22 Rare Quarter Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

An 1828 Capped Bust quarter with a blundered denomination sold for $352,500 at Heritage Auctions. This rare quarter errors list covers 22 error types found on US quarters from the 1790s through modern issues, with values ranging from $5 for minor repunched letters to six figures for early die preparation mistakes.

Here is what each error looks like, what causes it, and what collectors actually pay.

1. 1960 Quarter Repunched Letter Error (Up to $50)

Repunched Letter errors formed when mint workers used individual steel punches to stamp letters into a working die. If the punch shifted between strikes, the result was a letter with a visible shadow or doubled outline sitting right behind the primary impression.

On Washington quarters, these turn up most often in LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. Before 1990, every letter went in by hand, one mallet strike at a time, and the process was as tedious as it sounds.

Value: Most quarter RPL errors trade between $5 and $30 in circulated grades, with sharply defined examples in MS65 or higher occasionally reaching $40 to $50. No individual RPL variety on a Washington quarter has broken the $100 barrier at major auction.

The market treats these as affordable entry-level varieties rather than premium errors. They remain popular with type collectors building sets of hand-punched die anomalies from the pre-1990 era.

How to Identify: Use a 10x loupe and focus on individual letters in the inscriptions. A genuine RPL shows doubling on only one or two specific letters, not across the entire word.

If every letter in LIBERTY looks doubled, that points to a doubled die error instead. The doubled image should appear raised and rounded, matching the profile of the primary letter.

Flat, shelf-like smearing around a letter is machine doubling from the striking process, which adds no value. Check the reverse inscriptions too — QUARTER DOLLAR and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are common RPL locations.

The fastest confirmation is finding doubling isolated to a single letter while all surrounding letters remain clean and sharp.

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2. 1957 Quarter Misplaced Mint Mark Error (Up to $200)

A misplaced mint mark happens when the die worker punches the correct letter in the wrong spot on the die. This is not a repunched or inverted mark — it is a single, clean impression sitting where it does not belong.

Before 1990, mint marks were hand-punched, and after hundreds of dies, a tired engraver could misjudge placement. The 1957-D Washington quarter FS-501 is the most documented example, with its D landing by the left wreath stem instead of centered above the R in QUARTER.

Value: The 1957-D FS-501 trades for $30 to $100 in circulated grades depending on how clearly the misplacement reads. High-grade uncirculated examples with a full, unmistakable displacement reach $150 to $200 at auction.

These are not common finds, but they are not headline-grabbing rarities either. The appeal is visual immediacy — even a beginner with a loupe can spot the displacement.

How to Identify: Flip the coin to the reverse and locate the mint mark. On standard Washington quarters, it should sit centered beneath the wreath and just above the R in QUARTER.

On a misplaced mint mark, the letter appears shifted from its expected position, sometimes by several millimeters. Use a 5x loupe and compare against a normal example from the same year.

The mint mark should show a single, clean impression with no doubling or overlap. Confirm the coin matches a documented FS number if one exists.

The fastest confirmation is measuring the mint mark position against the reverse design and finding it offset from every known standard placement for that year.

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3. 1928 Quarter Inverted Mint Mark Error (Up to $300)

An inverted mint mark occurred when a die worker accidentally punched the letter upside down into the working die. The S mint mark is especially tricky because it looks nearly identical rotated 180 degrees — only careful comparison of the serif sizes and loop proportions reveals the inversion.

This error is exclusive to the hand-punching era before 1990. It is genuinely rare across the entire quarter series because quality control typically caught such obvious mistakes before dies entered production, and the few that survived went unnoticed for decades.

Value: The 1928-S Standing Liberty Quarter FS-501 is the benchmark example for this error type. Circulated specimens in VG to VF grades trade between $80 and $150 at auction.

Higher-grade examples with full head detail reach $200 to $300. Proper attribution by PCGS or NGC adds a meaningful premium because many examples prove difficult to confirm definitively without professional-grade magnification tools and die-comparison expertise.

How to Identify: Examine the mint mark under 10x to 20x magnification. On the S mint mark, compare the upper loop to the lower loop — on a correctly oriented S, one loop is slightly larger.

An inverted S reverses this size relationship. The D mint mark is easier to spot inverted because the flat back of the letter faces the wrong direction.

