Rare glitch in some Wyoming quarters

By LISA BISBEE

Scattered Wyoming quarters may contain future collectors' items if they contain a rare flaw found when the die wobbles.

Like thousands of Americans, Gillette resident Gordon Evans has collected state quarters -- adding each state as it is released. Now, with news that the Wyoming bucking-horse-and-rider quarters might be worth more than 25 cents, Evans is rechecking the Cowboy State quarter in his possession to see if he has one with a unique characteristic.

Some of the Wyoming quarters have a rare flaw, called a double die. The mistake is caused when the die that stamps the quarter design is tilted and wobbles during the stamping process. The incident causes a second impression to be made at the center of the coin. The Wyoming quarter's flaw can be found around the bucking horse's saddlehorn -- where there's a tip of a 'ghost' saddlehorn.

Though the value of a double die coin depends on the type, position and rarity of the error, Dan Norris, owner of D&J Coins and Leathercraft in Sheridan, said the flaw is difficult to see without a magnifying glass.

"It may be far too minor to create too much interest," he said.
However, when a similar error was found in the Minnesota state quarter, many collectors bought the coins for more than $150. And the flawed Wisconsin state quarter, which appears to have an extra leaf on the left side of an ear of corn, has sold for more than $1,000.
"The Wisconsin quarter created much interest," Norris said. "But I haven't had anyone asking for this Wyoming quarter."

Janis Geer, co-owner of Pronghorn Trader in Gillette, said a lot of people collecting each state's quarters are not 'hardcore' collectors. Most are not looking for rare or old coins. Instead they are looking at each state's coin and putting them into a collection that will eventually represent all 50 states. Some are collecting for their grandkids or children. Others are intrigued by what each state chooses as its representation on the coin.

"A lot of people have collected with their kids to spark their interest in geography or the states," she said. "It's something that has spurred people into a different type of collecting. It's something they do because it's fun."

Wyoming's quarter was released last year as the 44th in the U.S. Mint's popular 50 State Quarters Program. In addition to the bucking horse and rider, the quarter features the inscriptions 'The Equality State,' 'Wyoming,' and '1890.' But the flaw only recently came to light.
Across the state line in Billings, Mont., Mark Allen of Ardie's Coins said he expects some collectors to look for the coin, but he also doesn't expect to see a whirlwind of activity created because of the flaw. That was not the case with the Wisconsin quarter, Allen said, which not only created a collector frenzy, but also has caused the quarter to hold an escalated price tag.
"This one is hard to see with the naked eye," Allen said. "My understanding is most of these (flawed quarters) run their course. They gain value and then they fall again."

In the meantime, many Wyomingites and Americans may scour the quarters jingling in their pockets or sitting in a collection to see if they can lay claim to a flawed Wyoming quarter.

"It's hard to say for sure what collectors are going to be interested in," Norris said. "It could catch fire."