Could You Be Sitting on a Goldmine? These Rare Quarters Are Worth Literally Thousands!

(Shutterstock | Nyura)

From the archives: This story was last updated in April 2019.

Are you sitting on thousands of dollars?

We’re going hunting for quarters, and it’s even worth your while to shove your hand into the murky, unknown depths between the couch cushions (no really, be brave) as these coins are worth big bucks. Rare pennies are usually the coins that hit the headlines, but this time, it’s the penny’s humble 25 cent sibling.

Illustration - Shutterstock | Rob Byron

Quarters are the star players of the coin world. They are valuable enough to be exchanged for dollars; thus, they usually take up space in pockets, jars, wallets, and coin purses. But before spending one, how often do you check its date? Listen closely and you'll hear a ubiquitous echo of “not often” rebounding across the United States.

Well, now’s the time to start checking!

What exactly are we looking for? Some of the quarters that have amassed huge earnings at auctions to date include a quarter with half of its cast missing, and a number of quarters that were improperly cast on top of dimes. But according to Tip Hero, the coin of the moment is the 1970-S Proof Washington quarter, and certain giveaway characteristics are “key to its rarity and high value.”

Illustration - Shutterstock | Nyura

It is not known how many of the rare quarters are still in general circulation (Illustration - Shutterstock | Nyura)

Eager to check your own stash? Great! Follow these succinct instructions. First, look for an “S” on the head side of the coin: the “S” denotes the San Francisco mint where the coin was made.

Next, flip the coin over and inspect its tail side. Here, you'll need to pay particular attention to detail. Look for the year “1941” printed upside down above the word “Dollar.” This rare duo of unusual coin features denotes a “proof,” or special early sample of a coin issue, which was inexplicably cast on top of a 1941 Canadian quarter.

It is not known how many of these rare quarters are still in general circulation. You very well may have one in your own collection.

Twice-struck proof coins appear extra shiny and clearly defined (©Shutterstock | Daniel D Malone)

Interestingly, “proof” coins are usually minted in controlled batches and rarely enter general circulation. This is why, if you find out, it’s worth big bucks. Proof coins are also often struck, or printed, twice. This means that they appear extra specially shiny and clearly defined compared to their general circulation counterparts.

Collectors go crazy for proof errors and are willing to loosen their purse strings as you empty yours in order to add rare finds to their carefully curated coin collections.

The San Francisco mint where the 1970-S version was struck was supposed to use blanks for the coins, but clearly, a few Canadian “blanks” (not blanks) snuck through. A number of the improperly proofed coins were auctioned off in sets by the state of California, but the mint at large remains mysterious.

How did the Canadian coins end up being used as blanks? Where is the rest of the batch? If you find one, then experts advise that you have it appraised before listing it impatiently and optimistically on eBay. It could be worth, quite literally, thousands! Reader’s Digest reported that one coin auctioned fetched a whopping US$35,000.

Tip Hero further advises that Barber quarters, Standing Liberty quarters, and silver Washington quarters made between 1932 and 1964 are also worth holding on to, as they could dramatically boost your bank balance.

Commence hunting!