These 8 State Quarters Are Worth Hundreds – What to Look For

(KMDL-FM) How long ago do you think the United States Mint started issuing commemorative state quarters? They're very commonplace now. But the first state quarters were entered into circulation in 1999. The Mint added new quarters until all 50 states were represented. And thanks to some quirks in the process and minting errors, some of those state quarters are worth quite a bit more than just .25 cents.

Coin collectors will tell you that what makes a coin valuable is how rare it is. In the case of the state quarters we're featuring in this narrative, almost all of them are "valuable" because of an error. Sometimes mistakes happen in the minting process, the error is discovered, yet some of the less-than-perfect coins and bills get entered into circulation.

What Makes One Coin More Valuable Than Another Coin?

Circulation or lack of circulation is another thing that coin collectors look for in tracking down their treasures. A coin in uncirculated condition is far more valuable to collectors than a coin that has been through the rigors of being used as legal tender. Still, some of the quarters in question are so rare that collectors are willing to pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars for them.

READ MORE: Does a Star on a $20 Bill Make it More Valuable? Yes, it Does

According to the financial advice website FinanceBuzz.com there are eight state quarters that you should keep your eyes peeled for. Many of the quarters have minting errors or something similar that makes coin collectors drool. There are a few terms you might want to familiarize yourself with. This video should help you understand what you're looking for.

It's time to pour out the piggy bank and check your pockets and purses; we are looking for quarters. Specifically, State Quarters with unique errors or other defining attributes that make them very valuable to collectors.

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What Are the 8 State Quarters That Collectors Look For The Most?

Valued between $500 and $1000 is the 1999-S Delaware state quarter. What makes this coin so valuable is that it was the first state quarter issued. Here is where the condition will mean a lot to a collector. If you happen to have one of those in mint condition, your quarter could be worth $1,000 or maybe more.

The 2005 Doubled Die Minnesota Quarter is valued between $500 and $700 in most collector estimates. Some versions of this coin had printing errors. Some versions have an extra tree or a partial tree on the outline of the state. Again, the condition of the coin will make a huge difference in how much a collector is willing to pay.

READ MORE: Do You Have A Rare Dollar Bill Worth $150 or More? You Might

Valued anywhere from $500 to $2,500 is the 2000 South Carolina quarter. This was one of the first quarters released in the state quarter program. Some variations of this coin feature extra strikes from the minting process. One of these coins, in the utmost condition, recently fetched more than $3,000 at auction.

From 2004 comes the Wisconsin "Extra Leaf" Quarter. It's actually a 2004-D quarter. I bet you have figured out why collectors are willing to pay up to $1,000 or maybe more for one of those. Some of the Wisconsin quarters were printed with an extra leaf or ear of corn on the tail side. There are actually a couple of variations of the variation; some of the leaves are shown high, some are shown low. A quarter such as this in great condition could earn you even more than $1,000 at auction.

Another state quarter that was among the first minted was the 2000 New Hampshire Quarter. Chances are, if you're going to find one of the quarters on our list, it will be this one. They are not "rare", but what makes them valuable is if you have one of the coins in pristine condition. One of those could earn up to $2,000 or more at auction.

Valued at $500 is the 1999-S New Jersey Quarter. Again, one of the early versions in the state quarter program. The "S" mint mark means the coin was minted in San Franscisco and again, what would make this quarter valuable to a collector is its condition. The better the condition, the bigger the payout. Some of these coins have returned upwards of $500 at auction.

Which State Quarter is Valued at More Than $4,000?

How would you like to turn .25 cents into more than $4,000? Then you'd want to find a 1999-P Connecticut Broadstruck Quarter. This quarter is extremely rare and valuable because of a minting error with a broadstrike. The coin was minted in Philadelphia, and one of these "mistakes" could be your good fortune. One of these coins recently returned $4,362 at auction.

One of the last state quarters printed is also one of the more valuable coins on our list. It is the 2008-D Alaska State Quarter. This coin was produced with several variations. The coin features a grizzly bear eating a salmon on the backside. If you have one of these coins in pristine condition, that's what makes the collectors crave it; you could be holding a quarter that is worth more than $2,300.

You can read more about these coins and how their specific value is calculated by visiting FinanceBuzz.com. You can also find out more about coin collecting and why some coins are worth more than their face value by visiting the official website of the United States Mint.