Standard reference photos from PCGS CoinFacts or the Cherrypickers’ Guide are essential for comparison. Do not rely on naked-eye examination alone.

Confirm the coin matches the year and mint listed for known inverted varieties. The fastest confirmation is overlaying a reference image of the correctly oriented mint mark and seeing the serif orientation reversed.

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4. 1956 Quarter Triple Die Reverse Error (Up to $350)

A triple die reverse forms when the hub impresses the reverse design onto a working die three separate times with misalignment between each impression. The result is three distinct, slightly offset images of the reverse design elements stacked on top of each other.

This is extraordinarily rare in quarters. Modern hubbing equipment is precise enough to make three misaligned strikes almost impossible, and quality control catches most significant deviations before dies enter service, which leaves very few confirmed specimens for collectors to pursue.

Value: A 1956-D TDR variety certified by ANACS has appeared in the numismatic marketplace, but confirmed sales data remains thin. Estimated market value for a genuine, authenticated quarter TDR is $150 to $350 depending on grade and the visibility of the tripling.

The extreme scarcity of documented examples means any authenticated specimen commands a premium simply because so few exist. Professional grading is non-negotiable for these claims.

How to Identify: Focus your loupe on reverse lettering — QUARTER DOLLAR, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the eagle’s feathers are the most likely locations for visible tripling. You need to see three distinct raised images, not two and not smeared flatness.

Each impression should appear rounded and well-defined, with clear separation between the three layers. Machine doubling produces shelf-like smearing that looks completely different from genuine hub tripling.

Compare carefully against known doubled die reverses from the same era to confirm you are seeing a third impression. Document your findings with macro photography before submitting for authentication.

The fastest confirmation is professional certification by PCGS or NGC, as self-attribution of TDR varieties is unreliable without extensive experience.

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5. 1983 Quarter Die Crack Error (Up to $400)

Die cracks form as minting dies fatigue under the pressure of striking millions of coins. The steel fractures, and during the next strike, metal from the planchet fills the crack, producing a raised line on the finished coin.

Every subsequent coin struck by that damaged die carries the same crack until the die is retired. The 1983-P Washington quarter produced the most famous die crack in quarter history: the Spitting Eagle, where a raised line extends from the eagle’s beak, making it look like the bird is spitting.

Value: The 1983-P Spitting Eagle trades for $20 to $75 in circulated grades. NGC began certifying the variety separately in 2013, which boosted collector awareness and stabilized pricing.

Gem uncirculated examples graded MS66 or higher reach $200 to $400. The variety’s real value is its accessibility and name recognition — it remains one of the most popular entry points for modern quarter variety collectors.

How to Identify: Examine the reverse of a 1983-P quarter under 5x magnification. The crack runs as a raised line from the eagle’s beak area, often extending slightly downward.

A genuine die crack is always raised above the coin’s surface — never incuse or scratched into the metal. Hold the coin at a 45-degree angle under direct light and rotate slowly; the raised crack catches light differently from the field.

Earlier die states show a thinner, sharper crack that collectors consider more desirable. Later die states may show a thicker, wider crack as the fracture worsened.

Do not confuse die cracks with scratches from circulation damage, which appear recessed. The fastest confirmation is seeing a continuous raised line from beak to field matching documented Spitting Eagle reference images.

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6. 1964 Quarter Triple Die Obverse Error (Up to $400)

Triple die obverse errors occur when the hub stamps the obverse die three times with slight misalignment at each impression. On quarters, tripling is most apparent in LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date digits, where multiple overlapping character outlines become visible under magnification.

This error is even rarer than its reverse counterpart because the obverse typically received more scrutiny during production. Confirmed TDO examples in the Washington quarter series remain extraordinarily scarce, with most documented cases confined to mid-1960s issues where production volumes strained quality control.

Value: No confirmed quarter TDO has achieved a headline auction result, and the market relies heavily on individual negotiation for authenticated specimens. Conservative estimates place values between $200 and $400 for well-documented examples in uncirculated grades.

The 1964-D Kennedy half dollar series has confirmed TDO varieties that provide some pricing context for analogous quarter varieties. Any authenticated TDO quarter would attract immediate interest from specialized error collectors who track these across all denominations.

