Coin collectors have known for a long time that every coin has value, but some coins have marks that make them even more valuable.
The general public does not always know how much a piece is worth. After all, we are surrounded by money, and most of it, especially old money, only knows what it says on the front.
But that is not true at all. According to the US First Exchange portal, the value of a coin or bill is based on three main things: how rare it is, how good its state is, and how much people want it.
If all of these things come together in a perfect storm, the value of the currency could reach millions of dollars. These are the rarest cases, but some currencies, like the one we will be looking at today, can easily reach thousands of dollars.
The George Washington Bicentennial Quarter, a rare piece of currency
There are a lot of George Washington quarters out there, but the George Washington Bicentennial Quarter is so rare that it is worth a lot more than its stamp.
It was made in 1975 to honor the 200th anniversary of American freedom, but it is no longer in circulation. Coins from this time are already hard to find, so finding one with the bicentennial theme would be even better.
The United States Mint says that this quarter is unique in a number of ways. For example, it was made between 1975 and 1976 and bears both the dates 1776 and 1976.
No piece of the quarter had just one date printed; they all had both. The back of this coin changed from the standard Washington’s eagle to a happier scene in 1975 and 1976. This is another unique thing about it.
If you want to tell this coin apart from others with similar features, you would have to find one with a bust of President George Washington on the front and a colonial drummer facing left and a victory torch surrounded by thirteen stars in the upper left corner.
The writings will also be a little different from the originals. They will read:
On the front, it says “LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1776-1976.”
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, QUARTER DOLLAR are written on the back.
Anywhere in the country that the coins were made will be marked with a Mint Mark, such as Denver, Philadelphia, or San Francisco. The difference between coins that are not expensive and coins that are rare starts here.
The coin that is worth far more than face value
One version of this coin came out with a mistake that makes it even more valuable than the regular Bicentennial Quarter. The Mint Mark on this coin is very important for figuring out how much it is worth.
This mistake means that the coin has a double-struck obverse. This happened when it was being minted, when the die used to stamp the design was not lined up right, making a double picture.
This means that coins with the double-struck design can be worth up to $13,500 because they are so rare and represent an important part of American history during the Bicentennial celebration.
But do not let your excitement and greed get the best of you. Some dishonest sellers may try to sell these coins and others for a lot more than they would sell for on the open market or with smart buyers. Before you buy or sell a coin, you should always look into it thoroughly and do your study.