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How To Recognize Different State Quarter Errors?

The State Quarters plan, started by the US Mint in 1999 and ending in 2008, was the release of 50 different 25-cent coins, each showing a different state. 

Most coins looked right, but some problems happened during the making process at the Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) Mints.

The three main, well-known State Quarter errors are:

  1. Wisconsin State Quarter (2004-D) with the “Extra Leaf” 
  2. Kansas State Quarter (2005-P) with the “In God We Rust” 
  3. Minnesota State Quarter (2005-P) with the “Extra Tree” 
Wisconsin State Quarters

Wisconsin State Quarter (2004-D) with the “Extra Leaf”

The Wisconsin quarter came out in 2004. Its back design shows a cow’s head, cheese, and an ear of corn. 

The “Extra Leaf” problem is on the back of the coin, sitting right at the corn’s base. All these problem coins were made at the Denver Mint.

Error Kinds

Two main kinds of the “Extra Leaf” problem were found, different in the part’s direction:

  1. “Extra Leaf Low”: The extra part goes down, curving under the corn’s left side. This kind is found more often than the second one.
  2. “Extra Leaf High”: The extra part goes up, pointing clearly toward the corn’s middle. This kind is rarer and looks thicker.

Cause of the Problem

The simple, technical reason for this problem is a flaw in the working die  — a die gouge is a small hole or line on the die’s surface. When the coin is made, the planchet’s metal fills this hole, making a raised mark on the coin.

There are two ideas about how this damage happened:

  • Accidental Damage: The damage might have happened from a tool hitting the die or from dirt getting stuck between the dies during the making process. The pressure put the material into the die, making a line.
  • Intentional Change: Some collectors think the “leaf” shape is too clear to be just an accident. This idea suggests that a Mint worker might have changed the die on purpose, trying to make a rare coin. 

The US Mint never gave a formal reason for this problem, the problem is only on 2004-D coins; Philadelphia ones do not have this flaw.

Kansas State Quarter (2005-P) with the “In God We Rust” Problem

The Kansas quarter came out in 2005. Its back shows a bison. The front has George Washington’s portrait and the writing “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The “In God We Rust” problem happens when the letter “T” in “TRUST” is missing or very weak, making the writing look like “IN GOD WE RUST”.

Cause of the Problem

This problem is called a filled die, being a type of struck through error.

How it Happens:

  1. Coin presses need grease or oil to work well and stop parts from breaking.
  2. Over time, this grease, with dust and small metal bits, gets thick and sticks together.
  3. This mix goes into the die’s lowest parts, the parts that make the raised design.
  4. When the die, filled with this material, hits the planchet, the mix stops the coin metal from moving right into those holes.
  5. Because of this, the design on the finished coin, coming from the filled area, looks weak or is fully missing.

But this one is special because it happened on the country’s main saying, changing its meaning a lot.

Minnesota State Quarter (2005-P) with the “Extra Tree” Problem

The Minnesota quarter came out in 2005. Its back shows a lake, a state shape, a boat with people, and a line of pine trees. 

The “Extra Tree” problem is a Doubled Die on the coin’s back, making the tree parts look like two or blurry.

Cause of the Problem

The “Extra Tree” problem is a Doubled Die Reverse (DDR).

How it Happens:

  1. Working dies are made by hitting a hub into a die blank many times.
  2. More than one hit is needed to get the design fully on the die.
  3. If the hub moves a little between these hits, a double, moved image is put on the die, making a mistake.
  4. When coins are made with this bad die, they show two or more designs lying on top of each other, with one slightly moved.

Error Kinds

Many kinds of Doubled Die problems were found on the 2005 Minnesota quarters. The most noticed kind shows an extra raised part, looking like small pine branches, located to the right of the fourth tree when counting from the state shape.

  • Major Doubling: The double image is easy to see without special tools.
  • Minor Doubling: The double image looks like a small blur or shadow, needing a 10x tool to be seen.
Kansas State Quarters

General Problem Types on State Quarters

Other common coin problems, not just tied to a state’s design, also happen on State Quarters:

Off-Center Strike

This happens when the planchet is not in the right place under the dies before the hit.

  • What it Looks Like: The coin’s design is moved from the center, making part of the design missing, the edge may not be shaped right.

Die Break

Die breaks are cracks that form on the die’s surface, caused by metal use.

  • What it Looks Like: On the coin, a die break looks like a raised line or a lump of metal, happening because the coin metal filled the crack in the die.