How to Identify: Use 10x magnification and examine the date and motto areas on the obverse. Genuine tripling shows three distinct, rounded, raised impressions with clear separation.

Check the mint mark area as well, since it often displays the most prominent tripling effect. Machine doubling produces flat, pushed-down smearing that looks entirely different from genuine hub tripling.

You need to see three separate image layers, each with its own rounded contour. Photograph the tripling from multiple angles under raking light before seeking professional authentication.

The fastest confirmation is PCGS or NGC certification, as self-diagnosis of triple die varieties requires extensive experience with known reference specimens.

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7. 1952 Quarter Re-engraved Die Error (Up to $500)

Re-engraved errors occur when mint personnel manually modify a working die after hubbing, usually to restore design elements lost through aggressive polishing. When dies develop clash marks or surface damage, workers polish them smooth — but sometimes the polishing removes shallow design details along with the damage.

Rather than discarding the die, an engraver would hand-cut the missing elements back in. The repaired features rarely match the original precision, producing crude or slightly misaligned lines that every subsequent coin carries as a permanent record of human correction.

Value: The most documented quarter re-engravings appear on 1952 and 1953 proof issues, where tail feathers on the eagle received hand-cut central quills. Proof examples with clear re-engraved rachis lines trade for $200 to $500 depending on the visibility of the hand-cut work and overall grade.

These are niche varieties with a small but dedicated collector base. The appeal is the direct evidence of human intervention in what was otherwise a mechanical process.

How to Identify: Focus your loupe on the eagle’s tail feathers on the reverse of 1950s proof quarters. Standard feathers show smooth, uniform central quills created by the hub.

Re-engraved feathers display hand-cut lines that appear thicker, slightly irregular, or positioned differently from the machine-made originals. Compare against a known standard proof from the same year.

Do not confuse die polishing lines, which appear as flat or missing details, with re-engraving, which adds raised details back. The re-engraved quills look slightly off in weight or angle compared to the hub-made originals.

The fastest confirmation is finding hand-cut lines that appear on multiple specimens from the same die pair, proving the modification occurred at the die level.

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8. 2022 Quarter Broadstrike Error (Up to $500)

A broadstrike happens when a coin is struck without the retaining collar that normally constrains the planchet to its correct diameter. Without the collar, metal spreads outward under striking pressure, producing a coin that is wider and flatter than normal with a plain, smooth edge.

The full design must be present on both sides for the error to qualify as a broadstrike. If any part of the design is missing, it gets classified as an off-center strike instead, which is a separate error category with its own pricing.

Value: Modern Washington quarter broadstrikes in circulated condition trade between $10 and $50. Dramatic examples in MS65 or higher reach $200 to $500.

Partial collar errors, where the collar partially deployed during striking, are more common and trade for $50 to $150. A 2022 Wilma Mankiller broadstrike with partial collar was listed at $10 on eBay, reflecting the lower end for minor specimens.

How to Identify: Place the suspect coin next to a normal quarter of the same denomination. A genuine broadstrike will be visibly wider, often by a millimeter or more.

Use digital calipers to measure: standard quarters are 24.26mm in diameter, and a broadstrike exceeds this. The edge should show weak or absent reeding because the collar did not form it.

A digital scale should confirm the standard 5.67-gram weight, since the planchet is correct — only the collar was missing. Post-mint damage from a vise produces similar flattening but shows uneven distortion and tool marks.

The fastest confirmation is measuring a wider-than-normal diameter combined with missing reeding and full design on both faces.

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9. 1960 Quarter Repunched Mint Mark Error (Up to $600)

Repunched mint mark errors formed when die workers struck the mint mark punch into a working die multiple times, with the punch shifting slightly between blows. The result is a doubled, tripled, or sometimes quadrupled mint mark with overlapping letter impressions.

The 1960-D Washington quarter holds the record for RPM variety density, with over 100 different repunched mint mark varieties documented on that single date. That volume illustrates just how routine hand-punching errors were before the process was mechanized in 1990.

Value: Most quarter RPMs trade between $5 and $30 in circulated grades. Sharply struck examples showing dramatic doubling with clear separation in MS65 or above can reach $200 to $600.

