Rare Washington error coin sells for $300 online – do you have one in your spare change?

WHAT looks like small change could actually be a small fortune if you know what to look for.

It's no secret that rare coins can go for a lot of money depending on certain errors, controversies, or other specifications.

According to a recently closed auction for a Washington quarter from 1983 on eBay, you might have a coin worth a few hundred dollars lying in your spare change.

The quarter sold at auction for a staggering $300.

The coin in question has a unique and sought-after error in which the stamp appears offset.

The coin is circulated in 25C denomination and was minted in Denver, United States.

The mintmark on the back of the coin next to Washington's head should show where the coin was minted.

A "D" would show that the coin is minted in Denver.

However, the offset error on this quarter increases its value, as the "D" is filled and obscured, making it distinct from the standard Washington quarter.

The Washington quarter is still in circulation today, but those made during the very first year of minting, 1932, are the most valuable.

To check the date of yours, look underneath Washington’s head for the year.

The United States Mint produced Washington quarters at three different mints: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S).

Those struck in Denver are by far the rarest of the Washington quarters today.

RAREST WASHINGTON QUARTERS

If you are lucky enough to have a 1932-D Washington quarter on your hands, it could be very valuable.

These coins have an original mintage of 436,800 pieces, which is very low.

But to fetch the highest price for your coin, it will need to be in excellent condition.

Coin conditions are graded on the Sheldon Scale, with numbers ranging from 1 to 70.

In 2001, a 1932-D Washington quarter graded at MS66 sold at auction for $89,000.

At the time, it was the finest certified coin of its kind.

But if you have one in even better condition, it could sell for more than $89,000.

RARE COINS

YOU may be holding something valuable in your wallet. Check out these articles on rare coins to see if you may have a treasure hidden deep in your pockets.

• Rare Lincoln penny sells for $201
• This buffalo nickel sold for $1,165
• 1971 Eisenhower silver coin sells for $264,000
• Lincoln double die obverse penny sells for $2,000
• Half cent sells for $3,383
• Rare nickel sells for $1,956 on eBay
• 1889 CC Morgan Silver dollar coin sells for $1,850
• Lincoln 1992 penny can be worth up to $25,000
• Standing Liberty quarter sells for $565
• Lincoln coin minted in 2020 sells for $525

MORE VALUABLE COINS

Many of the most valuable coins command a high price due to mintage errors at the time of production.

For example, your dime could be worth up to $456,000 if it is missing a mintmark.

Certain coins made in 1975 were struck without this key feature, a letter that signifies where it was produced.

Another type of coin that is highly valuable thanks to an error is a mule coin.

These coins are made with mismatched designs on the front and the back.

Mistakes on old $10 bills could also make them far more valuable than you’d think.

And you’ll need a magnet and a scale to test if your penny is as valuable as $840,000.

BILL ERRORS

BANKNOTES can also be worth a hefty amount, with several printing errors that can boost their value:

• Misaligned Overprint: The bill's seal and serial numbers are printed outside their intended area, sometimes overlapping with other features.
• Mismatched Serial Numbers: The bill's serial numbers on the left and right sides do not match.
• Overly Inked Design: The bill's design is overly dark due to too much ink being printed.
• Blank Reverse: One side of the bill is completely blank because the sheet wasn't flipped during the printing process.