Have you ever pulled a handful of change from your pocket or purse and wondered whether or not there are hidden gems there that might be worth hundreds of dollars — or even more? Some lucky individuals with a 2004 Wisconsin state quarter will find that they are holding much more than $0.25 in their pockets. A find like this is something that you and your friends will be talking about for years.
State Quarters
Each state has a quarter with a specific design, and these designs did not vary from year to year but stayed consistent. However, once in a while, a design was slightly different or was double-struck — meaning, it was tapped twice with the die. The 50 state quarters series creates a fascinating look into each state in America, with the quarters for each state depicting something about the history or current life in the area. These coins have been circulated since their launch in 1999 and were slated to be a 10-year initiative to honor each state separately.
2007 Wisconsin State Quarter
Of all the states, what makes the Wisconsin state quarter so expensive? In 2004, there was an error on the design. The design is supposed to include a trio of items that are specific to Wisconsin, including a wheel of cheese, a cow and a partially-husked ear of corn. What’s special about some of these quarters in 2004 is that there’s an additional line near the leaf of the ear of corn, making it look like there’s an additional leaf in the design. Some people believe that it was a design flaw in the die itself, while others think that the act of changing the look of the design was done on purpose by an employee of the Denver Mint, where this item was cast.
Two Different Variations
Not only is there some variability in the number of leaves, but there are also some differences even in the oddness. Experts in coin history call the two variants “Extra Leaf Up” and “Extra Leaf Down,” creating a rare differentiation to the “leaves” of the ear of corn.
The world of numismatics is one of the small and particular changes that can occur during the minting process, and the 2004 Wisconsin state quarter with an extra leaf is one that is hotly collected by professionals. Learn more about this fun hobby and see if your coins, gold or silver might be worth some extra cash when you contact Roswell Gold, Silver and Coins at 770-910-9313 today. As North Georgia’s gold and silver center, Roswell specializes in buying and selling scrap metal in all forms and investment-quality bullion as well.