Have you ever checked your loose change and wondered if one of those small coins could actually be worth a fortune? Believe it or not, some U.S. dimes and quarters hiding in pockets, jars, or old drawers are worth way more than their face value—and a few could even change your life. Collectors pay thousands, sometimes even hundreds of thousands, for rare coins with unusual minting errors, limited production runs, or historic significance.
Let’s dive into the top 10 U.S. dimes and quarters that might just make you richer than you ever imagined.
1. 1894-S Barber Dime
This is one of the holy grails of coin collecting. Only 24 were ever minted in San Francisco, and today, fewer than 10 are known to exist. If you stumble across one, you’re looking at a coin worth over a million dollars.
2. 1916-D Mercury Dime
The very first year of the Mercury dime series, struck in Denver, is a big deal. With fewer than 250,000 minted, a 1916-D in excellent condition can fetch up to six figures at auction.
3. 1942/41 Mercury Dime (Overdate Error)
This fascinating error happened when the die for 1941 was accidentally over-punched with 1942. The result? A collectible mistake that can bring in tens of thousands, depending on condition.
4. 1975 No-S Roosevelt Dime
Proof coins minted in San Francisco are supposed to carry an “S” mintmark, but a few 1975 dimes slipped out without it. These “No-S” proofs are extremely scarce, often selling for more than $300,000.
5. 1982 No-P Roosevelt Dime
Another oddball error, this time from Philadelphia. In 1982, the mint forgot to stamp the “P” mintmark on a small batch of dimes. While not as rare as the 1975 No-S, they can still be worth hundreds of dollars.
6. 1932-D Washington Quarter
When the Washington quarter was first introduced in 1932, Denver produced only 436,800 of them—tiny numbers for coinage. Today, this low-mintage coin is one of the most prized quarters, worth thousands in high grades.
7. 1932-S Washington Quarter
San Francisco also struck limited numbers of quarters that same year. The 1932-S is another key rarity, with values climbing well into the thousands depending on condition.
8. 1950-D/S Washington Quarter (Overmintmark)
Errors always spice up coin collecting, and this one’s no exception. Some Denver-minted quarters show traces of an “S” mintmark underneath the “D,” making them highly collectible.
9. 1976 Bicentennial Quarter (Error Varieties)
Millions of bicentennial quarters were made, but a few with unusual errors—like double dies or off-center strikes—are worth big money. Some of these can go for thousands.
10. 2019–2020 W-Mintmark Quarters
In a modern twist, the U.S. Mint released a limited number of quarters with a “W” (West Point) mintmark into circulation. With only 2 million of each design, these are already commanding premiums among collectors.
Finding one of these coins in your change jar might sound like a long shot, but history shows it does happen. Ordinary Americans have pulled rare treasures from circulation before. So the next time you’re rolling coins for the bank or digging through an old dresser drawer, take a closer look—you just might be holding a small fortune.