The 1960-D varieties have the deepest collector market because of the sheer number of known types. Earlier dates from the 1940s and 1950s tend to carry higher per-coin premiums due to smaller surviving populations.

How to Identify: Examine only the mint mark under 10x magnification. A genuine RPM shows two or more overlapping impressions of the same letter, each appearing raised and rounded.

The doubling affects only the mint mark itself — surrounding design elements should appear normal. This distinguishes an RPM from a doubled die, which affects large areas of the design simultaneously.

Machine doubling near the mint mark produces flat, shelf-like distortion rather than distinct rounded secondary images. Cross-reference your variety against the Wexler/Flynn RPM listings for Washington quarters.

The fastest confirmation is finding a secondary mint mark impression that is raised, rounded, and limited exclusively to the mint mark letter.

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10. 1971 Quarter Brockage Error (Up to $1,000)

Brockage errors occur when a previously struck coin fails to eject from the press and remains stuck to one of the dies. When the next blank planchet feeds in, the hammer die strikes one side normally while the stuck coin presses its own design into the other face of the new blank.

The result is a coin with a normal image on one face and a mirror-image, incuse impression on the other. A single stuck coin can produce brockage errors on hundreds of blanks before a worker notices the problem.

Value: Simple partial brockages on modern clad Washington quarters sell in the $99 to $380 range. Full brockages with a clear, complete mirror image reach $500 to $1,000 in higher grades.

A 1971-D Washington quarter brockage struck on a nickel planchet appeared in Heritage Auctions’ August 2019 ANA sale. Graded MS65, it combined both a wrong-planchet and a brockage error, commanding a substantial premium for the double mistake.

How to Identify: One side of the coin should display a normal, raised design. The opposite side should show a mirror-reversed, sunken impression of a coin design — letters will read backward.

Use a 5x loupe to confirm the incuse side shows genuine design elements rather than random damage. The mirror image should be complete or nearly complete, with consistent depth across the impression.

Post-mint damage from being pressed against another coin produces similar marks but with uneven depth and no consistent mirror reversal. Weigh the coin on a digital scale — a brockage on the correct planchet matches the standard 5.67 grams.

The fastest confirmation is a complete, mirror-reversed design on one face that matches the opposite side’s design in exact reverse.

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11. 2022 Quarter Die Gouge Error (Up to $1,900)

A die gouge forms when foreign debris, a maintenance tool, or an accidental scrape damages the die surface, creating a small depression in the steel. When that damaged die strikes planchets, the depression fills with metal and produces a raised mark on every finished coin.

The 2022 American Women Quarters series produced the famous Drooling George error — a die gouge near Washington’s mouth that creates a raised line running from his lip to his chin. Because the same obverse die served multiple quarter designs, this error appears on Maya Angelou, Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, and Nina Otero-Warren varieties.

Value: The Maya Angelou version commands the highest prices, with confirmed eBay sales reaching $1,900 for uncirculated examples. The same Drooling George error on other 2022 designs trades for $300 to $800 depending on the specific reverse pairing.

Earlier historical die gouges carry different premiums entirely. The 1857 Seated Liberty Smoking Liberty FS-401 is known from fewer than 20 examples and occupies a completely different pricing tier reserved for advanced collectors.

How to Identify: Examine the obverse under 5x to 10x magnification, focusing on Washington’s mouth and chin area. A genuine die gouge produces a raised mark — a ridge that sits above the coin’s surface and catches light when tilted.

A post-mint scratch is incuse, meaning it dips into the surface and feels rough under a fingernail. The raised line on the Drooling George error runs vertically from the lip area downward.

Every coin struck by the same damaged die shows the gouge in an identical position and shape. Compare against a normal 2022 obverse to confirm the mark is not part of the standard design.

The fastest confirmation is finding a raised, not scratched, mark below Washington’s mouth that matches known Drooling George reference photographs.

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12. 1856 Quarter Misplaced Date Error (Up to $2,100)

Misplaced date errors occur when the date punch lands in the wrong area of the die — inside the denticles, overlapping a design element, or several millimeters from the intended position. During the nineteenth century, engravers added dates as the final step by striking a four-digit steel punch into the softened working die.

Some misplacements were intentional test strikes that workers expected to be hidden during coining, but the strategy often failed. This error type is exclusive to pre-1909 quarters because dates were incorporated into master hubs after that year, eliminating hand-punching entirely.

