Are your curious whether 2002 quarters are worth collecting? You’ve come to the right place because our 2002 quarter errors list will reveal some of the most profitable quarters worth adding to your collection. Whether you are a new collector or an experienced hobbyist, it is possible to build a high-value Washington quarters collection!
The 2002 quarter is part of the 50 State Quarter Program in which the United States Mint produced five stunning quarters each year between 1999 and 2009 in celebration of each of the 50 states’ iconic historical and cultural sites and symbols.
In 2002, the Program honored the states of Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, and Mississippi in that order. But, despite their popularity, these coins are only worth their face value in circulated condition. Uncirculated quarters are plentiful across most grades from MS65 to M68, making these coins equally affordable.
But, this doesn’t mean that 2002 quarters are not worth collecting. One of the most rewarding ways to collect these quarters is hunting for error coins. Minting errors can be worth a fortune if you know what to look for and while there aren’t as many known errors is this series, you can still build a high-value collection with select error coins.
So, let’s jump into our list of 2002 quarter errors and discover Washington quarters worth money.
1. 2002-P MS66 Ohio Quarter Double Die Obverse Error
A doubled die occurs during the die-making process when the hub strikes the die more than once at slightly different angles. This results in a visible doubling on the design elements, including the images and inscriptions.
The stronger and more visible the doubled die error, the more valuable it tends to be. This error is less common on modern coins due to advancements in technology. However, when it does appear, it can attract a lot of interest among collector due to how rare it is.
On some 2002 Ohio quarters, you might notice some doubling on the astronaut’s helmet and the inscription “OHIO”. Such errors can be worth a premium—for example in 2018, a collector at a Heritage Auctions event paid an astounding $1,450 for a 2002-P MS66 Ohio quarter with a double die obverse error, making this an excellent addition to your collection.
2. 2002-S MS64 Louisiana Quarter Struck-Through Error
Another error you might encounter when collecting 2002 quarters is the struck-through. Such an error occurs when stray items such as grease, dust, hair strands, or other particles, are struck between the die and planchet.
Struck-through errors are fascinating because they show how tiny, seemingly insignificant factors such as a hair strand or small piece of cloth can affect a coin’s appearance and value. This error shows just how delicate the minting process is, where even small obstacles can make a big difference in a coin’s design.
In 2013, a 2002-S Louisiana quarter graded MS64 with a struck-through error fetched an impressive $1,020 at a Goldberg Auctions sale. In particular, the coin featured a reverse struck-through error, where some debris blocked part of the design, causing a depression or indentation on the bird’s wing.
3. 2002-P MS65 Mississippi Quarter Cud Error
The next one on our list of 2002 quarter errors is the cud. This error happens when a piece of the die breaks away, leaving a raised, irregular shape that is eventually impressed on the coin’s surface or along the rim, in the case of a rim cud error. The bump may distort some of the coin’s design elements.
On the final coin, a rim cud appears like a raised, irregular, and lateral lump along the diameter. Such an error is the result of normal wear and tear the die experiences throughout its life span.
In 2010, a 2002-P Mississippi quarter graded MS65 with a cud error was sold for $1,125 at a GreatCollections sale. The cud appears on the coin’s rim, distorting part of the state outline.
4. 2002-S MS66 Louisiana Quarter Clashed Die Error
Another error that comes up in the 2002 quarters series is the clashed die. As the name implies, a clashed die error occurs when the obverse and reverse dies collide without a planchet between them.
When the dies strike, they leave an impression of their design on each other and eventually transfer this onto the subsequent planchet. Due to the clashing, the dies impress ghost-like images on the coin’s surface, resulting in one of the most fascinating and high-value errors.
In 2014, a collector at a Goldberg Auctions sale paid a whopping $1225 for a 2002-S Louisiana quarter with a die clash error. The quarter features subtle, incomplete elements of the state’s design in the background alongside Washington’s profile on the obverse.
