Rare 2010 Quarter Errors Worth Money (Full List)

A 2010-P Yosemite quarter struck on a nickel planchet sold for $2,880 — the highest price ever paid for an America the Beautiful quarter error. The complete 2010 quarter error list covers 10 distinct mint mistakes from the inaugural year of the ATB program, with values running from $330 feeder finger errors to that near-three-figure off-metal strike. Hot Springs, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Mount Hood were the first five designs off the press, and the Mint’s first-year production quirks created errors across all of them. Here’s every documented error, sorted by value, with auction records and identification details.

1. 2010 Quarter Feeder Finger Error (Up to $330)

Feeder fingers are mechanical arms inside the press that position each blank planchet onto the collar before striking. When a finger doesn’t retract fast enough, the die strikes both the planchet and the lingering finger.

The result is a set of parallel horizontal lines pressed into the coin’s surface. On this 2010-D Yosemite quarter, the finger marks crossed the obverse with enough visibility to command $330 on eBay. The Yosemite reverse — showing El Capitan’s sheer granite face — provides a clean, mostly vertical design background that makes horizontal feeder finger lines immediately obvious when they cross the coin.

Value: In 2020, a 2010-D Yosemite quarter graded MS64 with a feeder finger error sold on eBay for $330. Feeder finger errors on ATB quarters generally range from $50–$200. Less prominent examples with faint lines on circulated coins bring $50–$100. Bold, well-defined lines on uncirculated coins push $150–$330. The MS64 grade and clear line pattern drove the top price.

How to Identify: Look for a set of parallel, evenly spaced lines running horizontally across the coin’s surface. These are distinct from random scratches, which go in multiple directions with varying depth.

The lines usually appear on one side only, most often the obverse. Check that they’re uniform in depth and spacing — random handling scratches won’t be.

Post-mint scratches cut through raised and recessed areas unevenly. Feeder finger marks sit at consistent depth because they formed under full striking pressure. Fastest confirmation: parallel, evenly spaced horizontal lines on one side with uniform depth.

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2. 2010 Quarter Die Chip Error (Up to $400)

Die chips form when small fragments break off the striking die’s surface. Metal fills the void and transfers as a raised blob onto every coin the damaged die strikes.

On this 2010-P Yosemite quarter, the die chip was large and prominently placed on the obverse. Heritage Auctions sold it for $400 — a strong price for a die chip on any modern quarter. Yosemite quarters from Philadelphia account for the most documented errors in the 2010 ATB series, with four of the ten errors on this list tied to that specific design.

Value: Heritage Auctions sold a 2010-P Yosemite quarter graded MS60 with obverse die chip errors for $400. Generic die chips on circulated ATB quarters trade for $10–$50. Large, prominently placed chips on uncirculated coins push $75–$400. The Heritage provenance and visual prominence of the chip drove this example to the top.

How to Identify: Use a 5x loupe and scan for raised, irregular metal blobs on the obverse that don’t belong to the standard Washington portrait. Die chips are smooth and rounded on top because they formed under striking pressure.

Compare to a normal 2010 Yosemite quarter side by side. Run your fingernail across the suspected chip — die chips catch upward. Contact marks from other coins catch downward or feel flat. The blob should match the surrounding coin’s luster. Fastest confirmation: smooth raised blob with matching luster, confirmed by comparison to a normal example.

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3. 2010 Quarter Struck Through Grease Error (Up to $532)

A struck-through error happens when foreign material gets trapped between the die and planchet during striking. Grease — press lubricant pooling in the die’s recessed areas — is the most common culprit.

On this 2010-P Yosemite quarter, the grease fill covered enough of the obverse to significantly weaken Washington’s portrait. An eBay collector paid $532 in 2015 — a strong price driven by the affected area’s size. The first-year ATB quarters appear to have had more grease-related issues than subsequent years, possibly because the Mint was still calibrating its lubrication schedules for the new ATB die designs.

