Rare 2004 Quarter Errors Worth Money (Full List With Pictures)

A 2004-D Wisconsin quarter with an extra leaf pointing downward on its corn husk sold for $6,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2020. That coin spent years in someone’s pocket change before a collector spotted it.

The full range of 2004 quarter errors spans from about $10 for minor off-center strikes to well over $2,000 for the famous Wisconsin Extra Leaf varieties, across all five state designs — Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Here is every major error from the 2004 quarter series, sorted from least to most valuable.

1. 2004 Quarter Off-Center Strike Error (Up to $384)

An off-center strike happens when the planchet is not seated correctly between the dies at the moment of impact. The feeding mechanism pushes each blank into position, and when it misfires, the blank slips to one side — the die hits only part of the planchet, leaving a crescent of unstruck metal on the opposite edge.

The percentage of offset determines both the visual drama and the value. This error can appear on any of the five 2004 state designs, and the date must remain visible for the coin to be attributable — without the date, the premium drops sharply.

Value: A 2004 state quarter graded MS64 by PCGS with a significant off-center strike sold for $384 at auction. Lightly off-center strikes of 5–10% bring $10–$30 in circulated grades.

More dramatic examples at 50% or greater with the full date visible can reach $100–$300. The state design on the reverse matters less than the offset percentage and the presence of the date.

How to Identify: The coin will have a visible blank crescent along one edge where the die missed the planchet. The struck portion should show sharp, fully formed details — the design is simply in the wrong position.

Weigh the coin at 5.67 grams to confirm a standard clad planchet. Estimate the offset percentage by measuring the blank crescent relative to the total coin area.

The reeded edge will be absent on the blank side. Do not confuse an off-center strike with a broadstrike — a broadstrike has the design centered but the coin is oversized from missing its collar.

The fastest confirmation: a smooth blank crescent on one side with sharp details on the struck portion and a readable date.

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2. 2004 Quarter Die Break and Cud Error (Up to $910)

Die cracks form when stress fractures develop in the hardened steel dies from repeated striking of millions of blanks. Metal flows into these cracks during each strike, leaving raised lines on the finished coins — and when a crack reaches the die’s rim and a section breaks away entirely, the result is a “cud,” a raised featureless blob at the coin’s edge.

On 2004 quarters, die breaks have been documented across all five state designs. The Texas quarter is particularly well-documented for large obverse die breaks that cross major design elements, which drives both collector interest and auction prices.

Value: A 2004-P Texas quarter graded MS63 with large die break errors on the obverse sold for $910 at Heritage Auctions in 2010. That price reflects a dramatic break crossing significant portions of the Washington portrait.

Minor die cracks add $10–$50 in premium. Large cuds — where a visible chunk of the die has broken completely away — bring $200–$500 depending on size, location, and how much of the rim is affected.

How to Identify: Look for raised lines running across the coin’s surface. Die cracks are raised above the field because metal flowed into the gap in the broken die — the opposite of scratches, which are recessed.

Under a 10x loupe, a genuine crack will have smooth, rounded edges and consistent width. A cud appears as a raised, flat blob at the coin’s rim with no design detail in the affected area.

Weigh the coin at 5.67 grams; it should be standard. Do not confuse die cracks with scratches — scratches are recessed and have sharp, rough edges.

The fastest confirmation: a raised line running continuously across the design, with smooth edges and consistent relief above the coin’s field.

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3. 2004 Quarter Die Clash Error (Up to $935)

A die clash occurs when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them. The impact transfers a ghost impression of each die’s design onto the opposing die face — when a planchet is finally struck, it carries faint traces of the wrong design on one or both sides.

On a clashed 2004 quarter, you might see a faint outline of the state reverse ghosting behind Washington’s portrait on the obverse. The Texas quarter has produced the best-documented die clash examples in the 2004 series, likely because of the high-relief lariat rope border.

Value: A 2004-P Texas quarter graded MS63 with a strong die clash error sold for $935 at auction in 2007. Bold clashes with clearly visible transferred design elements bring $200–$500 in uncirculated grades.

Minor clashes with faint ghost images sell for $25–$100. The strength and clarity of the transferred image is the primary value driver — a strong, recognizable ghost outline of the state design on the obverse commands the highest premiums.

How to Identify: Use a 10x loupe and examine the obverse fields around Washington’s portrait. A die clash will show faint, raised design elements that do not belong on that side — ghostly outlines from the reverse state design.

