Check Your Pocket Change for Valuable Coins

You could have a valuable coin or two jingling around in your pocket. We really don’t look at the coins in our pockets, we just give them to a clerk or feed them to a vending machine. It is perfectly possible, however, that you might have a valuable coin in there. When you think about all the change that has passed through your hands, it’s even probable. You could have had your hands on a coin or two worth hundreds of dollars!

Valuable Error Coins

The valuable coins most likely to go unnoticed are error coins. They get passed over because, superficially, they don’t look any different than other coins. Even if you make it a habit to check the dates on your coins, you could easily still miss an error coin. You have to take a closer look.

Error coins are produced when a die miss-strikes a coin blank or has a defect in it. The die may produce a double image on one side of the coin, the images might not line up correctly or there may be a defect mark on the coin. If the mint discovers that a die is creating error coins, of course they correct the problem as quickly as possible. They also try to recover the error coins. So, when error coins do get into circulation they can be quite valuable.

Double Die Errors

Some of the more valuable coins have a slightly doubled image on one side. If the entire image is doubled, it is a double strike. If just part of the image is doubled, however, it is because the double image is on the die that stamps the coin. As you can imagine, these are very rare and valuable coins.

The most valuable double die coin is a 1969 S-Lincoln penny. It is very rare and, if it’s in decent condition, could be worth $35,000 or more. Unfortunately, if you do find one, it’s likely to be a counterfeit. Have it checked by an expert before you get too excited.

Axis Rotation Errors

These errors are actually fairly common in the new State quarters. The images on the obverse (front) and reverse (back) of a coin should be exactly 180° apart. If you hold the coin with the obverse straight upright and rotate it, the reverse should be straight downright. If it’s not, the die wasn’t lined up right. If both sides are straight up (a full 180° rotation), the coin could be worth about $20.00.

Die Defects

Sometimes the die develops a defect that gets stamped onto coins. Two examples of die defects are the 2004-D “Extra Leaf” Wisconsin State quarter, and the 2005-D Speared Bison nickel. A defect in the die for the Wisconsin quarter made an image that looks like the ear of corn on the back of the quarter has an extra leaf. A defect in the nickel die makes it look like there is a spear sticking in the bison between his front and rear legs.

You never know what you might find in your pocket change. There’s probably not a valuable coin there. But you won’t know unless you check it out, will you?

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Liberty Quarter – Draped Bust  (1796-1807 ) 

The first quarters were issued in 1796 and like most other early American coins, were made of silver.  In 1873 the U.S. government thought that the coin was too lightweight so more silver was added.  Like the dime, though, the silver was removed in 1965.  In the quarter’s case, it was replaced with an alloy of 91.67 percent copper and 8.33 percent nickel.

Robert Scot designed the first quarter, and he portrayed Lady Liberty with a serious look.  The design changed over the years, but the theme remained the same.  Sometimes only the bust of Lady Liberty was impressed on the coin, sometimes the full figure; here are the differences over the next years:

Liberty Quarter – Capped Bust  (1815-1838) 

A German engraver by the name of John Reich created this version’s design.  Soon after he arrived in America, he got a design job at the Philadelphia U.S. Mint in 1807.  This design featured Lady Liberty facing left on the obverse of the coin, surrounded by thirteen stars, with the date on the bottom.  Lady Liberty was portrayed as a full-bodied woman, perhaps indicative of the typical European woman of the time.   In this version Liberty wore a cap inscribed with “LIBERTY.” 

Liberty Seated (1838-1891) 

There are several different versions of the Liberty Seated Quarter.  From 1838 to 1866 the quarter had no motto, in 1853 rays and arrows were added, from 1854 to 1855 the quarter had arrows but no rays, from 1866 to 1891 the quarter got a motto, and from 1873 to 1874 the Seated Liberty went back to just having arrows.

Barber or Liberty Head  (1892-1916)

The Barber Quarter is rare in that it is named after its designer, Edward Barber.  The design features a bust of Lady Liberty facing right and wearing a Liberty cap with a laurel wreath. The motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” is above her, and the date below.   There ae also 13 stars on the obverse.  The letter “B” for Barber is engraved on Lady Liberty’s neck.  The reverse features an image of the Great Seal of the U.S. and an eagle with arrows in one claw and an olive branch with 13 leaves in the other.  The eagle’s beak holds a ribbon with the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

Standing Liberty (1916-1930) 

In the year 1916, Liberty actually had an exposed breast.  This was too much for the American people, so in 1917 the breast was covered.

The eagle image changed over the years, too.  At first the eagle image was small, so small that people thought it looked like a pigeon, so over time the eagle grew. 

The Washington Quarter (1932-1998) 

It was on the bicentennial of George Washington’s birthday in 1932 that the image of Washington replaced Lady Liberty.

The next major change to the quarter took place in 1976, to honor the bicentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Bicentennial quarters got the image of a colonial drummer on the reverse of the coin instead of the eagle.  Of course, this change took place only for the year 1976.

Statehood Quarters (1999-present)

Thanks to the United States Commemorative Coin Act of 1996, The 50 State Quarters Program allowed the U.S. Mint to feature images of the different states on quarters.  The 50 State Quarters were issued in 1999 and will continue through 2008.

Right now the set of 50 State Quarters can be purchased for $12.50, though since they are they are in regular circulation, they are not considered collectible coins yet.

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