The W’s Are Still Out There!

Just yesterday, I fished a W quarter from my pocket change, and wow – that rush of excitement reminded me why I love this hobby. It had been months since my last discovery, but this little victory proves treasures still hide in everyday transactions. As someone who’s chased these elusive quarters since they appeared, I want to share what’s worked for me to help fellow collectors keep the thrill alive.

What Are the W Quarters?

If you’re new to the hunt, W quarters are special 2019 and 2020 issues from the West Point mint (that’s the ‘W’ mint mark). Each year features five unique designs from the America the Beautiful series. Here’s what makes them exciting: only about 2 million of each design entered circulation. That scarcity makes them modern rarities. The designs include:

• 2019: Lowell National Historical Park, American Memorial Park, War in the Pacific National Historical Park, San Antonio Missions, and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
• 2020: National Park of American Samoa, Weir Farm, Salt River Bay, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller, and Tallgrass Prairie
• With such limited numbers, even worn examples fetch premiums, while uncirculated finds can be real winners

My Hunting Strategies

Bagging W quarters takes patience and clever approaches. Living in Southern California taught me to adapt – more hunters and less cash means getting creative. Here’s what actually works:

• Always request cash back with debit purchases. I make small buys with $20 bills just to get inspectable change
• Check high-turnover spots like banks or laundromats, but visit during slow hours to beat the crowd
• Befriend local cashiers – a friendly chat often leads to them saving interesting coins for me
• Since I rarely raid change jars now, I keep a pocket loupe to check mint marks instantly when coins land in my hand

Challenges in Today’s Market

Let’s be honest – finding coins today feels different. Remember those “coin shortage” signs? Between those and digital payments, fewer coins move through hands now. And while the new Women’s Quarters are beautiful, they haven’t sparked that fever-pitch excitement we saw with the 50-State series. Back then, everyone hunted for their home state – it was personal. The National Parks quarters are stunning but lack that emotional hook, which might explain why the W program ended after just two years. With coins becoming scarcer in daily life, we’ve got to work smarter.

Collecting Insights and Comparisons

What I adore about the National Park quarters? Those clean reverse designs – no lettering cluttering the central artwork. I’m currently completing a silver proof set and plan to do the same for the Women’s series. Comparing this to the 50-State phenomenon reveals why that earlier program succeeded: it tapped into hometown pride. You didn’t need to be a collector to care about finding your state quarter. I’d love to see the Mint recapture that magic with other denominations – imagine what a revived nickel series could do for our hobby!

Grading and Finishes

Since these quarters are recent, high-grade finds are possible – I look for sharp details and minimal bag marks. For proofs, I’m partial to satin finishes like the 2009 Territories quarters used (even though those weren’t silver). That matte look showcases designs without glare. If I could make one request to the Mint? More satin-finish silver issues – they elevate any collection.

Despite the hurdles, I’m still scanning every quarter that crosses my path. Trading with fellow collectors helps fill holes in my set – I’ve swapped extras for specific designs I needed. Remember: with just 2 million of each W quarter minted, every discovery feels special. Keep looking – your next find might be in the next coffee shop purchase!