Value: Seated Liberty quarters from the 1850s through 1870s carry the strongest MPD premiums. An 1856 Seated Liberty quarter with a confirmed misplaced date has traded in the $500 to $1,200 range depending on grade.

The highest recorded sale for a quarter MPD is approximately $2,100, achieved by an 1877-CC Seated Liberty variety in MS65 at Heritage Auctions. Any confirmed MPD on a Seated Liberty quarter is considered scarce enough to warrant professional grading.

How to Identify: Focus on the area around and beneath the date using 10x to 20x magnification. Look for partial digit impressions appearing in the denticles, inside design elements, or clearly outside the normal date position.

The misplaced digits may be partially obscured by the final, correctly positioned date. A genuine MPD shows raised digit impressions that are part of the die itself, not scratches or incuse marks.

On Seated Liberty quarters, check the denticles directly beneath the date — fragments of numbers appearing in this area are classic MPD indicators. Cross-reference against known Fivaz-Stanton or CONECA listings for your date and mint.

The fastest confirmation is finding a partial digit impression in the denticles that matches the font and style of the coin’s primary date numerals.

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13. 2019 Quarter Off-Center Strike Error (Up to $3,000)

Off-center strikes occur when a planchet is not properly seated in the coining press during striking. Only the portion of the blank that sits between the dies receives the design impression, and the rest remains as smooth, blank metal.

The degree of off-centering is measured as a percentage, with 50% meaning half the design was struck and half is blank. The most desirable specimens show 80% to 95% displacement while still retaining a visible date, which requires extraordinary bad luck in the planchet feeding mechanism.

Value: Minor off-center strikes of 5% to 15% on modern Washington quarters sell for $20 to $75. Moderate displacements of 20% to 50% with a visible date reach $100 to $500.

The premium specimens at 80% to 95% off-center with a full, readable date have sold for $1,500 to $3,000 at Heritage Auctions. Earlier series like Standing Liberty quarters command higher premiums than modern clad issues for comparable displacement percentages.

How to Identify: The error is visible to the naked eye — part of the coin shows normal design elements with proper relief, and the remaining area displays smooth, blank planchet metal. The boundary between struck and unstruck areas should be sharp and clean.

Use digital calipers to confirm the coin has not been trimmed or altered after minting. The coin should weigh 5.67 grams on a digital scale, matching the standard clad quarter weight.

Post-mint damage from a rolling machine or vise produces uneven distortion without a clean struck-versus-blank boundary. Genuine off-center strikes always show a distinct demarcation line.

The fastest confirmation is a sharp, clean demarcation between the fully struck design area and the smooth blank metal, with the date visible.

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14. 1943 Quarter Goiter Error (Up to $5,000)

The Goiter is a dramatic die failure found on 1943-S Washington quarters, designated FS-401. The obverse die developed a subsurface depression beneath Washington’s chin, and when planchets were struck, metal flowed into that abnormal space.

The result is a pronounced raised bulge at the junction of Washington’s jaw and throat, resembling the medical condition involving thyroid swelling. The distortion was severe enough to push the surrounding letters in IN GOD WE TRUST leftward, with WE and UST visibly leaning away from the bulge.

Value: PCGS has certified fewer than 100 Goiter specimens across all grades, with only six graded above MS65. An MS67 example sold at auction for approximately $4,935 in 2016.

Current price guides list values from $125 in lower circulated grades to over $5,000 in gem mint state. The variety maintains strong demand because the bulge is visually dramatic and the surviving population is genuinely small.

How to Identify: Examine the obverse of a 1943-S Washington quarter, focusing on the area where the jawline meets the throat. The Goiter appears as a raised, rounded bulge of metal that disrupts the normal contour of the portrait.

It is immediately visible under 5x magnification and often detectable with the naked eye. Check the surrounding motto — on genuine Goiter specimens, IN GOD WE TRUST shows letters leaning slightly left.

The bulge should be raised and metallic, matching the coin’s surface luster, not a discoloration or deposit. Post-mint damage in the same area would appear as a dent or gouge, which is incuse rather than raised.

The fastest confirmation is finding a raised chin bulge on a 1943-S quarter paired with leftward-leaning motto letters.

