Every year features a new series of coins issued by the US Mint. The most recent series of quarters to complete its issue is, unsurprisingly, the 2023 Quarter Series. However, because of an amount of errors in the series, the 2023 Quarter Series has become a notable target for numismatists and precious metals collectors. These errors have resulted in dramatically escalating prices for these quarters.
Because these quarters are both common and accessible to you, it’s important to know what you need to check with your 2023 quarters.
Before we discuss some of the more prominent errors found on 2023 quarters, it’s important to understand what we mean by coin errors. A coin error is a defect that a coin incurs as it is being minted. Wear and tear, scuffs, damage, or dirt on coins is not considered an error and does not add to its value. Because coin errors are both rare and indelible, they make every misshapen coin a unique and valuable piece to collect.
Coin errors typically occur at three different points of the minting process. To mint a coin, workers place a circular disc called a “planchet” in line for a coining press. Each press has a design, known as a “die”, on the end of its stamping mechanism. When a planchet reaches the press, the press forms the coin by using hydraulic pressure to mash the die into the planchet.
So, the opportunities for errors occur with the planchets themselves, the dies used to cast the coins, or the presses themselves. Most of the errors occur with the latter two, as they have the most room for deformities and mistakes.
Common types of errors include problems with the dies themselves, like chips or cracks, that cause malformations on the coins they encounter. A die chip is a portion of the die’s perimeter that breaks off from its outer perimeter, resulting in an unusual blob of excess metal on the coin itself. A crack, obviously, is a seam in the die, and results in an out-of-place metal ridge forming on the coin.
Coins may also incur errors due to the way that the machine strikes them. There are two dies that must stamp both sides of the coins, and they can produce errors if they are misaligned in any way. Minters can also create defects in the dies if no planchet enters the machine before its stamp, resulting in a clash between the two dies. Because there are such pressures and velocities involved, the clash can deform both dies in unique ways.
Now that we’ve discussed common coin errors that may occur, let’s get more specific about the 2023 quarters. At this point, collectors and experts have identified four different errors on the 2023 series. Each one is on a different quarter, and the only honoree whose quarter has no identified defect yet is Mrs. Roosevelt. So, let’s walk through the known errors that you may find on your 2023 quarters.
The first coin error to mention on the 2023 quarters occurs on the 2023-P Bessie Coleman quarter. The P designator indicates that this error happened at the Philadelphia Mint, so you wouldn’t see this error from other locations, like Denver, San Francisco, or West Point.
Bessie Coleman, as mentioned, was an early American aviator. So, it’s appropriate that part of her reverse features an airplane. However, some of the P-designated quarters were produced using a die with a chip in it. The chip resulted in a blob of metal on the airplane’s right wing.
Such quarters can demand $20 or more from a collector, depending on the coin’s condition and grade. In addition, any increase in prominence that Bessie Coleman may experience in the future could escalate the value of these error coins dramatically.
The most common error on Maria Tallchief’s quarter occurs due to a similar defect as in the Bessie Coleman quarter. In this case, the Denver Mint had an unfortunately-placed chip on one of its dies.
Tallchief’s primary accomplishments reside in the world of ballet dancing, but the error occurs due to a commemoration of another aspect of her personage. As Tallchief was a Plains Indian, her homage on the quarter features a traditional headdress that sails in the wind during a graceful jeté.
The chip error that left a small blob on the coin’s metal has, in effect, created an extra “feather” that was not part of the original design of the reverse. Because of the error’s quasi-integration into the design of the coin, these error coins are becoming increasingly desired finds for numismatists.
Although we mentioned clashed die errors above, it’s unusual to see one this profound on such a prominent coin. The 2023-P Edith Kanaka’ole quarter features a clashed die error that is both easy to see and a bit humorous.
The clash of dies in this case has resulted in the printing of the name “EDITH,” which appears in large block letters, on both sides of the coin. It appears artfully enough in Kanaka’ole’s hair on the coin’s reverse, but the die clash also imprints an upside-down version of “EDITH” on poor George Washington on the obverse.
Because these errors are both rare overall (in the scope of all coins minted) and rare within the context of errors themselves, they are quite valuable. Estimates vary, but charging more than $100 for one of these error coins is a very reasonable situation at this time. Furthermore, they are unlikely to decline in value, and as more of them are lost, they will become prized parts of many coin collections.
Jovita Idar’s quarter has also appeared, at times, with significant errors. In fact, some of the journalist’s quarters have shown up with as many as three crack lines across them.
All of these errors are the result of die cracks, or seams formed within the surface of the dies. Cracks have appeared in the image of Ms. Idar’s hair, the edges of the coin, and notably across her shirt.
Any of these errors – particularly the crack across her shirt – can increase the value of the Idar quarter above $20. Because these errors are so noticeable, it is likely that these quarters are going to remain popular for collectors and investors.
The 2023 quarter series is part of the American Women Quarters Program, the Mint’s effort to recognize and celebrate the diverse group of women who have contributed notably to the growth of the United States. The program began in 2022 and will run until the issue of the 2025 quarters, and is the successor to the America the Beautiful series of quarters.
The quarters in this program feature George Washington on the obverse (front) of the coins, but with a different design. The new visage of George Washington now portrays him facing to the right. Fittingly, the image is the product of Laura Gardin Fraser, a prolific American sculptor who created the design in 1932.
On the reverse (back) of the coins, the quarters bear the likeness of one of 20 notable American women. Each series year has 5 designees that may appear on its releases, and the list is diverse and varied, both in terms of time and region of the country. For 2023, the women who appeared on the coins are:
Obviously, some of these women, like Eleanor Roosevelt, are well-known to the American public. However, one of the biggest reasons for the program is to move some of these outstanding women out of their places of relative obscurity.
It’s exciting to think that you might have valuable quarters knocking around your house somewhere. One of the nice things about the 2023 error quarters is that they are relatively plentiful and easy to acquire. Many of the most valuable errors from times past are quite rare, but it’s not unreasonable to suspect that you might have value in your pocket right now.
Regardless of their vintage, you can look for errors on any of the coins you possess. Generally speaking, a coin should be perfect in terms of its stamp and design. In other words, scuffs and other wear and tear aren’t considered errors, but any out-of-place blotches, blobs, lines, or cracks that are within the coin’s metal are simply not supposed to be there.
So, you can examine your coins for any of these sorts of irregularities. If you find anything out of place, the best thing to do is reach out to an expert about it. You can call us here at JM Bullion and we can give our opinion, or you can visit a reputable coin dealer in your area.
Either way, once you’ve confirmed that your quarter is, indeed, an error coin, you can either keep it as part of your collection or look to convert it into cash. We are happy to give you a fair offer for your error coins, so be sure to reach out to JM Bullion if you suspect you have a special coin on your hands.