If you have a 2023 quarter in your change, take a closer look before spending it. Collectors have found several errors and die varieties among the five quarters released in 2023 as part of the American Women Quarters Program.
Some of the most talked-about finds include die chips, die cracks, clashed dies, missing clad layers, and the so-called “extra feather” variety.
Not every unusual-looking quarter is valuable, though. Damage that happens after a coin leaves the Mint is not a mint error, and high online asking prices don't necessarily represent what collectors are actually paying.
Here are the 2023 quarters worth checking.
Which Quarters Were Released in 2023?
The five 2023 American Women Quarters honor:
Bessie Coleman
Edith Kanakaʻole
Eleanor Roosevelt
Jovita Idar
Maria Tallchief
Circulating versions were produced at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints with P or D mint marks. Each quarter has a different reverse design, which means the areas you'll want to examine vary from coin to coin.
2023-P Bessie Coleman Quarter Die Chip
One of the better-known 2023 finds appears on the Bessie Coleman quarter from the Philadelphia Mint.
Look closely at the airplane on the reverse. Some examples have a raised area of metal on or near the airplane wing, generally attributed to a die chip.
A die chip occurs when a small piece of the die breaks away. Metal flows into that damaged area when the coin is struck, creating a raised feature on the finished quarter.
These quarters have picked up several nicknames online, but the important thing is whether you're seeing a genuine raised die chip rather than a scratch or dent.
Larger, more obvious die chips generally attract more collector interest than tiny examples.
2023-P Edith Kanakaʻole Clashed Die
Collectors have also identified clashed-die examples of the 2023-P Edith Kanakaʻole quarter.
A die clash happens when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a blank coin between them. Parts of each design can be transferred to the opposite die.
Coins struck afterward may show faint elements of the reverse design on the Washington side or portions of Washington's portrait where they shouldn't appear on the reverse.
If you think you've found one, compare it closely with a normal Edith Kanakaʻole quarter of the same mint.
What Is the 2023 “IN COD WE TRUST” Quarter?
You'll probably encounter the so-called “IN COD WE TRUST” quarter when researching 2023 errors.
The normal motto is IN GOD WE TRUST, but on some quarters the G can appear weak or distorted enough to resemble a C.
A weak letter can result from grease or debris interfering with the strike, die deterioration, or other production issues. Damage after the coin enters circulation can also alter lettering.
Be cautious with claims that every “IN COD WE TRUST” quarter is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. Online asking prices don't establish a coin's actual market value.
2023 Maria Tallchief “Extra Feather” Quarter
Some Maria Tallchief quarters have a small die chip near the headdress that creates the appearance of an additional feather.
Collectors commonly call these “extra feather” quarters.
The size and visibility of the die chip matter. A prominent raised feature that can be easily distinguished from the normal design is generally more interesting than a tiny chip requiring heavy magnification.
2023 Jovita Idar Quarter Errors
The Jovita Idar quarter is worth examining closely because much of its reverse consists of inscriptions representing her life and work.
Reported examples include die cracks, die chips, struck-through areas, and weak or partially filled lettering.
Look for raised lines across the lettering or other parts of the design. A raised line can indicate a crack in the die, while a line cut into the coin is more likely to be a scratch that occurred after minting.
Missing Clad Layer Jovita Idar Quarter
A much more dramatic Jovita Idar error involves a missing clad layer.
Modern quarters have a copper core between copper-nickel outer layers. When one of those outer layers is missing, the affected side can have a noticeable copper appearance.
A certified 2023-P Jovita Idar quarter with a missing reverse clad layer has been documented weighing about 4.7 grams, compared with the normal 5.67 grams for a modern quarter.
This is a major minting error and considerably different from the small die chips commonly found on modern coins.
2023 Eleanor Roosevelt Quarter Errors
Eleanor Roosevelt quarters have also been reported with die chips, die cracks, and larger die breaks.
One of the more noticeable types of die break is called a cud. This happens when a portion of the die breaks away near the rim, leaving a raised area on coins struck with the damaged die.
A large, obvious die break is generally more interesting to collectors than a tiny die chip.
How Can You Tell an Error From Damage?
This is one of the biggest challenges when searching modern coins.
Die cracks and die chips are generally raised above the coin's surface. Scratches, cuts, and gouges usually go down into the surface and are more likely to be post-mint damage.
Other legitimate mint errors can include off-center strikes, struck-through errors, missing clad layers, major die breaks, and clashed dies.
Compare anything suspicious with a normal example of the same quarter. Good lighting and a magnifying glass or coin loupe can make small differences easier to see.
A digital scale is also useful when you suspect a planchet or missing-clad error. A normal modern quarter should weigh approximately 5.67 grams.
And don't clean a coin you think may have an error. Cleaning can damage its surface and reduce its collector value.
How Much Are 2023 Quarter Errors Worth?
There isn't a standard value for a 2023 quarter error.
A small die chip might bring only a modest premium, while a dramatic off-center strike, missing clad layer, major cud, or another significant mint error can be worth considerably more.
Value depends on the type and severity of the error, the coin's condition, rarity, collector demand, and whether the error has been authenticated.
When researching prices, look at completed sales and reputable auction records rather than simply searching for the highest asking price online.
A seller can list a quarter for $1,000. That doesn't mean someone has paid $1,000 for it.
Professional grading can make sense for a dramatic or potentially valuable error, but the cost may not be worthwhile for a minor die chip.
Are 2023 Quarter Errors Worth Looking For?
Yes. One advantage of searching for 2023 quarter errors is that these coins are still relatively easy to find in circulation.
Pay particular attention to the airplane on Bessie Coleman quarters, possible clash marks on Edith Kanakaʻole quarters, Maria Tallchief's headdress, the lettering on Jovita Idar quarters, and die breaks on Eleanor Roosevelt quarters.
Most unusual-looking quarters won't turn out to be valuable mint errors. But if you find something dramatic, compare it with a normal coin and determine what caused the difference before putting it back into circulation.