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The 25 cent coin in circulation worth more than $5 million: how to recognize it
There are certain coins, like the Bicentennial Quarter, that could be worth millions, but you’ll need to know what to look out for.
Every day, millions of coins and bills circulate in the United States. While the vast majority generally hold only their face value, some specimens can be sold for thousands of dollars to collectors. According to the US First Exchange portal, the value of a coin or bill is essentially determined by its catalog value based on three main factors: rarity, the condition/grade of the coin or bill, and market conditions, i.e., demand.
The combination of these three factors determines whether a coin or bill is worth more or less money, and in the United States, there is currently a 25-cent coin that could be worth millions. Let’s take a look at why.
The 25-cent coin worth millions
A rare variant of the George Washington Bicentennial Quarter, could be worth those millions due to certain defects. According to the United States Mint, it was first minted in 1975 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of American independence. The coin was minted in the years 1975 and 1976 and bore the dual dates of 1776-1976.
During the release of the Bicentennial coin, none of this denomination carried the single date of 1975 or 1976. Another feature is that the reverse of this coin replaced Washington’s eagle reverse during 1975 and 1976.
What to look for: characteristics of the 25-cent coin
The obverse design features a bust of President George Washington. The reverse shows a colonial drummer facing left and a victory torch surrounded by thirteen stars in the upper left corner.
- Inscriptions on the obverse: LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1776-1976
- Inscriptions on the reverse: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, QUARTER DOLLAR
- Mint and Mint Mark: Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco
The coin that is worth millions
In addition to having the aforementioned general features, the variant worth millions of dollars has a double-struck obverse. This error occurred during the minting process, where the die used to stamp the coin’s design was misaligned, resulting in a double image.
According to the Hill Country Weekly website, collectors value this rarity for its uniqueness and the historical context of the Bicentennial celebration. Despite millions of Bicentennial coins being minted, this double-struck variant is valued at 5 million dollars.
That’s right, it’s time to check through any 25-cent coins you’ve got lying around the house. Just in case...