5. 2002-S MS64 Mississippi Quarter Lamination Error
Next, we’ll look at the lamination error found on some 2002 Mississippi quarters. This error occurs when the planchet’s upper clad layers separate during the striking process, resulting in an uneven or distorted strike.
Impurities or air bubbles trapped in the metal alloy are a major cause of lamination errors. These foreign elements may prevent the metal layers from properly bonding, causing the upper layer to break, crack, and peel. As mentioned, such an error may result in a coin with an incomplete design.
In 2016, a collector on eBay bought a 2002-S Mississippi quarter with a lamination error for $1,150. The quarter shows an extensive lamination error where the clad layer has peeled away, leaving part of the design incomplete while exposing parts of the inner copper layer.
6. 2002-P MS66 Louisiana Quarter Partial Die Break Error
When collecting 2002 quarters, you might come across a partial die break, which collectors often pay a premium for.
The error forms when part of the die breaks away but does not result in a full crack. Instead, it creates a raised, irregular area on the die, which is then transferred to or impressed onto the coin. Partial die breaks often happen due to normal wear and tear, and pressure, which causes small pieces of the die to chip off.
Unlike full die breaks, partial die breaks don’t completely mess up with the coin’s design but you will notice some flaws on the surface.
In 2018, Stack’s Bowers sold a 2002-P Louisiana quarter graded MS66 with a partial die break error on the reverse for $1,200. On this coin, a piece of the die, close to the bird’s wing has broken off, causing a raised bump on that area of the coin’s surface.
7. 2002-D MS64 Indiana Quarter Rotated Die Error
A rotated die is another error that comes up in the 2002 quarters series. As the name implies, this error occurs due to an offset between the obverse and reverse dies, causing the dies to strike the design at a rotated angle.
Ideally, when the dies are aligned, the design is struck uprightly and at the center of the planchet. However, technical or man-made errors can cause a misalignment in the dies, resulting in an angled strike.
Rotated die errors can be slight but some can be extreme, with the largest rotations being the most valuable. For example, a coin with a 40-degree rotation or misalignment will typically fetch more than one with a 20-degree rotation.
In 2017, Heritage Auctions sold a 2002-D Indiana quarter graded MS64 with a rotated die error for $1,050, making this quirky error an excellent addition to your Washington quarters collection.
8. 2002-P MS65 Ohio Quarter Missing Edge Lettering Error
Another error on our 2002 quarters list is the missing edge lettering. As the name suggests, this is an error in which the lettering found on the edge of the 50 state program quarters is either not applied or is only partially applied.
A missing edge lettering error, although extremely rare can occur when the die used to strike the edge lettering is misaligned or problematic, causing the letters to not appear on the coin’s rim. Factors such as die misalignment, technical issues, or inadequate pressure may cause this error.
In 2014, a collector at a Stack’s Bowers auction paid $1,000 for a 2002-P Ohio quarter graded MS65 with a missing edge lettering error. In particular, the coin was missing the edge lettering, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
9. 2002-P MS65 Tennessee Quarter Saddle Strike Error
When collecting 2002 quarters, you might come across a rare yet fascinating error known as a saddle strike.
This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet twice but the planchet fails to eject from the pressing hub. Instead, the planchet changes its position on the second strike, resulting in a secondary, off-center impression.
In 2019, a collector at a Heritage Auctions sale paid an eye-popping $1430 for a 2002-P Tennessee quarter graded MS65 with a saddle strike error, making this coveted error one of the best additions to yours Washington collection. On this quarter, a subtle impression of Washington’s profile on the obverse overlaps part of the reverse design including the state’s outline and musical instruments.
Summary
The 2002 quarters may only be worth their face value but with a solid strategy and a bit of patience, you can discover valuable minting errors in this series! As our 2002 quarter errors list reveals, from doubled dies to rare saddle strikes, these coins can be worth a fortune. So, what are you waiting for? Start your journey today and build an enviable 2002 quarter errors collection!
