Browse all categories
132 Show & Tell Posts Today

Collectors Weekly

US State Quarters, Sets and Collections

Get weekly email
MainShow & TellAll US Coins Auctions

The U.S. Mint's recent state-quarters program has been a boon to coin collecting. According to a survey conducted by the Mint, nearly half of all Americans have collected the coins, resulting in billions of dollars in profits for the U.S. Treasury.

Begun in 1998, the program has introduced five new state quarters into circulation each year. Quarters were minted in the order of statehood—Delaware first, Hawaii last. On the coin’s obverse is a William Cousins update of the 1932 John Flanagan design for the Washington quarter. Because state information would take up the space on the coin’s reverse, the words "United States of America" were moved to top of the coin’s front. This pushed the word "Liberty" to the spot below Washington’s chin, which, in turn, forced the words "In God We Trust" to the area behind the founding father’s ponytail.

The design of each state quarter’s reverse side was left to the states and their governors. Delaware’s design features the historic horseback ride of Continental Congress delegat...

Other quarters are themselves pieces of history. The reverse of the New Hampshire quarter, which was minted in 2000, is dominated by a rock formation known as The Old Man of the Mountain, which crumbled in 2003. Some states chose icons (a Wright Brothers airplane for North Carolina, the Gateway Arch for Missouri), others picked animals (both Kansas and North Dakota selected buffalo), and a few states placed noted figures on its coins (Helen Keller in Alabama, John Muir in California).

Only a handful of production anomalies have occurred. Some Minnesota quarters from 2005 have an extra tree on them, while the obverse of some Kansas quarters struck the same year read "In God We Rust."

But the most famous flaw in the program occurred at the Denver mint during the striking of the Wisconsin quarter in 2004. The coin’s reverse features a dairy cow, a wheel of cheese, and an ear of corn, all above the state’s motto, "Forward." But that ear of corn has an extra leaf pointing up on some coins, and an extra leaf pointing down on others. These variations have made the Wisconsin quarter the most expensive in the program.

Finally, smaller runs of all state quarters were produced in silver versions. For these quarters, the Mint went back to the pre-1965 recipe of 90-percent silver.

In 2009, the Mint produced coins for the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands, but these coins are not considered part of the state-quarters program.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell

State Quarters - US Coinsby KITCHen.ETC
in US Coins
3 years ago
Painted State Quarter - US Coinsby deerhunter66
in US Coins
4 months ago
See all 25c State posts

Interviews & Articles

U.S. Pattern Coins Tell the Stories Behind Our Currency

I started collecting coins when I was five years old, and I started dealing when I was 13 or 14. Most kids start with coins of cir… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Legendary Coins and Currency

Legendary Coins and Currency

This online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is a great way to get an overview… [read review or visit site]

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors

Home to the Society of U.S. Pattern collectors, this well-organized site provides in-depth information on pattern c… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: US Coins