Die Clash

This happens when the top and bottom dies hit each other without a planchet between them.

  • What it Looks Like: On the coin, this looks like a weak, backward, or glitched image of the design from the other side, seen on the coin.

Filled Die

  • What it Looks Like: Parts of the coin’s design are weak or missing, caused by dirt or grease filling the die’s holes before the coin was made.

Improperly Annealed

The heating and cooling process must be right to make the planchet strong.

  • What it Looks Like: Quarters, usually looking silver/nickel, may have dark, black, or odd colors, caused by the metal changing.

Making Process and Quality Check

The State Quarters plan made a very large number of coins. Billions of coins were made from 1999 to 2008. The fast speed and big number of coins make it more likely for problems to happen, especially those from die use or dirty machines.

The US Mints have a quality check system meant to find and take out bad coins before they are put into use. But the examples of Wisconsin, Kansas, and Minnesota quarters show that this system is not perfect, and many problem coins still get out.

Coin Collecting Names and Rules

Errors

An error is a flaw happening during the coin-making process or when the planchet is made. Examples:

  • Off-Center Strike
  • Filled Die
  • Improperly Annealed

The “In God We Rust” problem on the Kansas quarter is a clear error, caused by the die being blocked for a short time.

Varieties

A variety is a difference that is a fixed part of the die itself, they are created when the die is made. Examples:

  • Doubled Die
  • Die Gouge, if it is a strong and lasting flaw.

The Wisconsin “Extra Leaf” problem, likely caused by die damage while working, is often seen as a variety by collectors because it happened again and again on many coins.

Naming Systems

For example, Doubled Dies are often named using DDR or DDO, followed by a number.

Finding and Checking Problems

Finding the “Extra Leaf” (Wisconsin)

  1. Check Year and Mint Mark: The coin must be 2004 with a “D” (Denver) mark
  2. Look Area: The back, near the corn’s base, on the left
  3. Find It: Look for a raised line or part not on the official design. “High” or “Low” depends on the part pointing up or down

Finding “In God We Rust” (Kansas)

  1. Check Year and Mint Mark: The coin must be 2005 with a “P” (Philadelphia) mark
  2. Look Area: The front, the saying “IN GOD WE TRUST” above George Washington
  3. Find It: Look for a very weak or fully missing letter “T” in “TRUST.” Checking this area closely is needed, as a weak “T” may still leave a small mark

Finding the “Extra Tree” (Minnesota)

  1. Check Year and Mint Mark: The coin must be 2005, most often with a “P” mark
  2. Look Area: The back, the line of pine trees near the lake
  3. Find It: Look for signs of doubling or movement: blurry or double tree shapes, especially to the right of the state outline

Market Value and How Rare They Are

The value of problem coins is set by how rare they are, their condition, and how much collectors want them.

  • Rarity: The Filled Die (Kansas) is common, but its value here is because of where the problem is. 

The Doubled Die (Minnesota) and Die Gouge (Wisconsin) are fewer in number.Condition: Coins getting the best money are those that have never been used. Using expert grading services (PCGS, NGC) is the standard way to confirm the coin’s truth and condition.

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Micro Changes – Macro Results: How Small Steps Lead to Big Wins

You probably experienced the basic truth of life by now: success rarely comes instantly. Great achievements are always the result of gradual progress, small but consistent steps. This principle works in all areas of life: in sports, business, personal growth, art and even… in coin collecting. Imagine a numismatist who has been adding to his collection for years, patiently searching for rare specimens, and he finally comes across an unusual or rare Wisconsin State Quarter error example that can finally take a place of honor in his collection.

It is the same in life: at first glance tiny changes may not seem significant, but over time they add up to a grandiose result. But while in the field of numismatics a collector can call on technology to help simplify the path to results, such as using the Coin ID Scanner app, that enables collectors to quickly identify and analyze coins, saving time, personal life often lacks the same handy boosters. Can you do something with the issue? The answer lies in a systematic focus on personal growth. Today we would like to talk more about how the power of small habits can lead you to big wins.

A young man sitting in a cozy café, writing in a journal while reflecting on his personal growth journey.

Why Small Changes Work Better Than Radical Ones

Big changes take a lot of effort, and that’s why most people give up. The human brain is organized in such a way that any drastic change is perceived as a threat. When a person decides to change his life dramatically, for example, from tomorrow to start running 10 kilometers or completely give up sugar, he has to overcome tremendous resistance to habits, established lifestyle and even biological mechanisms. As a result, after a few days or weeks, most of these sudden attempts fail.

