For years, the numismatic community has said unequivocally that every coin has value, but some have additional markings that make them even more unique. The general public does not always comprehend the worth of a piece; after all, we are surrounded by currency, and most pieces, particularly those that have been removed from circulation, only have the value stamped on the front for many of us.
However, this is not the case; according to the US First Exchange portal, the value of a coin or bill is decided by its catalogue value, which is dependent on three major factors: rarity, item condition, and demand.
If all of these conditions come together in a perfect storm, the value of the currency can skyrocket to the millions, and while they are the rarer ones, some can easily reach the thousands, such as the one we’ll be discussing today.
The George Washington Bicentennial Quarter, a rare piece of currency
There are many George Washington quarters, but the special edition George Washington Bicentennial Quarter is so uncommon that its value much outweighs the stamp. It was first produced in 1975 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of American independence, but it is no longer in circulation, and coins from this period are uncommon enough without the bicentennial twist that finding one would be a bonus.
According to the United States Mint, this quarter has various distinguishing features. For example, the coin was produced in 1975 and 1976 and has the dual dates of 1776-1976; none of the pieces had only one of the dates printed; all had both. Another distinguishing aspect is that the reverse of this coin was altered from the standard Washington’s eagle reverse to a more joyful picture between 1975 and 1976.
If you want to distinguish this coin from others with similar characteristics, look for one with a bust of President George Washington on the obverse and a colonial drummer facing left on the reverse, as well as a victory torch surrounded by thirteen stars in the upper left corner.
The inscriptions will also be somewhat changed from the original, which are:
- Inscriptions on the obverse: LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1776-1976
- Inscriptions on the reverse: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, QUARTER DOLLAR
The coins will also bear a Mint Mark for Denver, Philadelphia, or San Francisco, depending on where they were manufactured in the country. And this is where the distinction between non-valuable and rare coins starts.
The coin that is worth far more than face value
The Mint Mark on this particular coin is critical for determining its worth; one of the versions produced an error, making it even more valuable than the ordinary Bicentennial Quarter. This error is the coin’s double-struck obverse, which occurred during the minting process when the die used to stamp the design was misplaced, resulting in a duplicate image.
This means that coins with the double-struck variety can be worth up to $13,500 because of their rarity and historical significance during the Bicentennial celebration.
However, do not let your enthusiasm and greed get the best of you; some unscrupulous dealers may attempt to upsell these coins and many others for far more than they would sell for in the open market or with experienced purchasers. Before buying or selling any coin, always conduct thorough research and due diligence.