Value: In 2015, a 2010-P Yosemite quarter graded MS62 with a grease struck-through error sold on eBay for $532. Minor grease fills on circulated ATB quarters trade for $10–$50. Large fills covering significant design sections on uncirculated coins push $100–$532. The size of the affected area and the inaugural ATB year both drove the premium.

How to Identify: Look for a localized area where the design appears weak, mushy, or entirely absent — a smooth blank zone surrounded by otherwise normal detail. Boundaries should be relatively sharp, not a gradual fade.

Grease fills produce featureless, smooth patches. Don’t confuse with circulation wear, which spreads evenly across all high points. A struck-through affects a specific area while the surrounding design stays sharp.

Make sure the entire coin isn’t uniformly weak, which would indicate a die adjustment strike or improper annealing instead. Fastest confirmation: sharply defined smooth zone surrounded by normal strike quality on all sides.

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4. 2010 Quarter Misaligned Die Error (Up to $600)

A misaligned die error happens when the dies aren’t properly centered during installation. The design on a misaligned die coin remains complete — unlike an off-center strike, nothing is missing. The entire image sits off-center within the rim.

On this 2010-D Mount Hood quarter, the dies were misaligned enough to create visibly uneven rim width. GreatCollections auctioned it for $600 in 2016. The Mount Hood design — showing the volcanic peak reflected in Mirror Lake — has strong horizontal symmetry that makes any vertical misalignment immediately obvious against the water’s edge.

Value: In 2016, GreatCollections auctioned a 2010-D Mount Hood quarter graded MS61 with a misaligned die error for $600. Minor misalignments on circulated ATB quarters trade for $10–$50. Dramatic misalignments visible to the naked eye on uncirculated coins push $100–$600. The MS61 grade was modest; the error severity carried the price.

How to Identify: Examine the rim width around the entire circumference. On a properly struck coin, the rim is uniform. A misaligned die coin shows one side noticeably wider while the opposite side narrows.

The full design will be present — nothing missing. This is the critical distinction from an off-center strike, which always has blank planchet showing. A misaligned die coin has everything, just shifted.

The uneven rim should be consistent — wider on one side, narrower opposite. Post-mint damage creates irregular distortion, not symmetrical shift. Fastest confirmation: complete design present with obviously uneven rim width around the coin.

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5. 2010 Quarter Rim Cud Error (Up to $620)

A rim cud forms when a chunk of the die’s edge breaks away completely. Metal flows into the void during striking, creating a raised, blob-like bump along the rim.

On this 2010-P Hot Springs quarter, the cud was large enough to command $620 on eBay. Hot Springs holds a special distinction — it’s the very first America the Beautiful quarter ever struck. An error on the inaugural ATB design carries historical context that later-year errors don’t. Collectors assembling complete ATB error sets place extra value on the Hot Springs design for that reason.

Value: A 2010-P Hot Springs quarter graded MS60 with a rim cud error sold on eBay for $620. Smaller cuds on circulated ATB quarters trade for $30–$100. Large cuds that encroach on prominent design elements push $200–$620. The Hot Springs first-issue status and the cud’s size together drove the price.

How to Identify: Run your finger along the rim. A cud feels like a raised bump that disrupts the smooth edge. Genuine cuds have a flat, smooth top — they formed under striking pressure.

Post-mint damage looks rough and irregular. Check design elements near the cud — letters or hot spring details adjacent to the break may appear weakened because the broken die couldn’t apply full pressure. Examine the opposite side behind the cud for a corresponding weakness. Fastest confirmation: smooth flat-topped bump at the rim with weakened design adjacent.

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6. 2010 Quarter Doubled Die Error (Up to $705)

A doubled die occurs when the hub impresses its design onto the working die at slightly different positions. Every coin struck by that die carries the same overlapping design.

On this 2010-D Grand Canyon quarter, the doubling showed on the reverse — the Nankoweap Delta landscape and inscriptions display clear secondary outlines. GreatCollections auctioned it for $705 in 2020, the highest price any ATB doubled die has achieved across all years we’ve covered. The Grand Canyon design’s layered canyon walls and detailed geological formations amplify even small hub shifts because the overlapping terrain lines make doubling more visible than on simpler designs.