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15. 2004 Quarter Extra Design Elements Error (Up to $5,500)

Extra design element errors appear when additional features show up on a coin beyond the intended design. They form during die preparation through accidental gouging, over-polishing that creates new raised areas, or die damage that translates into unintended design additions.

The 2004-D Wisconsin quarter produced the most famous examples: Extra Leaf High and Extra Leaf Low varieties. An additional cornstalk leaf appears on the reverse that was never part of the original design, and both varieties passed through quality control and entered normal circulation.

Value: The 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf High in MS67 has sold for $3,000 to $5,500 at Heritage Auctions. The Extra Leaf Low variety trades slightly lower, typically reaching $2,000 to $4,000 in comparable grades.

Circulated examples of either variety sell for $50 to $300 depending on condition and leaf visibility. The 2005-P Minnesota Extra Tree is another documented variety in this category, though it trades at lower premiums.

How to Identify: Flip the 2004-D Wisconsin quarter to the reverse and examine the corn ear on the left side of the design. The Extra Leaf High shows an additional leaf curving upward near the existing leaves at the top.

The Extra Leaf Low shows the extra leaf lower, near the bottom of the ear closer to the cheese wheel. The extra leaf should match the surrounding design in luster and surface texture, proving it is part of the die.

Use 5x magnification and compare against a normal Wisconsin quarter to confirm the leaf is an addition. Post-mint damage shows uneven depth and disturbed surface flow lines that a die-origin leaf does not.

The fastest confirmation is locating a clearly defined extra leaf on a 2004-D Wisconsin quarter that matches documented reference images for either the High or Low position.

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16. 1942 Quarter Doubled Die Reverse Error (Up to $5,750)

Doubled die reverse errors form during die production when the hub impresses the design onto the working die with misalignment between successive impressions. The reverse elements — eagle, lettering, motto, and denomination — appear with a secondary, slightly offset image visible beneath or beside the primary design.

The doubling is baked into the die itself, meaning every coin struck from that die carries the identical doubled image. This distinguishes it from machine doubling, which varies from coin to coin and results from die bounce during striking rather than a permanent die defect.

Value: The 1942-D DDR is among the most valuable Washington quarter reverse varieties, with an MS66 example selling for $5,750 at auction. The 1967 SMS DDR in SP67 CAM grade commands $550 or more.

SP64 specimens of the 1967 bring $60 and up. The extremely rare 1966 DDR holds value even in circulated XF45 grades because so few examples are known to exist.

How to Identify: Use 10x magnification and examine the reverse lettering first. QUARTER DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM are the most common locations for visible doubling.

Genuine DDR shows rounded, split, well-defined secondary images with clear separation between the primary and doubled impressions. Each letter displays what collectors call a snake-tongue split — two distinct raised outlines sitting side by side.

Machine doubling produces flat, shelf-like distortion with no true separation. Check the eagle’s feathers and wing tips as well, since fine design elements often show DDR effects more clearly than bold lettering.

The fastest confirmation is finding split, rounded doubling in multiple reverse design elements that matches a documented Wexler or CONECA DDR listing.

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17. 1857 Quarter Die Clash Error (Up to $7,050)

Die clash errors happen when the obverse and reverse dies slam together with no planchet between them. Each die transfers a ghost impression of the opposite die’s design onto its own striking surface, and every coin subsequently struck carries those phantom images.

The Mint usually catches clashed dies quickly, polishes out the marks, and returns them to service. But sometimes the impressions survive into production runs, embedding recognizable ghost designs from one face onto the other across potentially hundreds of coins before the dies are retired.

Value: The most extraordinary quarter die clash involves an 1857 Seated Liberty quarter clashed with a Flying Eagle cent die, designated FS-901. Fewer than 50 examples are known across all grades.

A matched pair — the Seated Liberty quarter and the Flying Eagle cent from the same clash event — sold together for $7,050 in PCGS holders. Modern quarter die clashes are far more common and trade for $2 to $25 for minor examples.

How to Identify: Examine both sides of the coin under 10x magnification, looking for faint design elements that belong to the opposite face. On the obverse, check for ghost impressions of reverse elements like a faint eagle outline or partial lettering.

