A Rare Quarter From 1828 Could Be Worth Up To $25,000

From 1815 to 1828, the U.S. Mint produced the large-size version of the Capped Bust quarter. In 1828 alone, they minted 102,000 of these Capped Bust quarters featuring Liberty facing left and wearing a cap with a band inscribed with the word "LIBERTY." On the back, the coin featured a shield-carrying eagle with the denomination of 25 C. at the bottom. A small number were struck with an unusual 25-over-50-cent denomination variety.

Finding a valuable die error can bring in serious cash, as can identifying a sought-after doubled-die coin. The unusual 1828 quarter fits into a slightly different category, though. Some were struck with a reused reverse die on which "25 C." had been punched over an earlier "50 C." denomination. According to Gainesville Coins, one of these coins could be worth $25,000 in Mint State condition. Even an example graded Good may have an estimated value of about $250. The auction record for this variety was set by Heritage Auctions in November 2013. Rated at near perfection at MS67*, the coin sold for a whopping $352,500.  

Although the 1828 quarter isn't one of the rare coins you'd likely find in your spare change, examples occasionally appear at coin shops, collector conventions, and online auctions. Collectors interested in finding one can watch auction houses such as Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers.

What makes this 1828 quarter unusual is that the altered denomination appears to have resulted from the Mint's reuse of an older reverse die. Instead, the variety resulted from the Mint reusing and modifying an existing die. Mint workers in Philadelphia reused an 1822 reverse die, punching a "2" over the original "5" and a "5" over the "0" to change the denomination from "50 C." to "25 C.".

To authenticate the 1828 variety, experts look for pitting near the altered denomination. This pitting reportedly came from rust that developed on the reused 1822 die. Under magnification with a 10x loupe, experts may see remnants of the original "50 C." denomination, including part of the underlying "0" beneath the later "5."

This quarter contains 0.1993 troy ounces of silver. With a value of $58.16 per ounce as of July 24, 2026, the value of this coin when melted down is only about $11.59. Using the Gainesville Coins estimate, even an example in Good-4 condition could be worth about $250, or roughly 22 times its melt value. Collectors prize this coin for reasons beyond the value of the metal, including its unique history. Combined with the variety's scarcity, that collector demand helps support its high market value.