Micro-changes work quite differently. When you introduce tiny improvements into your life, they seem so insignificant that your brain doesn’t recognize them as a burden.

Why are microchanges effective?

  • They don’t trigger brain resistance because they seem insignificant.
  • Allow you to adapt gradually, making the new habit natural.
  • They give stable growth without overload.

By the way, this attitude is based on the principle of 1% improvement, which states: if every day to become at least 1% better, then in a year the result will be enormous. According to mathematical calculations, if you improve by 1% every day, then in 365 days the progress will be more than 37 times compared to the starting point.

This principle can be applied in any sphere: physical fitness, intellectual development, professional growth. Imagine that someone wants to learn how to save money. Instead of cutting half of the budget at once, you can start by saving only 1 dollar a day. After a month, $30 dollars will accumulate, after a year, $365, and from there, the habit will turn into an automatic skill and the amount will only grow.

Real Cases: How Small Steps Changed the Fates of Great People

History knows many examples of how small but regular actions led to outstanding results. Many famous people achieved success not because of a sudden breakthrough, but through systematic improvement of their habits. These cases prove that even the smallest change (if done regularly) can turn a life around.

Benjamin Franklin: Excellence through Discipline

Benjamin Franklin was not only a statesman and scientist but also a man who consciously worked on his self-development. As a young man, he created a system of 13 virtues, and each of these points was necessary for success.

Franklin did not try to change everything at once. He would take one virtue and focus only on it for a week. Then he would move on to the next one until he had come full circle. This method allowed him not to overload himself and to gradually build habits into automaticity.

Tip: If you want to develop new qualities in yourself, try the Franklin Method. Make a list of key skills or habits and focus on one for a week. By the way, Franklin kept a special diary in which he noted his successes and failures. Today, this principle can be adapted using habit trackers in smartphones.

James Cleary: Small Steps – Bricks of Success

James Cleary, author of the best-selling book “Atomic Habits”, proved by his own example that micro changes can dramatically change life. When he was young, he suffered a serious injury that left him weak and unable to be physically active. Instead of giving up, he started with small exercises that gradually led him to a healthy lifestyle.

He later applied this principle to writing. Instead of setting a goal to write a book in a month, he started with one paragraph a day. This method allowed him not only finish the book, but also to create a system that millions of people now use.

Interesting fact: Studies show that 80% of people drop new habits within the first two weeks if they require too much effort. The Cleary Method helps you avoid this mistake.

Practical Tips: How to Implement the Power of Micro Changes in Your Life

Now that we see how small habits have led to grand results, it’s important to understand how to implement them into your life.  The key is to create a system that makes the process natural and easy. Below you may find a step-by-step tips to help you get started:

  1. Identify an area for change

Start by choosing one area of your life in which you want to make improvements. It could be health, finances, productivity, learning, or anything else. The key is not to try to change everything at once.

  1. Start with minimal steps

Choose the simplest action you can do on a daily basis without much effort. For example:

  • Want to start running? Start with a 2-minute walk.
  • Are you going to read more books? Read one page a day.
  • Wanna save money? Start saving 10 rubles every day.
  1. Use the “if-then” principle

This method helps to build micro changes into everyday life. Here it is important to be determined and formulate actions correctly: “If I come home, I immediately drink a glass of water”; “If I sit at my desk, I turn off notifications on my phone”; “If I spend money, I write down the amount in the budget app”.

  1. Keep track of progress

Keep a diary or use apps to track habits. Even a simple ✅ mark on a calendar will give visual confirmation of your progress and increase motivation.

A young woman in a cozy home office, sitting at a wooden desk, tracking her progress on a habit-tracking app on her smartphone. 
  1. Surround yourself with support

Connecting with people who are also working on their goals creates extra motivation. Find like-minded people, join themed communities or simply tell your friends about your goal. Most importantly, don’t demand perfection from yourself. If something doesn’t work, adapt the process. The main thing is to keep the overall vector of movement forward.

Process Is More Important than Result

In the end, the key to success is not to rush, but to keep moving forward, even if only in small increments. Every small improvement, whether in our collection, personal life, or career, brings us closer to our goal. It’s important to remember that progress is not always visible change all at once, but consistency and persistence are sure to produce results. Take your time, appreciate the process and enjoy each step!