Broadstrike Error Quarters: Find A Quarter Without Ridges? See How Much A Smooth Edge Quarter Is Worth

by

Joshua

Hobbies & Crafts, Rare U.S. Coins

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Quarters without ridges (or edge reeding) turn up in pocket change from time to time. Most are worth keeping.

A stack of quarters without ridges on the edges

Of course, these odd coins catch people’s attention because U.S. quarters are supposed to have reeded edges.

Which leads to a lot of coin collecting questions:

  • Are quarters without ridges actually error coins?
  • If smooth edge quarters are mint errors, then how much are they worth?
  • Are some quarters without reeded edges simply damaged coins?
  • If so, then how can you tell damaged quarters apart from error quarters?

Error Quarters vs. Damaged Quarters With Smooth Edges

So, there are 2 types of quarters without ridges:

  1. Error quarters
  2. Damaged quarters

Simple enough, right? Well, not exactly.

Unless you’re an error coin expert, it can be difficult to tell whether your smooth edge quarter is an error coin worth lots of money or simply a damaged coin worth face value.

So, what’s the scoop on these coins? How do some quarters end up without ridges? And, what’s the difference between one being an error versus just damaged?

Let’s talk about how a regular quarter might end up without ridges — there are basically 2 ways this could happen:

  1. The coin was heavily worn on its edges — most likely due to extensive use in vending machines, casino slot machines, or the like. The edges may have also been intentionally removed with a filing device after the coin left the mint. These are not errors and are not valuable.
  2. The coin wasn’t struck in its collar die or retaining collar — which would stamp the reeds onto the edge of the quarter. This is called a broadstrike or broadstruck error. These are errors and are valuable.

Next, you need to determine if your quarter without ridges is a broadstruck quarter (error coin) or a regular quarter (damaged coin)…

How To Tell If A Smooth Edge Quarter Is A Broadstrike Error Coin

Broadstruck coins do have smooth edges, but there’s something else about them that makes them quite distinctive: they’re wider and flatter than ordinary.

This broadstruck Washington quarter is wider than normal and has no ridges. It's an error quarter worth a lot of money!

That’s because the retaining collar was missing when this coin was struck — and it’s the retaining collar that ensures that a coin is the proper width and thickness.

A modern-day quarter (after 1964) should measure and weigh the following:

  • Diameter: 24.3 millimeters, or 0.955 inches
  • Thickness: 1.75 millimeters, or 0.069 inches
  • Weight:
    • 6.25 grams (90% silver quarters made before 1965)
    • 5.75 grams (40% silver quarters dated 1776-1976)
    • 5.67 grams (copper-nickel clad quarters made after 1964)
  • Number of Reeds: 119

NOTE: Extremely minor variances in the weights and measurements listed above are permitted by the United States Mint.

If the retaining collar isn’t surrounding a planchet (the blank disc of coin metal) when it’s being struck, then it will become somewhat wider and thinner than it should be.

So, a broadstrike error quarter will:

  • Be wider than normal and thinner than ordinary, and it won’t be the typical diameter or thickness of other quarters with ridges
  • Have a narrow margin of blank metal surrounding the periphery of the coin where the rim would normally be
  • Possibly have weaker design details on either side of the coin because the metal spreads out farther than it normally should

The bottom line…

If your smooth edge quarter appears normal in every other way (it’s the right thickness and the correct diameter) then it’s not an error coin — it is merely exhibiting extensive edge wear, is damaged, or has been altered.

How Much Is A Quarter Without Ridges Worth?

Finally, the most important question!

I’m figuring you came here to find out how much your smooth edge quarter dollar coins are worth.

So here’s the scoop:

Smooth Edge Quarter Value (Damaged Coin, Not An Error Coin)

  • Washington Quarters Made Before 1965 — silver melt value 
  • Washington Quarters Produced After 1964 — 25 cents

Broadstruck Quarter Value (Error Coin)

  • Washington Quarters Struck Before 1965 — $125+
  • Washington Quarters Made After 1964 — $20+
  • Bicentennial Quarters — $30+

READ NEXT: A List Of All Rare U.S. Quarters

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77 thoughts on “Broadstrike Error Quarters: Find A Quarter Without Ridges? See How Much A Smooth Edge Quarter Is Worth”

  1. I have a Bicentennial Broadstruck quarter with no mint mark. The whole word LIBERTY is cut off at the top too. The L looks longer at the bottom than a normal Bicentennial Quarter and it doesn’t seem like the same kind of metal either. I haven’t found any other posts or pages with one like it. Do you think it’s worth something and who should I take it to to appraise it? Thank you.