Tilt the coin under strong raking light to make the transferred image pop against the field. The ghost image should be consistent and repeatable — not random scratches or contact marks.

Weight (5.67 grams) and diameter (24.26 mm) remain standard, and the reeded edge is unaffected. Do not confuse a die clash with a doubled die — a doubled die duplicates elements that belong on that side, while a clash introduces elements from the opposite side.

The fastest confirmation: a recognizable ghost outline of the state reverse design visible on the obverse, or Washington’s portrait ghosting on the reverse.

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4. 2004 Quarter Double Strike Error (Up to $1,010)

A double strike happens when the coin press fails to eject a finished coin and fires again. That second blow hits the coin in a slightly different position, producing two overlapping but offset impressions of the design on the same side.

The degree of offset between the two strikes determines the visual drama and the value. On 2004 quarters, double strikes have been documented on the Iowa design with particularly dramatic results — two complete Washington portraits overlapping on a single coin’s obverse.

Value: A 2004-D Iowa quarter graded MS65 with an obverse double strike sold for $1,010 at Heritage Auctions. Circulated double strike quarters typically sell for $75–$200.

Dramatic examples with a clearly visible second impression in uncirculated grades have reached $500 to over $1,000. The more offset and visible the second strike, the higher the premium — coins where both impressions are fully legible command the strongest prices.

How to Identify: Look for two overlapping images of Washington’s portrait on the obverse. Both impressions should be fully formed with sharp details — one slightly offset from the other.

The second strike may also produce corresponding doubled design elements on the reverse. Check the coin’s edge for distortion or flattening where the second strike landed.

Weigh the coin at 5.67 grams; the planchet is standard. Do not confuse a double strike with a doubled die — a doubled die shows faint, partial duplication in specific areas, while a double strike produces two complete, bold impressions.

The fastest way to tell: a double strike shows two full-strength design impressions offset from each other, while a doubled die shows one design with partial duplication.

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5. 2004 Quarter Missing Clad Layer Error (Up to $1,035)

Standard quarters are three-layer sandwiches: a copper core bonded between two outer layers of cupronickel. When impurities enter the alloy during planchet production, they weaken the bond between layers — and when that bond fails, one or both outer layers peel away before or during striking.

The result is a coin showing the orange-brown copper core on the affected side while the other retains its normal silver appearance. This error can appear on any of the five 2004 state designs, and the visual contrast between copper and silver is striking enough to spot without magnification.

Value: A 2004-D Florida quarter graded MS65 with partial missing clad layer on both obverse and reverse sold for $1,035 at GreatCollections. That price reflects a certified error with both sides showing exposed copper.

Partial missing clad errors with smaller affected areas bring $30–$150. Full missing clad layers — where the entire face is exposed copper — are scarcer and command higher premiums, especially when both sides are affected.

How to Identify: The first clue is color — if one side of your quarter is copper-brown instead of silver-gray, you may have a missing clad layer. Weigh the coin; a quarter missing one full clad layer will weigh approximately 4.9 grams instead of the standard 5.67 grams.

Check the edge: on a normal quarter, the copper core appears as a thin line sandwiched between two silver layers. On a missing clad coin, the copper extends to the surface on the affected side.

Do not confuse this with an acid-dipped coin, which weighs close to normal, shows mushy details, and has discoloration covering the reeded edge. A genuine missing clad error has sharp, crisp design details on the copper face.

The fastest check: weigh it — significantly under 5.67 grams with sharp details on a copper-colored face means it is real.

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6. 2004 Quarter Struck Through Grease Error (Up to $1,230)

A struck-through error occurs when foreign material sits between the die and the planchet at the moment of striking. For 2004 quarters, the most common culprit is die lubricant grease that seeps into recessed areas of the die, blocking metal from flowing into those design elements.

The affected area comes out smooth and blank — the state design might lose entire sections, or Washington’s hair might disappear. On 2004 Iowa quarters, large reverse struck-throughs have been documented where substantial portions of the schoolhouse scene are obliterated by grease, creating a dramatic visual contrast.

Value: A 2004-P Iowa quarter graded MS65 with a reverse struck-through grease error sold for $1,230 at Heritage Auctions in 2020. That price reflects a large, clearly visible impression covering a significant portion of the reverse design.

Minor grease fills affecting a single letter or small area sell for $15–$50. Large struck-throughs covering substantial portions of a state’s design bring $200–$800, with the size and location of the blank area driving the price.

How to Identify: Look for smooth, blank areas where design details should appear. The affected zone will be flat and featureless with defined edges where the normal design resumes — that contrast between blank and sharp is the key diagnostic.

