Rare 2016 Quarter Errors Worth Money (Full List)

Are you building your Washington quarters collection? The 2016 America the Beautiful Quarters might be an excellent addition, especially if you focus on collecting high value errors.

The 2016 quarters commemorate the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Shawnee National Forest, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Fort Moultrie National Monument.

Washington quarters are only worth their face value of $0.30 to $0.40. But as our 2016 quarters errors list will reveal, quarter errors can be worth much more than face value, with some fetching hundreds or thousands. If you know what to look for, error coins can significantly boost the value of your quarters collection.

We put together this 2016 quarters errors list to reveal just a few of the most valuable ATM quarters with errors that you should look out for.

So, without further ado, let’s jump in and discover 2016 quarters errors worth money.

1. 2016-P MS60 Quarter West Virginia Missing Clad, Improperly Annealed Error

When collecting 2016 West Virginia quarters, look out for examples with a missing clad layer while others will have an improperly anneal error or both.

A missing clad layer is most visible on clad coins such as the Washington quarter.  These coins are made of a copper core and an outer nickel layer.

Sometimes, during the planchet making process, the nickel layer may not adhere properly to the copper core, resulting in peeling and loss of the nickel layer.

A coin with a missing clad layer error will have nickel on one side and copper on the other, making for an interesting specimen. The same coin may also have an annealed error in which one side of the coin takes on different colors such as yellow, black, grey or even purplish.

In 2017, Heritage Auctions sold a 2016-P MS60 West Virginia quarter with a missing clad layer and improperly annealed error for an impressive $150.

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2. 2016-P MS60 North Dakota ATB Quarter Off-Strike Error

An off-strike error is often one of the most dramatic you will find in the Washington quarters series. This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet away from the center. This can happen due to several factors such as a misalignment of the die and the planchet or if the planchet moves around in the collar.

On a coin with an off-strike error, you will notice that the design is positioned further away from the center and more toward the edge of the coin.

Some off-strikes can be more dramatic than others, and the greater the off-strike, the more valuable the coin tends to be. For example a 30% off-strike will be more valuable than a 10% off-strike. If you are unsure about the extent of your off-strike error coin, consult a professional coin grading company to help you grade the coin based on the market standards.

In 2017, a collector paid $265 for a 2016-P North Dakota ATB quarter with an off-strike error.

Also read: Top 13 Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money

 

3. 2016-P MS62 ATB Quarter Harpers Ferry Major Struck Thru Grease Error

Another error you will come across when collecting 2016 ATB quarters is the struck-through grease error. As the name suggests, a struck through error occurs when a foreign object is struck between the die and planchet during the minting process.

Examples of foreign objects that can come between the planchet and die include grease, dust, and other debris. When struck, these objects can leave an impression on the coin’s surface. In the case of grease, the images and inscriptions on the coin can be blurred out or smoothened.

A struck-through grease error can occur on the obverse or reverse or both sides of the coin. The extent of the struck-through error will determine the coin’s value—the more extensive the struck-through, the more valuable the coin tends to be.

A 2016-P Harpers Ferry graded MS62 with a major struck-through grease error was sold for $110 at a 2019 online auction.

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4. 2016-D MS61 Harpers Ferry Quarter Doubled Die Error

A doubled die is one of the most common errors you will come across when collecting 2016 quarter errors. This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet at different angles multiple times. This results in a visible doubling or overlapping of the devices and/or inscriptions.

A doubled die error can occur on the obverse or reverse of the coin. It is also common for doubling to occur on both sides of the coin. The more visible the doubling, the more valuable the error coin usually is.

The good news is that collecting doubled die error coins is pretty easy, making this a low-lying and potentially valuable quarter to add to your collection.

In 2019, a collector paid $85 for a 2016-D Harpers Ferry quarter graded MS61 with a doubled die error.

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5. 2016-D MS63 West Virginia Quarter Die Clash Mint Error

 A die clash is an error that occurs when the obverse and reverse dies hit against each other when there is no planchet between them.

Due to the sheer force of clashing against each other, the anvil die may transfer its design onto the hammer die, or vice-versa. This results in a distorted obverse or reverse design which is then transferred to the planchet.