    Reply

  2. I am very new to coin collecting. I found a 2007 p montana quarter without ribbing the head side of the coin. The edge looks beveled. Is this considered broad struck? It weighs 5.6gr

    Reply

    • Hi, Teresa —

      I’d need to please see a couple clear photos of your coin to assist further but based on how you say the edge is beveled it sounds like post-mint damage to me.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Debra —

      Unfortunately this isn’t a broadstrike error but rather a coin whose edges were altered post-mint either by being spun in a dryer or by having its edges machined in a process known as “spooning.” We explain more about these types of this in this article: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/error-coins/

      Because this coin is effectively damaged and its metal content value does not exceed face value, it is worth 25 cents.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

  4. Hello I j https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/59622a7a1086690860b85e9e4daee107a0d794d19a73207696e2f4a55a438f17.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c64583bb4d18ff61b03921984e4c5c3569b038bb20fc28887a83c21b13abd56d.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b6d28b0520ca6e44148a6e1fc1e764d95424e940e447f18d91719accb4abe1b4.jpg ust found a 2003 Alabama quarter with smooth edges. I looked it up and an article that I read there was only 15 known. I’m not sure how true it is or how much it’s worth.

    Reply

    • Hi, Brian —

      What you have here is a post-mint altered quarter; it appears to have been machined in a manner known as spooning, in which the edges are upraised with a blunt implement. Because it is not an error, was altered, is worn, and has no precious-metal content it is worth face value.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Paige —

      If you posted photos of your coin I’m afraid I’m not seeing them here. Would you please repost them so I can be of better help?

      Thank you,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Mark —

      While there’s some minor doubling on this coin it’s unfortunately only mechanical doubling, which is rather common and derives not from a doubled die but rather issues with the die deteriorating or shifting on the presses perhaps due to overuse. There is generally no premium associated with such pieces.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

  9. I have a quarter that is smooth around the edges. I put it under a coin microscope is what I am going to call it and I can see that the edges of the coin were bearly marked. When you look at the coin with the naked eye it looks perfectly smooth. Also, on the back of the coin the duck is missing its eye, some of the trees do not have the leaves, and the boat and the man were not stamped as they should have been. . The quarter is a 2005 State of Minnesota coin.

    Reply

    • Hi, Brenda —

      It’s hard for me to say for certain what is going on with your coin without seeing it. Could you please post a couple clear images of the coin here and I’d be glad to help further.

      Thank you,
      Josh

      Reply

        • Hi, Brenda —

          You can upload photos here by clicking the little rectangular photo upload button near the comment field. From there you will be able to select the images you wish to upload; they should be less than 2mb in size and either JPG or PNG files.

          Hope this helps,
          Josh

          Reply

  10. This is Brenda, do you have an email address you can share. I took pictures and I can’t seem to figure out how to upload them here.

    Reply

    • Hi Sean,

      What happened here is someone filed off the heraldic eagle design. It’s unfortunately a situation of post-mint damage and the 1990 quarter is worth its face value.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Paula —

      Unfortunately, this is not a mint error. This quarter exhibits post-mint damage either by way of alteration by centrifugal force, such as spinning inside of a clothes dryer, or by applied manipulation, as in scooping or “spooning” the edge of a coin with a blunt object.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

      • I can see where something has wore the 2006 quater and its rim and face appears to be worn but the 1996 quater is clearly stamped with no signs of alterations and its rim is smooth metal Allyson clearly separated where as the 2006 rim look like teeth between alloys

        Reply

        • Hi, Paula —

          I’ll need to please see a clear photo or two of your coin to assist more thoroughly. You can post the photo(s) here.

          Thank you,
          Josh

          Reply

  15. Joshua I have two quaters with no rim one the two metal alloys are smooth and the other quater witH no rim has a smooth line separating the alloys.. Could one of them be correct?

    Reply

  16. Hello, I was wondering if you could tell me if this 2021 D Quarter Crossing the Delaware is a mint error. I dont know anything about coins except I never seen a quarter that looks like this before https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ced47e9fff0328bc7140ac27addb913d595efe1ad80e2916937de7df1b4e4725.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/011270effb8bd1a90ea92453e5ac26d7a336577d4a4a2190cdca8dd929576bb4.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7a73f4922652b3df8533667ec73be529f11ff85f6137d5d0cea2a6a77465b5c9.jpg

    Reply

    • Hi, Liz —

      This quarter has either been manipulated with a blunt object to push the edge and rim in (in a process known as “spooning”) or it is a so-called “dryer coin” that spun around inside a clothes dryer or other type of basin; centrifugal force pushed the edge inward and upward around the coin. In either case, it is an altered coin and unfortunately not an error.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

  17. I just found a 2000 New Hampshire state quarter with smooth edge how much is it worth it’s definitely a error coin not damaged

    Reply

    • Hi, Jason —

      While it may be a so-called dryer coin (manipulated by way of centrifugal force in a clothes dryer or the like), it was most likely intentionally altered through a process known as spooning, in which the edge of the coin is pushed inward with a blunt object and machined smoothed. There is no numismatic premium for a coin like this, though some collect these pieces as novelties.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Cassi —

      Unfortunately this is not an error but rather a case of post-mint damage. Someone beveled the edge of this quarter with some type of sanding or grinding device. While there is no way this coin would’ve come from the mint like this, it nevertheless is quite a looker!

