$99 Million Coin Craze: Verifying the Valuable 1965-Present Clad Washington Quarters

The clad Washington quarter, produced from 1965 to the present, has gained coin collectors’ attention. No longer considered to be mundane, these coins have been thrust into the spotlight of a “$99 million coin craze,” with collectors searching for rare varieties, mint errors, and high-grade specimens commanding stratospheric prices.

Let’s discuss features, notable rarities, and how to identify valuable clad quarters.

Clad Washington Quarters.

Due to increasing silver prices, the United States made the transition from using silver coins to clad coins in 1965. The new design was introduced by attaching a copper-nickel outer layer to a copper core that replaced the earlier composition of 90% silver of the old coins.
Even though hundreds of billions of these quarters have been minted, certain errors and high-quality specimens have become very valuable to collectors.

Rarities from 1965 to 1970

When the United States switched from using silver in coins to clad in 1965, several oddities were produced that are now worth thousands.

1965 Silver Quarter Error
Description: Some 1965 quarters were mistakenly struck on leftover silver planchets.
Grade: up to $10,000 in MS65 grade.

Off-Center Strikes.
Details: Coins that were struck off-center because the dies were not aligned properly.
Value: Generally sell for $5,000 to $7,500 depending on the severity and grade.

Double Die Errors: Images or inscriptions double because the dies are misaligned.
Coins such as the 1983-P Double Die Reverse can range from $15,000 to $20,000.

High-grade coins
Coins graded MS67 or higher are rare because they have circulated and have been worn down.
Value: For instance, an RB-Brown Toning Full Red 1967 quarter would sell in the range of $20 000 to $25 000.

Collectors Pay Millions.

A few factors blend to form the recipe for the “99 million-dollar coin frenzy”:

• Error rarity: The rareness of coins such as 1965 Silver Quarter Error fuels collector’s demand.
• Condition and Grade: High-grade coins are also rare with a grade from MS67 upwards.
• Market Demand: Strong demand for the hobby of collecting coins, brought about by various online forums and auction houses, has created aggressive competition for hard-to-find rare quarters.
• Numismatic Significance: Coins in this series highlight a turning point in the production of US currency, making it highly sought.

How To Locate

If you wish to find investment clad quarters, consider the following

1. Keep an eye on errors.
   Collect coins that manifest defects such as double strikes, off-center strikings or planchet imperfections.
2. Concentrate on the Transition Years (1965-1970)
   There were lots of minting anomalies in this period when the U.S.A. transitioned from silver to clad coins.
3. Look for the mint mark.
   Some rare quarters are mints particular to certain sites like San Francisco or Denver.
4. Grade the coin.
   Mail coins to third-party authentication services like PCGS or NGC, in order to have the coins certified.
5. Find recent sales.
   To establish what these may be worth, one should monitor auction prices and trends.
   Future of Clad Washington Quarters
   As the popularity of coin collecting increases, the value of these quarters is expected to rise. Collectors continue to find high-grade examples and rare flaws, which shows that riches are still lying in plain sight.

The clad Washington quarters that were minted after 1965 are more than just loose change – they are historical objects with a possible future value as an investment. Whether this is an error, high-grade, or a transitional aberration, these coins have captured the hearts of collectors around the world.

Next time you are digging through pocket change, take another look – maybe you’ll find a precious Washington quarter.

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