The Rare 25-Cent Coin Worth Over $5 Million, Here is How to Spot it

Millions of coins change hands every day in the United States, most of which only keep their nominal value. However, among many coins in circulation, some rare coins have an extraordinary value. One such coin is the 25-cent George Washington Bicentennial Quarter. Due to its special qualities, historical importance, and mining errors, this coin has gained unique value of up to $5 million in the collectors market.

History of George Washington Bicentennial Quarter

The George Washington Bicentennial Quarter was minted in the years 1975 and 1976 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of American independence. Unlike other quarters, it has dual dates of “1776–1976,” marking the bicentennial period. Millions of coins were minted, but some rare versions that had errors, such as double-stroke obverses, have made them highly valuable for collectors.

Bicentennial 25-Sent Coin Characteristics

To correctly identify the George Washington Bicentennial Quarter, it is important to know its main properties. Here are the main features of the coin:

Obverse features

• Design: George Washington’s bust by mouth.
• Inscriptions: “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and dual dates “1776–1976.”

Reverse features

• Design: A colonial drummer with a face to the left, along with victory torch, is surrounded by thirteen stars, which symbolize the original colonies.
• Inscriptions: “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Quarter Dollar.”

Mint marks

Denver (d), Philadelphia (no mint mark), and San Francisco (s) are the mints where these quarters were minted. You can see the mint mark on the obverse side of the coin under Washington’s neck.

Mint Mark	Location	Minted Coins
D	Denver	Circulation version, standard quality
No Mark	Philadelphia	Standard quality
S	San Francisco	Proof version, mainly for collectors

All these are the general features of George Washington Bicentennial Quarters, but the million-dollar ones belong to a special version that has a minting error.

Error that makes it worth a million dollars

A major reason for giving this coin more than $5 million is an error known as double-stroke obverse. This means that the front (or obverse) design of the coin was accidentally printed twice. Here’s how you can identify this feature:

Identification of double-stroke error

• Double image: Double-Stroke Obvers shows a mild missenses resulting in a blurred double image. You can see dual effects on two raids or inscriptions of Washington’s profile.
• Unique pattern: The double-stroke effect creates an unusual and almost ghostly imprint that is immediately recognizable for those familiar with the errors of rare coins.

The uniqueness of this error, combined with the historical context of the coin, makes it highly valuable. Despite the minting of millions of coins, only a few hold this unique error, which has pushed its value to impressive heights.

Why the double-stroke bicentennial quarter million million dollars

The value of double-stroke bicentennial quarters has reached more than $5 million due to several reasons:

• Excessive rarity: Double-stroke errors are unusual. The fact that this error is present on a bicentennial coin, which was minted for a historical event, makes it even more attractive.
• Historical Importance: The George Washington Bicentennial Quarter has a link from the 200th anniversary of the United States, giving it a deep historical echo.
• Collectors demand: Coinage collectors and history lovers have high premiums on important minting errors, especially those that belong to the famous events.

How to find these rare quarters

So, if you think you have a valuable coin of these, what should you do?

• Check all the quarters of you, especially with the “1776–1976” date on them.
• Watch carefully to identify the signal of any double image on Obvers (Washington’s profile).
• Minting errors are not always clear. Use a magnifying glass to examine the details closely.
• Identify Mint Mark. Proof versions of San Francisco (Icon “S”) are usually not in circulation, but if found, they can be highly valuable.
• If you feel that you have a double-stroke quarter, consult a coin specialist or certified numismatist for authentication. Professional coin grading service (PCGS) can significantly affect the market value of certification coins by authority.

Can you have a $5 million coin?

The George Washington Bicentennial Quarter is an important part of American history. While millions of such coins are in circulation, only a few selected double-stroke obversions take error, which makes them worth millions of dollars. The value of these coins is a result of their rarity, unique error, and the historical period they represent.

Take time to check your open change. You never know that the next quarter in your pocket can be one that is worth more than $5 million.

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