Under 10x magnification, the blank area should appear smooth, not rough or corroded. If the entire coin looks weak, you likely have a weak strike rather than a struck-through.

Weigh the coin at 5.67 grams and confirm standard 24.26 mm diameter — the planchet itself is normal. Do not confuse a grease fill with post-mint wear, which shows friction on high points across the entire design.

The fastest confirmation: a sharply defined smooth area surrounded by fully struck details, with no signs of wear or environmental damage.

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7. 2004 Quarter Wisconsin Extra Leaf High Error (Up to $2,530)

The Wisconsin Extra Leaf is the most famous variety in the entire 50 State Quarters Program. On a normal Wisconsin quarter, the reverse shows a cow, cheese, and corn — but on error coins, an extra leaf appears on the corn husk that should not be there.

The High Leaf variety shows the extra leaf curving upward alongside the normal husk. Whether this was caused by an accidental die gouge or intentional tampering by a Denver Mint employee remains debated, since roughly equal quantities of two different leaf positions on separate dies makes the accident theory seem unlikely.

Value: A 2004-D Wisconsin quarter graded MS66 with the Extra Leaf High variety sold for $2,530 at Heritage Auctions in 2006. MS67 examples graded by PCGS have sold for over $1,500 at subsequent auctions.

Circulated examples bring $50–$130 depending on the leaf’s clarity. MS65 certified coins trade in the $200–$300 range.

An estimated 3,000 High Leaf coins are believed to exist, making this the more common of the two Extra Leaf varieties.

How to Identify: Flip the coin to the reverse and examine the ear of corn on the left side of the design. On a normal Wisconsin quarter, the corn husk shows smooth, natural contours — on the High Leaf variety, an additional leaf curves upward from the left side.

Confirm the D mint mark — this error exists only on Denver-struck Wisconsin quarters. No Philadelphia coins carry the Extra Leaf.

The extra leaf must be raised and well-defined, matching the metal flow and texture of the surrounding design. Post-mint scratches or damage will look rough and incised, not raised.

Weight (5.67 grams) and diameter (24.26 mm) remain standard, and the reeded edge is unaffected. The fastest confirmation: a raised, upward-curving extra leaf on the corn husk of a 2004-D Wisconsin quarter.

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8. 2004 Quarter Wisconsin Extra Leaf Low Error (Up to $6,000)

The Low Leaf variety is the scarcer of the two Wisconsin Extra Leaf errors — instead of curving upward, this extra leaf points downward from the corn husk. PCGS catalogs it as a separate variety (#814033), and it consistently commands a premium over its High Leaf counterpart.

An estimated 2,000 Low Leaf coins survive, roughly a third fewer than the High Leaf population. The combination of lower supply and strong demand from state quarter completists has pushed prices steadily upward over two decades.

Value: A 2004-D Wisconsin quarter graded MS67 with the Extra Leaf Low variety sold for $6,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2020. That remains the highest documented auction price for any 2004 state quarter variety.

Circulated examples bring $30–$100, and MS65 certified specimens reach $130–$200. The PCGS price guide lists MS67 at $5,500.

The Low Leaf consistently commands a premium over the High Leaf at every grade level. Certification with the “Extra Leaf Low” attribution is critical for resale value above $100.

How to Identify: Examine the ear of corn on the reverse. On the Low Leaf variety, an extra leaf extends downward from the left side of the corn husk, pointing toward the cheese wheel below — the opposite direction of the High Leaf variety.

Confirm the D mint mark. Like the High Leaf, this error exists only on Denver-struck 2004 Wisconsin quarters.

The extra leaf must be raised with clean, consistent metal flow matching the surrounding design elements. Under 10x magnification, the leaf should have the same surface texture and relief as the other corn husk details.

Weight (5.67 grams) and diameter (24.26 mm) remain standard, and PCGS or NGC certification with the specific “Extra Leaf Low” attribution is essential for prices above $100. The fastest confirmation: a raised, downward-pointing extra leaf on the corn husk of a 2004-D Wisconsin quarter.

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Conclusion

The 2004 state quarter series covers a wide error value range. Minor off-center strikes and die cracks start in the $10–$50 range, while die clashes and double strikes push into the $500–$1,000 zone with the right grade.

The top tier belongs to the Wisconsin Extra Leaf varieties — High at $2,530 and Low at $6,000 — both exclusive to Denver mint coins. A 10x loupe is all you need to check the corn husk.