Quarter Without Ridges: Broadstrike Error Value

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

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

Have a quarter without ridges? Some quarters with smooth ridges are error coins, while others are simply damaged coins. Here's how to tell the difference.

So, there are 2 types of quarters without ridges:

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:

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.
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.

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.