Value: In 2020, GreatCollections auctioned a 2010-D Grand Canyon quarter graded MS65 with a doubled die error for $705 — the highest documented price for a doubled die on any ATB quarter. Minor doubled dies on circulated 2010 quarters trade for $25–$100. Strong doubling visible under low magnification on uncirculated coins pushes $200–$705.

How to Identify: Use at least 10x magnification. On the reverse, check the Grand Canyon terrain lines and inscriptions for secondary outlines. True DDR doubling shows rounded, separated secondary images with depth.

Machine doubling — flat, shelf-like shadows — is common on 2010 quarters and worth nothing. The distinction matters: DDR notching is rounded and appears at specific diagnostic points. Machine doubling is flat and affects everything uniformly. Compare against known variety photos. Fastest confirmation: rounded split secondary images on the reverse design, not flat shadows.

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7. 2010 Quarter Brockage Error (Up to $745)

A brockage occurs when a previously struck coin fails to eject from the press and sticks to the die face. That stuck coin acts as a secondary die, pressing its design — in mirror image — into the next incoming planchet.

The result is a coin with a normal design on one side and a sunken, reversed impression on the other. On this 2010-P Yellowstone quarter, the Yellowstone reverse design — Old Faithful erupting in front of a bison — ghosted in reverse onto the opposite side. Heritage Auctions sold it for $745 in 2016. This is the only brockage documented in the entire ATB quarter series across all years we’ve covered.

Value: In 2016, Heritage Auctions sold a 2010-P Yellowstone quarter graded MS60 with a brockage error for $745. Brockage errors on modern quarters are uncommon at any auction house. No other ATB quarter brockage from any year has appeared in major auction records. The error’s rarity in the ATB series and the Heritage provenance drove the $745 price.

How to Identify: Flip the coin. One side should show a normal struck design. The other should display an incuse (sunken) mirror-image impression — letters read backward, the design is reversed.

The brockage side will look mushier than a normal strike because it received its impression from another coin, not directly from the die. The reversed design should cover most of the affected face.

Don’t confuse with a die clash, which produces faint ghost images. A brockage impression is much deeper, more complete, and covers the full surface. Also distinguish from a die cap, which produces a cupped coin. A brockage stays flat. Fastest confirmation: one normal side plus a deep reversed incuse design on the opposite face.

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8. 2010 Quarter Die Crack Error (Up to $1,040)

Die cracks form when the steel die fractures from repeated stress and heat cycles. Metal fills the fracture and transfers onto each coin as a thin raised line.

On this 2010-D Hot Springs quarter, a large die crack ran across Washington’s mouth, creating what collectors describe as a “sneezing” effect — Washington looks like he’s mid-sneeze with a line splitting his lower face. Heritage Auctions sold it for $1,040, driven almost entirely by the visual novelty. Hot Springs is the first ATB quarter ever minted, and a nickname-worthy die crack on the inaugural design carries extra weight.

Value: Heritage Auctions sold a 2010-D Hot Springs quarter graded MS63 with a large die crack across Washington’s mouth for $1,040. Generic die cracks on ATB quarters bring $20–$150. The “Sneezing Washington” visual effect and the first-year Hot Springs design inflated this example far above typical die crack territory. Cracks with recognizable visual associations consistently outperform generic examples.

How to Identify: Look for a raised line running across Washington’s mouth area on a 2010 Hot Springs quarter. The crack creates the appearance of Washington mid-sneeze — his lower face split by the raised line.

Run your fingernail perpendicular across the crack. It should catch upward since die cracks are raised. Don’t confuse with scratches, which are recessed. The crack should follow an irregular path — straight lines suggest a die gouge rather than a crack.

Not every die crack on a Hot Springs quarter is the “Sneezing Washington” variety. The crack needs to cross the mouth specifically. Fastest confirmation: raised irregular line across Washington’s mouth on a 2010 Hot Springs quarter.

