Rare 2009 Quarter Errors Worth Money (Full List)

Are you considering adding 2009 quarters to your collection? Are 2009 quarters worth any money? If you want to collect high-value 2009 quarters, our 2009 quarter errors list will be helpful!

Launched immediately after the popular 50 State Quarters Program which ended in 2008, the 2009 quarter was the face of the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program. The single-year program sought to commemorate the District of Columbia as well as the five U.S. Territories.

As part of the program, the United States Mint issued six 2009 quarters with the usual obverse design featuring George Washington while the reverse design was different for each of the six quarters. The 2009 quarters include the following:

• District of Columbia
• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
• Guam
• American Samoa
• S. Virgin Islands
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Despite their popularity and historical significance, 2009 quarters are only worth their face value. On the upside, there are many ways to collect these quarters and one of the most rewarding is collecting errors!

Quarters with errors can be worth hundreds and even thousands, if you know what to look for. If you want to collect 2009 quarters worth money, errors are the way to go.

In our 2009 quarter errors list, you will discover high-value quarters worth adding to your collection. Let’s jump in and get started!

1. 2009-D MS65 Guam State Quarter Off-Center Strike Error

When collecting 2009 quarters, you might come across an off-center strike error. A quarter with such an error will have the design on the obverse, reverse or both sides struck away from the center.

Ideally, the design on both sides of the coin is centered but malfunctions during the minting process can cause the die to strike the planchet more toward the edge and further away from the center. As a result, some of the details on the coin might be missing due to the off-center strike.

The value of an off-center strike largely depends on the percentage of “offness.” For example, a 40% off-center strike would generally be more valuable than a 15% off-center strike.

In 2020, Heritage Auctions sold a 2009 Guam quarter graded MS65 with a 30% off-center strike for an impressive $735, making this one of the best 2009 quarter errors to add to your collection.

Also read: Top 13 Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money

 

2. 2009-P MS61 District of Columbia Quarter Feeder Finger Error

Another error that comes up in the 2009 quarter errors series is the feeder finger. Feeder fingers position the planchet in the collar, ensuring that the blank coin sits squarely, ready for striking. Afterward, the feeder fingers retract automatically, allowing the die to strike the planchet.

Sometimes, technical errors can prevent the feeder fingers from retracting. This results in the die coming down on the feeder fingers, which then leave lateral scratch-like marks on the coin’s surface.

The feeder finger error is relatively rare and can be quite eye-catching, making it a sought-after error among collectors. In 2021, Heritage Auctions sold a 2009-P DC quarter graded MS61 with a large feeder finger error for an enviable $420.

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3. 2009-P MS60 District Of Columbia Quarter Wrong Planchet Error

As the name suggests, a wrong planchet is an error in which the dies used to strike quarters do so on an incorrect planchet, such as a dime.

In this case, since the dime is smaller and lighter than the quarter, you will have what looks like a quarter it will be smaller and lighter than a regular quarter.

A wrong planchet is one of those rare quarter errors, but there is still a chance you might come across them on your coin collecting journey.

Another advantage is that this error is quite dramatic/peculiar, increasing its value among collectors looking for unique quarters.

In 2020, an eBay collector paid $810 for a 2009-P DC quarter graded MS60 with a wrong planchet error where a dime’s planchet had been used to strike a quarter.

 

4. 2009-P MS62 Northern Mariana Islands Die Chip Error

One of the errors you might come across when collecting 2009 quarters is the die chip. This common error can be an easy but valuable addition to your collection.

A die chip occurs when one or more small pieces break and fall off from the die’s surface. The broken pieces leave behind holes that are eventually filled with metal as the die continues to be used.

Eventually, after several strikes, the metal-filled hole on the die leaves its impression on the planchet’s surface. On the final coin, a die chip appears like a small, formless spots on the obverse, reverse or both sides.

Although die chips are generally small, larger, more unique die chips tend to be worth more than small, subtle chip errors. In 2020, the Great Collection auctioned a 2009-P Northern Mariana Islands quarter graded MS62 with obverse and reverse die chip errors for $362.

