My Insights on Wide/Close AM’s on State Quarters

I’ve always been fascinated by the tiny details on coins, especially the spacing in the ‘AM’ of ‘AMERICA’ on state quarters. When I started spotting what looked like wide and close varieties, I thought I’d discovered something new – but the truth turned out to be more interesting than I expected.

Understanding Wide and Close AM Varieties

At first, I was convinced I’d found wide and close AMs on state quarters like my 1999 Delaware and 2000 Maryland pieces. But after checking my reference books and talking with other collectors, I learned those terms really only apply to Lincoln cents from the 1990s and early 2000s – like the rare 1992 Close AM or the 1998-2000 Wide AMs. The spacing differences we see on quarters? They’re likely just from normal die wear or hub changes rather than intentional varieties. That was a real lightbulb moment for me!

What I Found in My Quarter Collection

Curious about what I’d actually been seeing, I spent a weekend going through my state and ATB quarters. I grouped them by AM spacing – C for close, M for medium, W for wide – and noticed some cool patterns. For example, all my older ‘drummer boy’ Washington quarters showed tight spacing without exception. Here’s a sample of what stood out in my collection:

• All Wide AMs: 1999 Pennsylvania P, 2005 West Virginia P, 1999 New Jersey P, 1999 Delaware D, 1999 Connecticut P
• Mixed Spacing Examples: 1999 Connecticut M P, 2001 Kentucky C D and M P, 2006 Nevada C P, 2013 Nevada M D, 2013 Maryland M P, 2000 Maryland M P and M D, 2015 North Carolina M P (an ATB quarter), 2000 Massachusetts M P and M D, 2000 Virginia C P, 2000 New Hampshire C P, 2000 South Carolina C P and C D, 1999 Georgia M P, 2007 Washington M P, 2001 New York C P, 2004 Iowa M P, 2004 Michigan M P, 2007 Idaho C D, 2004 Wisconsin C D

This little project really drove home that while these aren’t official varieties, tracking spacing differences adds a fun detective element to collecting state quarters.

Handy Tips for Fellow Collectors

Here’s what I’ve learned from years of eyeballing coins: First, always keep a loupe in your pocket – you’d be surprised what turns up in everyday change. When roll hunting, I’ve had great luck befriending bank tellers (brownies work wonders!). Don’t sweat it if some banks won’t sell boxes; keep trying, especially for older rolls that might hide gems like the 1999 Wide AM cent. Jot down dates and mints where you spot unusual spacing in a notebook – you might notice patterns nobody’s documented yet.

Grading and Value Thoughts

Even though AM spacing isn’t a recognized variety on quarters, crisp examples with noticeable differences could interest specialists down the road. My advice? Focus on coins with sharp details and minimal wear – they’ll always have appeal. Hunting for those rare cent varieties like the 1992 Close AM reminds me that patience pays off, so I still flip every cent that crosses my path!

This whole journey made me appreciate coin details even more and taught me to always look closer. After all, the next big discovery might be hiding in plain sight, just waiting for someone to notice.