-per-year batches, always in ratification order within each year.
- 1999: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut.
- 2000: Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia.
- 2001: New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky.
- 2002: Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi.
- 2003: Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri, Arkansas.
- 2004: Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin.
- 2005: California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia.
- 2006: Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota.
- 2007: Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah.
- 2008: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii.
Test your state knowledge
Match every state to its quarter design in the Statedoku state symbols game.
Play State SymbolsLowest and highest mintages
Mintage totals varied enormously across the program, mostly reflecting demand at the time of release. Virginia's 2000 quarter had the highest total production at 1.594 billion coins struck. Oklahoma's 2008 quarter had the lowest at 416.6 million for circulation. Low-mintage quarters do not automatically command premiums because 400 million is still a huge number, but combined with high grade or an error they can add to a coin's collector appeal.
- Highest mintage: 2000 Virginia (1.594 billion), 2000 Massachusetts (1.163 billion), 1999 Georgia (939 million).
- Lowest mintage: 2008 Oklahoma (416.6 million), 2008 New Mexico (488.6 million), 2008 Arizona (491 million).
The 2009 DC and Territories bonus round
After the 50 State Quarters wrapped in November 2008, Congress authorized one more year of quarter designs covering the District of Columbia and the five inhabited US territories. Six coins were released within calendar year 2009:
- District of Columbia (Duke Ellington)
- Puerto Rico (sentinel of San Juan)
- Guam (map and outrigger)
- American Samoa (kava bowl)
- US Virgin Islands (yellow breast bird)
- Northern Mariana Islands (canoe and latte stones)
These 2009 quarters have lower mintages than most state quarters, so uncirculated rolls sometimes trade above face value even without any errors.
Frequently asked questions
What year did the state quarters start?
January 1999 with the Delaware quarter.
Are silver proof state quarters valuable?
Yes. The San Francisco mint struck 90 percent silver proof versions of every state quarter. Complete silver proof sets in original packaging sell for $200 to $500 depending on quality.
How do I check for the Wisconsin extra leaf?
Look for 2004-D Wisconsin quarters. Turn to the reverse. Look at the corn ear on the left. If there is a clear extra leaf running along the corn husk, you have one of the varieties. Both mint marks matter, but only the Denver D coins carry the extra leaf.