On the reverse, look for phantom traces of the portrait or obverse motto. The ghost images appear as shallow, raised impressions that do not match any element of the side you are examining.

Die polishing by the Mint may have partially removed the clash marks, leaving only fragments. Post-mint contact marks produce random scratches without any recognizable design pattern.

The fastest confirmation is identifying a recognizable ghost design element from the opposite face appearing where it does not belong.

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18. 1845 Quarter Repunched Date Error (Up to $7,800)

A repunched date forms when the die worker strikes the four-digit date punch into the working die more than once, with the punch shifting between blows. The result is overlapping or doubled date numerals, with a secondary impression visible behind or offset from the primary date.

This error occurred throughout the hand-punching era before 1909, when dates were added to individual working dies one mallet strike at a time. Fatigue and imprecise positioning made RPD errors an occupational inevitability across multiple mints and decades of production.

Value: An 1845 Seated Liberty quarter RPD designated FS-301, graded MS66, sold for $7,800 at Heritage Auctions. An 1877-CC Seated Liberty quarter RPD FS-301 in MS65 brought $2,280 at the same house.

Circulated examples of confirmed RPD varieties on Seated Liberty quarters trade between $82 and $500 depending on date, mint mark, and the clarity of the repunching. Grades below VF still attract collectors when the repunching is clearly visible.

How to Identify: Focus 10x magnification directly on the date numerals. A genuine RPD shows a secondary impression of one or more digits sitting slightly offset from the primary date, with both impressions appearing raised.

The doubling should appear on the same numerals from coin to coin struck from the same die. This separates RPD from random machine doubling, which varies between individual strikes.

On Seated Liberty quarters, the secondary date impression often appears as a shadow slightly above or below the primary digits. Compare against known FS listings for your specific date and mint mark.

The fastest confirmation is finding raised secondary date numerals that are consistent across multiple specimens from the same die.

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19. 1950 Quarter Over Mint Mark Error (Up to $9,400)

Over mint mark errors occur when two different mint marks overlap on the same die — a D punched over an S, or an S over a D. This happened when dies prepared for one mint facility were transferred to another and repunched with the new location’s letter.

The original mint mark was sometimes partially ground away first, but traces almost always remain visible beneath the new letter. The 1950 Washington quarter produced both D/S and S/D varieties, making it one of the most popular OMM dates in the entire quarter series.

Value: The 1950-D/S variety appears at auction regularly in grades up to MS67, giving collectors a reasonable chance of finding one at their target grade level. In 2014, an MS66 example sold for $9,400.

Lower-grade circulated specimens trade for $30 to $150 depending on the clarity of the underlying S mint mark. The 1950-S/D variety is less commonly offered and carries comparable premiums when properly attributed by a major grading service.

How to Identify: Examine the mint mark area under 10x to 20x magnification. You need to see traces of a second, different letter beneath or around the primary mint mark.

On a D/S variety, look for curved remnants of the S showing through or around the straight edges of the D. On an S/D variety, look for the straight vertical stroke of the D beneath the curved body of the S.

The underlying mint mark may be partially ground away, leaving only fragments visible. This is distinct from an RPM, which shows the same letter doubled — an OMM always involves two different letters.

Use the Wexler/Flynn OMM reference listings to match your variety. The fastest confirmation is identifying traces of a different mint mark letter beneath the primary letter.

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20. 1943 Quarter Doubled Die Obverse Error (Up to $22,250)

The doubled die obverse is the most collected die variety in Washington quarter numismatics. It forms when the hub impresses the obverse design onto a working die with misalignment between impressions, creating doubled images visible on the portrait, motto, date, and LIBERTY inscription.

The 1943 DDO stands as the scarcest major doubled die for the entire Washington quarter series. The doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY is strong enough to detect without high magnification, which is part of what drives its premium above other DDO dates.

Value: A 1943 DDO graded MS67 sold for $22,250 in 2020, setting the benchmark for Washington quarter die varieties. Even circulated examples in VF to XF grades command hundreds of dollars.

MS63 to MS65 examples regularly appear at Heritage Auctions in the $2,000 to $8,000 range depending on strike quality and eye appeal. The variety maintains consistent demand at every grade level.