Other Great Reference Sites: US Coins

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 409 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
1999-2008 Complete (100 Coin) State Quarter Set Pcgs Pr70dcam17 Boxes P & D Mint Wrapped Quarter Rolls -1999 2008 Complete 200 Statehood Quarter Set P/d/s/silver In Dansco AlbumsComplete 200 Coin Washington 50 Statehood 25c Set 1999-2008 P & D2004 D Extra Leaf High Wisconsin Quarter Ngc Ms 66 2000 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2002 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2000 S Silver Quarter Set Ngc Pf70 Ultra Cameo2010 S Parks Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo Washington 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2008 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2000 S Silver 252004 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2001 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2007 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2005 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2006 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins2003 S Washington State Quarter Roll Gem Deep Cameo 90% Silver Proof 40 Us Coins1999-2008 Statehood Quarters Two-tone 50-state Coin Set2008-s Flag Silver Hawaii Hi State Quarter Pr70dcam Pcgs Proof 70 Deep Cameo2008-s Pcgs Pr-70 Dcam Hawaii Silver Quarter Sealed And Certified!!!!2008-s Pcgs Pr-70 Dcam Hawaii Silver Quarter Sealed And Certified!!!!Postal Commemorative Society Statehood 124 Quarter Stamp Collection Volume 1,2,32004-d Wisconsin Quarter Extra Leaf Low Error Ngc Ms 661999 - 2009 Complete Set Of 56 Colorized State And Territorial Quarters In Box1999 - 2009 U.s. Mint Uncirculated Coin Sets Full Run P & D Mints Sealed3 Boxes P & D Mint Wrapped Quarter Rolls -2004-s (silver) Proof Texas State Quarter Certified Pcgs Pr70dcam ~ Flag SeriesLot Of 8 State Quarter Rolls ~ Unopened Bank Rolls ~ Fl, Ne, Me, Wa,in, Ca, Tx5 Coins 1999 S Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo Silver Proof State Quarters Set 2002 * $50 Face * Tennessee P & D * 100 Sealed Bags * $2. Combine Today * Nr1999 - 2009 24kt Gold Layered State And Territory Quarters In Collectors Box2004 Silver Florida State Quarter Pr70 Dcam Pcgs2001-s Flag Silver New York Ny State Quarter Pr70dcam Pcgs Proof 70 Deep Cameo2008 S Silver Quarter Set Ngc Pf69 Ultra CameoFour Silver State Quarter Proof Sets 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007Unopened Us Mint $25 Bags Of 2002 Tennessee P & D Statehood Quarters5 Coins 1999 Silver Proof State Quarters Set With Box And Coa2004-s (silver) Proof Michigan State Quarter Certified Pcgs Pr70dcam ~ Flag1999 Georgia 25State Quarters Silver Proof Coins, 90% Silver, Lot Of 3 Sets,15 Quarters Total5 Coins 1999 S Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo Silver Proof State Quarters Set 2001-s Flag Silver Kentucky Ky State Quarter Pr70dcam Pcgs Proof 70 Deep Cameo1999-2008 State Quarter Set P & D 112 Plus Territories Coins Bu2001-s Flag Silver Rhode Island Ri State Quarter Pr70dcam Pcgs Proof 70 Deep Cam5 Coins 1999 Silver Proof State Quarters Set With Box And Coa2004 D Wisconsin State Quarter - Extra Leaf Low Error - High Mint State Grade!1999-s 25c Icg-pr70 Dcam Delaware, Silver, No Reserve!5 Coins 2002 S Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo Silver Proof State Quarters Set 1999-s 25c Icg-pr70 Dcam New Jersey, Silverr, No Reserve!5 Coins 2004 S Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo Silver Proof State Quarters Set2001-s Flag Silver North Carolina State Quarter Pr70dcam Pcgs Proof 70 Deep Cam5 Coins 2005 S Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo Silver Proof State Quarters Set 2007 S Silver Quarter Set Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo5 Coins 1999 S Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo Silver Proof State Quarters Set 1999-2008 24k Gold Plated 50 State Quarters Denver And Philadelphia Full SetWheat Cent Jefferson Nickel Washington Quarters State Quarters Large Assortment2009-s Silver Quarter Puerto Rico Pr70 Ultra Cameo 1999 Thru 2008 P And D Bu State Quarters Complete Set Of 50 In Mint Packaging2008 S Silver Quarter Set Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo5 Coins 1999 S Ngc Pf69 Ultra Cameo Silver Proof State Quarters Set

Recent News: State Quarters

Source: Google News

Lady Bears reach state quarters
Sanford Herald (registration), May 17th

Andrew Giermak | The Sanford Herald Chatham Central pitcher Kelsey Hayes throws to first baseman Hanna Batten for an out during a third round game of the NCHSAA 1A State Tournament Friday night in Bear Creek. The Lady Bears advanced with an 8-0...Read more

Kaps Koins opens in Clare
Clare County Review, May 17th

I am very pleased that the state quarters/President dollars have renewed an interest in coin collecting. Although these often won't hold value since so many were minted, and are in collections they are still a good way to start. We also have books...Read more

Bubble or Not, Coins Higher in Decade - NumisMaster
NumisMaster.com, May 17th

Ordinary staples such as state quarters, modern Mint products including proof and mint sets, have experienced deflationary pressure. Also in that same vein are the highly promoted speculative issues of the last 100 or so years. Coins like a 1931-S...Read more

Girls water polo | State quarters: Jackovich guides Knights to first semi
Chicago Tribune, May 16th

Danijela Jackovich did not need another victory to secure her water polo legacy. But it's only fitting that a career that put Lincoln-Way Central on the map will end with a state trophy. The Stanford-bound Jackovich was her typically unstoppable self...Read more

Girls track | 1A notes: Seneca's Stuedemann makes a comeback
Chicago Tribune, May 16th

Related; Girls water polo | State quarters: Jackovich guides Knights to first semi; Maps; Seneca High School, Illinois and Michigan Canal, 307 East Scott Street, Seneca, IL 61360, USA · Momence High School, Momence, IL 60954, USA. Stuedemann broke her...Read more

Soccer: Richland boys advance to state quarters
Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, May 14th

Former Richland High goalie Nash Yamauchi is long gone, but his legacy lives on with the Bombers. On Tuesday night, Tyler Duncan scored the only goal Richland would need on a 'Nash' play, helping Richland to a 3-0 victory over Stadium High of Tacoma...Read more

Spartans advance to state tennis quarterfinals - Reading Eagle
Reading Eagle, May 14th

Defending champ Wyomissing defeated District 4 runner-up Galeton 4-1 with four straight-set victories Tuesday at Hershey Racquet Club to advance to Friday's quarterfinal round of the PIAA Class AA team tennis tournament. The Spartans (17-0) played...Read more

Lady Crusaders reach state quarters
Sanford Herald (registration), May 11th

Lady Crusaders reach state quarters. May. 11, 2013 @ 07:49 PM. Andrew Giermak. IMG_0841.JPG. Lee Christian's Peyton Sprouse, right, defends against Grace Christian's Madison Bolen during an NCISAA State Tournament match at Grace Christian on...Read more