A coin with a die clash mint error will usually have a distorted image of both the obverse and reverse designs on one side of the coin. So, for example, on the obverse you may notice the usual obverse design and a subtle hint of the reverse design in the background.

A 2016-D West Virginia quarter graded MS63 with a die clash mint error was sold for $100 at a 2020 eBay auction.

 

6. 2016-P MS60 Theodore Roosevelt Quarter Rim Cud Error

A rim cud error occurs when a piece of the die’s edge breaks and is filled with metal if the die continues to be put to use.

The metal-filled portion of the edge leaves its impression when the die strikes the planchet. On the final coin, the rim cud error will appear like a raised bump while the rest of the edge is smooth.

The size of a rim cud significantly influences the coin’s value. The larger the cud error, the more valuable the coin tends to be. Of course, other factors such as the coin’s condition will come into play when determining the coin’s overall value.

At 2019 eBay auction, a collector paid $100 for a 2016-P Theodore Roosevelt quarter graded MS60 with a rim cud error.

Also read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money

 

7. 2016-D M62 Theodore Roosevelt Quarter Struck On Nickel Planchet Error

Sometimes, human error in the mint may result in the wrong planchet being used to produced a different type of coin. Such coins are, however, rare and are a worthwhile addition to your collection.

A quarter dollar planchet is made of copper-nickel clad containing 75% copper and 25% nickel on a pure copper core. When struck, this coin measures about 24.3 millimeters and weighs 5.67 grams.

On the other hand, a Jefferson nickel planchet is made of a homogenous alloy comprising 75% copper and 25% nickel. It weighs 5 grams and has a diameter of about 21.2 millimeters.

A wrong planchet error in which a quarter is struck on a nickel will show a reeded edge originating from the quarter dollar collar die.

The wrong planchet will miss the word LIBERTY at the top of Washington’s portrait and the raised rim will be missing a portion from the 10 to2 o’clock clockwise positions. On the reverse of the wrong planchet, the letters QUARTER are missing and you will also notice a raised rim.

A rare 2016-D Theodore Roosevelt quarter struck on nickel planchet error and graded MS62 was sold for a whopping $500 at an eBay auction in 2021.

 

8. 2016-P MS63 Harpers Ferry Quarter Die Cap Error

An interesting and potentially high-value error to look out for when collecting 2016 ATB quarters is the die cap.

A die cap error occurs when a planchet is struck and sticks on the hammer die face. As such, the coin’s reverse becomes the new face of the hammer die. When a planchet is fed into the collar, the reverse design of the stuck coin impresses itself onto the new planchet.

As a result, the new coin will show a ghost design of the reverse image, producing a die cap error.

A 2016-P Harpers Ferry quarter graded MS63 with a die cap error was sold for $130 at a 2020 Heritage Auctions sale.

 

9. 2016-D MS60 Quarter Harpers Ferry “CAT ON THE ROOF” Die Chip Error

Die chip is one of the most common errors you will spot on 2016 quarters. These are small dings and dents you find on the obverse and reverse of the coin resulting from breaks on the die’s surface.

During the minting process, a small piece of the die’s surface may break, leaving a small hole that may eventually be filled with metal as the die continues to be in use.

When the die strikes the planchet, the metal-filled holes will leave an impression on the surface. The final coin will then have tiny raised dings that may take on a peculiar shape.

For example, on some 2016 Harper Ferry quarters, the die chips error appears like a cat at the top of the building’s roof on the reverse. In 2017, a collector paid $125 for a 2016-D Harper Ferry quarter graded MS60 with a ‘cat on the roof’ die chip error.

Also read: 17 Most Valuable Quarter Errors Worth Money

 

Summary

Collecting America the Beautiful quarters can be a fulfilling hobby. Not only are these coins readily available; they also hold commemorative and sentimental value. But, you can elevate your hobby even further by collecting errors, some of which can be worth a fortune. As our 2016 quarter errors list shows, errors are rare but this is what makes them so valuable. If you know what to look for, your 2016 ATB quarters can be an excellent addition to your collection. Now is a good time to start collecting!