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9. 2010 Quarter Clipped Planchet Error (Up to $1,100)

Clipped planchet errors happen at the blanking press. When the metal strip feeds incorrectly, the punch overlaps a previously cut hole, producing an incomplete blank with a missing section.

On this 2010-D Mount Hood quarter, a large clip removed a significant section of the coin’s edge. GreatCollections auctioned it for $1,100 in 2022 — the second-highest price for any 2010 ATB quarter error. The Mount Hood reverse shows the volcanic peak reflected in Mirror Lake, and the clip cuts into that reflection, removing part of the water’s edge. The MS65 grade indicates the coin was otherwise well-preserved.

Value: In 2022, GreatCollections auctioned a 2010-D Mount Hood quarter graded MS65 with a clipped planchet error for $1,100. Small clips on ATB quarters trade for $30–$150. Large clips removing 15%+ of the planchet push $500–$1,100. The dramatic size and the MS65 grade together drove the premium.

How to Identify: Look for a curved section of missing metal along the coin’s edge. The clip creates a smooth arc where the blanking punch overlapped a previous hole.

Check for the Blakesley Effect — a weakening of the rim 180 degrees opposite the clip. This confirms the clip happened before striking, not after. Weigh it: a large-clipped quarter will come in well under 5.67 grams.

Post-mint damage from tools shows scratches, sharp edges, and no opposite-side rim weakness. A genuine pre-strike clip has smooth edges and corresponding Blakesley weakness. Fastest confirmation: large missing section plus Blakesley Effect on the opposite rim.

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10. 2010 Quarter Struck on Nickel Planchet Error (Up to $2,880)

An off-metal error occurs when a planchet intended for a different denomination ends up in the wrong press. On this 2010-P Yosemite quarter, a Jefferson nickel blank — meant for the nickel press — was fed into the quarter press and struck with ATB quarter dies.

A nickel planchet measures 21.21mm and weighs 5.00 grams. A quarter planchet is 24.26mm and weighs 5.67 grams. The nickel blank is over 3mm smaller, so the quarter dies can’t fully cover it. LIBERTY gets cut off at the top of Washington’s portrait, QUARTER disappears from the reverse, and El Capitan’s granite face on the Yosemite design is cropped along the edges. The reeded edge from the quarter collar partially formed on the too-small coin, adding another layer of visual mismatch.

Value: A 2010-P Yosemite quarter struck on a nickel planchet sold for $2,880 — the highest confirmed price for any America the Beautiful quarter error across the entire 2010–2021 series. Off-metal errors on modern quarters generally range from $500–$3,000 depending on the planchet pairing and grade. The visual contrast between the expected coin and the undersized, wrong-metal result drives collector interest well beyond error specialists.

How to Identify: Size is the first giveaway. The coin will be noticeably smaller than a standard quarter when placed side by side. Measure with calipers: 21.21mm versus the standard 24.26mm.

Weigh it. A normal quarter weighs 5.67 grams. A quarter struck on a nickel planchet weighs 5.00 grams. The 0.67-gram difference is easily detectable on a digital scale accurate to 0.01g.

The design will be incomplete — LIBERTY at the top of Washington’s head and QUARTER DOLLAR on the reverse will be partially or fully missing because the smaller planchet ran out of metal. The edge may show partial reeding from the quarter collar that doesn’t wrap all the way around. Don’t confuse with a worn quarter — the missing design follows a clean, circular boundary. Fastest confirmation: 21.21mm diameter, 5.00g weight, incomplete design with clean circular cutoff.

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Conclusion

The 2010 ATB quarter error spectrum runs from $330 feeder fingers to a $2,880 nickel-planchet strike on the Yosemite design — the highest price for any ATB quarter error across the entire 2010–2021 series. The “Sneezing Washington” die crack at $1,040 and the Mount Hood clipped planchet at $1,100 anchor the middle tier, while the Yellowstone brockage at $745 is the only example of that error type in the ATB series. Heritage Auctions and GreatCollections provide the strongest documentation, with three lots each.