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5. 2009-D MS63 Lamination Crack Error American Samoa Quarter

Often confused with a die crack, a lamination crack is one of the errors you might encounter in the 2009 quarter errors series.

This error occurs when a crack develops on the planchet’s surface and eventually lifts on one side. Unlike a die crack, a lamination crack is a planchet error and occurs due to anomalies in the planchet-making process.

Sometimes, lamination cracks can grow so large they develop into a so-called clam-shell lamination error. Unsurprisingly, such odd-looking coins are often worth good money, especially if all the details are intact.

In 2022, Heritage Auctions sold a 2009-D American Samoa quarter graded MS63 with a lamination crack error for an impressive $855, making this an excellent addition to your Washington quarters collection.

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6. 2009-P MS64 Duke Ellington Quarter Broad Struck Error

Another dramatic error you might come across when collecting 2009 quarters is the broad struck. Also known as a broad strike, this error occurs when the die strikes the planchet outside the collar.

Normally, the entire planchet sits inside the collar during the striking process. Sometimes, though, technical anomalies in the minting press can cause a portion of the planchet to hang outside the collar. When this happens and the die strikes, the portion that’s outside the planchet will expand disproportionately and that side of the coin’s edge will flatten out.

In the end, a broad struck quarter will be unevenly shaped with an extended diameter and thinned out edge on one side. But, unlike an off-center strike, a broad strike will have all the coin details intact.

So, how much can you expect from a broad struck error coin? Well, this error can be worth a premium. Take for example the 2009-P Duke Ellington quarter graded MS64 with a broad struck error that an eBay collector paid $1040 for in a 2020 auction—this is certainly one of the most valuable 2009 quarter errors to look out for.

Also read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money

 

7. 2009-D MS60 Virgin Islands Quarter Doubled Die Error

A doubled die is one of the most common errors you might discover in the 2009 quarter series, meaning that it is relatively easy to add to your collection.

This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet multiple times at slightly different angles. This results in a doubling on the devices and/or inscriptions, also known as a doubled die error.

The more visible the doubling, the more valuable a doubled die error tends to be. Admittedly, it takes a keen eye to notice a doubled die error even on uncirculated specimen.

In 2021, Heritage Auctions sold a 2009-D Virgin Island quarter graded MS60 with a doubled die obverse error for an impressive $410.

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8. 2009-P MS65 Guam Quarter Struck Through Grease Error

Next on our 2009 quarter errors list is the struck-through, also known as a strike-through. There are various types of strike through errors but all of them are formed the same way.

This error occurs when a stray object such as a wire, hair strand, grease, or even a speck of dust or wood is struck between the die and planchet.

Often, the object will fall off the planchet’s surface and only leave its impression. But, sometimes, the object may stick to the planchet, resulting in a retained struck-through error.

In the case of a grease struck-through error, the die won’t fully transfer the design onto the planchet, resulting in a weak strike due to the layer of grease. If you come across a 2009 quarter in uncirculated condition but with a weak strike it is likely a grease struck-through error coin.

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9. 2009-D MS60 District Of Columbia Misaligned Die Error

Another error that comes up in the 2009 quarter errors series is the misaligned die. This is an error in which there is an offset between the obverse and reverse designs due to a misalignment in the dies.

Normally, the obverse and reverse designs are aligned, ensuring the designs on both sides are centered, properly positioned and facing upright on the coin.

But, technical malfunctions and human error can cause a misalignment, resulting in an obverse design that is rotated at an angle relative to the reverse design (or vice versa), when the coin is held in an upright position.

In 2022, a collector on eBay paid a whopping $700 for a 2009-D DC quarter graded MS60 with a misaligned die error.

Also read: 17 Most Valuable Quarter Errors Worth Money

 

Summary

As our 2009 quarters errors list reveals, you are spoilt for choice if you are keen on collecting high-value Washington quarter errors. Your best bet is to focus on collecting uncirculated quarters, as these will give you more value for money. So what are you waiting for? Start collecting 2009 quarter errors worth money now!