How to Identify: Examine the obverse under 5x to 10x magnification. Focus first on IN GOD WE TRUST — the doubled impressions show clear, rounded separation between two distinct letter images.

Check LIBERTY next, where the doubling is typically strongest on LI and BE. The date may also show secondary digit impressions beneath the primary numerals.

Genuine DDO doubling is raised, rounded, and consistent across the entire die — every coin from that die shows identical doubling. Machine doubling appears flat and shelf-like with no true separation.

Compare against PCGS CoinFacts or Wexler DDO reference photographs. The fastest confirmation is finding rounded, split doubling in both IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY matching documented 1943 DDO die markers.

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21. 1806 Quarter Overdate Error (Up to $188,000)

An overdate occurs when a die from one year is repunched with a different date, leaving the original year’s numerals visible beneath the new date. During early US Mint operations, die steel was expensive, and rather than discard a usable die, workers modified the date by punching new numerals over the old ones.

The original digits could never be fully removed from hardened steel, so the ghost of the previous year remained. The 1806/5 Draped Bust quarter is one of the most dramatic overdates in American numismatics, with the underlying 5 clearly visible beneath the 6 even in lower grades.

Value: An 1806/5 Draped Bust quarter graded MS66 sold at Heritage Auctions for $188,000, establishing it among the most valuable quarter varieties by type. In lower circulated grades, the same variety still commands $500 to $5,000.

Even well-worn examples with partial overdate visibility attract strong bidding because the variety is universally recognized. The price curve from Good through Mint State is steep but unbroken — there are buyers at every level.

How to Identify: Examine the last digit of the date under 10x magnification. On an 1806/5, you should see the rounded bottom curve of a 5 visible beneath or protruding from the base of the 6.

The ghost digit appears as raised metal that does not match the contour of the primary numeral. On genuine overdates, both the old and new date impressions are part of the die and show consistent depth.

A scratch or contact mark in the date area shows random directionality and disturbed surface metal rather than a recognizable digit outline. Overdate quarters exist exclusively on pre-1840s issues.

The fastest confirmation is identifying a recognizable digit from a different year visible within or beneath the primary date numeral.

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22. 1828 Quarter Blundered Denomination Error (Up to $352,500)

A blundered denomination is a die production error where the engraver punched the wrong denomination value into a working die. On certain 1822 and 1828 Capped Bust quarters, the engraver mistakenly stamped 50 — the half dollar denomination — before realizing the mistake and correcting it with 25C.

The underlying 50 remains visible beneath the corrected denomination on every coin struck from that die. Researcher Steve Tompkins concluded that the original blundered die was created in 1818 but stored and reused for the 1822 production run, carrying its embedded mistake forward through years of storage.

Value: The record holder is an 1828 Capped Bust quarter from the Eric Newman Collection, graded NGC MS67-star, which sold at Heritage Auctions for $352,500. An 1822 example from the Eliasberg Collection realized $184,000 at the same auction house.

In lower grades, an 1822 blundered denomination in Good-6 still brought $7,750, proving that even heavily worn specimens carry substantial premiums. The error is rare enough that any authenticated example attracts competitive bidding regardless of condition.

How to Identify: Examine the reverse denomination area under 10x to 20x magnification. You should see 25C as the primary denomination, with the underlying 50 visible as raised ghost numerals beneath the corrected value.

The 5 and 0 from the original half dollar denomination appear as faint but identifiable digit outlines overlapping with the 25C overpunch. Confirm the coin is an 1822 or 1828 Capped Bust quarter, as these are the only dates where this error is documented.

The blundered digits are part of the die, so they appear with consistent depth and positioning on every coin from that die. Because of the extreme value, professional authentication by PCGS or NGC is absolutely mandatory.

The fastest confirmation is identifying the ghost 50 beneath the 25C denomination on an 1822 or 1828 Capped Bust quarter.

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Conclusion

Quarter errors range from $5 repunched letters found in pocket change to a $352,500 blundered denomination Capped Bust quarter that drew bidders from multiple continents. A digital scale, a 10x loupe, and digital calipers cover identification for every error type on this list.

Most of these errors turn up in original bank rolls or circulated coins — the expensive ones live in auction catalogs. Understanding what went wrong at the Mint matters more than memorizing prices, because prices follow knowledge.