Coin collecting is an interesting and lucrative hobby, particularly when it comes to rare finds like the Bicentennial Quarters. These quarters, which were first offered in 1976 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, are now highly sought-after by collectors.
Certain items are in great demand due to their uniqueness and high worth. Let’s examine nine Bicentennial Quarters, valued at an incredible $20 million, and six more, valued at over $950,000, and discover what makes each one special.
Double Die
At $20 million, the Double Die Obverse Quarter is a masterpiece of numismatics. There is a minting fault in this quarter, making the design appear to be doubled. It’s a unique find because of the way the date and the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” look.
Off-Center
The Off-Center Strike Quarter, another $20 million jewel, is highly sought-after due to its misaligned strike. An off-centre picture is the result of the coin blank being misaligned during striking, an uncommon and desirable aberration in coin collecting.
Overstruck
The Overstruck Quarter, which is unique and valued at $20 million, was struck in a 1941 Canadian quarter. The coin is an intriguing collector’s item because of the overlapping images and text from two different coins.
Silver
Some Bicentennial quarters from 1976 were inadvertently struck in silver, a metal that hadn’t been used for quarters since 1964. Its worth has increased to $20 million due to this composition error, making it a valuable asset.
No S
Usually produced by the San Francisco mint, the No S Proof Quarter has an ‘S’ mintmark. Still, a few quarters of the Bicentennial fell short of this goal. Since they have an uncommon omission, these “No S” coins are incredibly rare and valued at $20 million.
Broad struck
A quarter struck beyond the retaining collar is called a broad-struck quarter. That makes for a wider, malformed coin when the collar is absent to form the edges. The value of some Bicentennial quarters has increased to $20 million due to this miscalculation.
Clipped
The $20 million Clipped Planchet Quarter was ruined during manufacture due to a clipping error. Due to incorrect feeding of the metal sheet during minting, a part of the coin is missing, making it a unique collectable.
Partial Collar
The $20 million Partial Collar Strike Quarter was struck with an uneven edge. Due to this inaccuracy, one edge of the coin is thicker than the other, giving it a unique appearance.
Multi-Struck
A multi-struck quarter has been struck by the minting press more than once, and it is worth $20 million. The overlapping, distorted design caused by this defect gives each coin a distinctive fault that adds to its value.
1975 Dated
The 1975 Dated Quarter is estimated to be worth about $950,000, making it extremely valuable even though it did not hit the $20 million milestone. This is an uncommon occurrence since the quarters were intended to commemorate the bicentennial of 1776–1976 rather than 1975.
Misaligned Die
A misaligned die caused a notable shift in the design of the Misaligned Die Quarter, which is valued at over $950,000. It is an uncommon and priceless addition to any collection because of this error.
Double Struck
The Double Struck Quarter is another one that is valued at more than $950,000. This coin is visually attractive and unique since it was struck twice, with the second strike occurring off-centre.
Wrong Planchet
Over $950,000 was lost when the Struck on Wrong Planchet Quarter was unintentionally struck on a planchet meant for a different coin. It is an uncommon and priceless artefact because of the error in the minting process.
Struck Through
The Struck Through Error Quarter, valued at nearly $950,000, suffered a “struck through” error during striking when an item from outside the area got in the way of the die and the planchet. Its rarity is increased by the unique impression that this error creates.
Foreign Coin
The Overstruck on a Foreign Coin Quarter was struck over a foreign coin and was worth about $950,000. It was akin to the previously noted Overstruck quarter. As a result, two distinct currencies’ worth of text and designs were fascinatingly combined.
There are many expensive and distinctive pieces in the realm of rare Bicentennial Quarters, each having a unique backstory and mistake that makes it a prize for collectors. These coins, which have overstruck and double die obverses, not only depict a portion of American history but also shed light on the fascinating subject of minting faults and how they affect a coin’s worth. These quarters are more than just money to collectors and aficionados; they are unique jewels that capture the fascinating and frequently unpredictable process of coin minting.