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

  21. Hi! Would you please help me to determine if this coin is an error or not. I have a 2020 Virgin Island quarter with no ridges on the edges. Does it look like it’s been tampered with? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/48e287154f533e8e4914f59aae43ff4714ca2a2437e0c1baa55f9a201883e5a5.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ee9149d492818120e9ade5467ff436f78417003a992c3cfb7b1832f4f3664698.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/51a8ed5b5e9da7f6346d7b5c46755b9c6d3ca1394136e7533ff120a364e06767.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7fbf4ecc5a14030b19428a2d5c351ba3277fe58b3b0f1c447b07bc8a2d51cf3b.jpg

    Reply

    • Hi, Peggy —

      Given the rim (the raised lip) around the edge of the coin is fully struck, there is no possible way the edge of the coin could’ve left the mint with this smooth edge. The edge of the coin automatically receives ridges when the rim is formed. Therefore this coin was definitely altered after it left the mint, most likely by way of sanding the edges down. It does not appear the edges were smoothed down by way of centrifugal force such as in a clothes dryer — a common scenario, but one that also tends to bunch the rim of the coin closer to the inside of the coin’s design; your coin appears of otherwise normal diameter.

      In all, this coin being altered unfortunately has no additional collector value. It is safe to spend if you wish.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply

  22. I have a 2018 quarter like Ms. Peggy Dowdney’s 2020 quarter. I just find it hard to believe that it did not come from production that way. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c290a5603b1c3ac594b59db739c3067d4a769e626ace11d6c87dafec43f26ba9.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c0f3b4815ab3a7c58e3e72efaff19ddc234c4144402c7890419fa7615a49bd19.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f7611afdba002086ef5c6c19787977436365cc1c73f5d05d7f6098d3047ba68c.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e1be6d827d0ab13dcf46ba299ee65122d7fdc13f83ac4f9ef2f3657df08e9efa.jpg

    Reply

    • Hi, Tim —

      Believe it or not, your quarter was indeed not struck that way — the raised rim on your coin indicates it would be mechanically impossible, given the minting process.

      How? Because the rim is formed by something called a retaining collar, which is a device that fits around the blank as it’s being struck and simultaneously imparts the edge reeds (the edge grooves or lines) as the coin is receiving its design.

      Could the retaining collar have not deployed? Yes, but then the rim would not have formed and the coin would have been flatter and wider than normal — resulting as a broad strike error, which this is not.

      Ultimately, this piece has the hallmarks of being a post-mint alteration of some kind. It’s either seen an intentional shaving of the edge (because some people do things like that to coins); a smooth edge like this is also a common result of centrifugal forces that occur inside a clothes dryer as the coin spins about within the machine on its edge — this, too, is surprisingly common.

      At any rate, this is not a mint error.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

      • Have a 1965 smooth edged quarter its weight is 5.4 grams new at this not sure how to ask things or get pics added on for someone to see if this is an error coin any help would be greatly appreciated

        Reply

        • Hi, Charlie —

          You can post a photo of your coin here in the comments forum by clicking the little rectangular photo icon (the box with the little mountain in it) on the bottom left side of the comment box. Images should be jpg or png, high resolution, and less than 2 mb.

          Best,
          Josh

          Reply

  24. I have a 1994 p quarter with no reeds and a very rounded edge. It seems to measure less than the standard diameter. Is this an error or has someone altered this coin?

    Reply

    • Hi,

      I don’t see the front or back of the coin to confirm, but based on the edge image you sent me, it appears your 1994-P quarter was what some might call “spooned” — the edges were manipulated with a blunt object inward and upward. This results in a narrower quarter with a lipped rim and a smooth edge. Such a piece, while a curiosity, is not a mint error and is worth its face value.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Erik —

      While it’s certainly possible that only a portion of the reeding would be applied to the quarter due to a collar issue, it’s more likely that circulation wear would have obliterated the reeding from only a portion of the edge. A clear photo or two of the coin posted here in the comments section could help determine what may be going on with your coin.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

  26. Hi I won a quarter in a poker game it’s double thick and it has no ridges. it looks kind of like the date says 2025 it has a 1 and a 2 stamped in the tens column. I don’t know if it’s an error coin or not how can I figure it out

    Reply

    • Hi, Rachel —

      Please post a few clear images of your piece here in the comments forum and I’ll be happy to try and help identify what you have.

      Thank you,
      Josh

      Reply

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