The W’s Are Still Out There: My Ongoing Hunt for West Point Quarters

Lately, I’ve been on this fun treasure hunt through my pocket change, always hoping to spot one of those sneaky ‘W’ mint mark quarters. And let me tell you – they’re definitely still hiding out there! Like any collector, I’ve gone through dry spells where I swear every coin in circulation is avoiding me. But then, just last week, I turned over a 2020 American Women quarter and saw that beautiful ‘W’. That rush of excitement? It’s why I’m hooked on this hobby. Today, I want to share what I’ve learned and some tricks that might help your search.

Why ‘W’ Quarters Feel Like Finding Gold

So what makes these coins special? They’re minted at West Point – that super-secure facility – and only popped up during 2019 and 2020 as part of the National Parks and American Women series. The magic number? About two million per design got released into the wild. That’s practically nothing in coin terms! We’re talking designs like the Lowell National Historical Park quarter or Maya Angelou’s tribute coin. When I first heard about them, it felt like the Mint dropped buried treasure into our everyday change. With numbers this low, every discovery feels like winning the lottery, and collectors are scrambling for them.

Why Your Search Feels Like an Uphill Battle

Finding these gems isn’t getting easier, at least from what I’ve seen. Here in Southern California, I’ve only snagged one myself – competition is fierce! Between stores begging customers to use cards because of the “coin shortage” and everyone swiping plastic instead of using cash, fewer quarters are circulating than ever. And let’s be honest – nobody’s talking about these new designs like we did with the 50-state quarters back in the day. Remember how we all traded those for our home states? Now I’ve got a little trick: whenever I pay by card, I ask for cash back. Not because I need the money, but to get those fresh coins to search through later. Sneaky, but effective!

Why I’m Smitten With These Designs

Can we just appreciate how gorgeous these quarters are? The National Parks series with those clean, uncluttered reverses? I hunted down every silver proof version because I couldn’t resist. Now I’m doing the same for the American Women set. One small regret – I wish the Mint would play with finishes more. Remember that satin texture on the 2009 Territories quarters? Pure magic. I’d kill to see that on silver proofs. Sadly, my old coin jars have wandered off over the years, so I’ve had to improvise to keep my collection growing.

Real-World Tricks From My Hunt

Want to boost your odds? Here’s what’s worked for me:

• Check every quarter: Make it automatic – I found my last one in change from a coffee shop.
• Create your own supply: Since cash is rare, I withdraw $20 bills just to break them for searchable coins.
• Trade smart: Focus on 2019-2020 dates. If you score duplicates, swap with other collectors – I’ve seen folks complete sets this way.
• Judge condition: Most circulated ‘W’ quarters land around AU grade. Look for crisp details and avoid heavy scratches.

Prices keep climbing for mint-state examples, which makes me wonder – why did the Mint stop after just two years? I’d love to see them try this with dimes or half-dollars to get new collectors excited.

Don’t Give Up the Hunt!

Even when weeks go by without a find, I know these quarters are still out there. Every discovery feels like joining this secret club of hunters. So keep checking your change, stay patient, and that ‘W’ might just surprise you tomorrow. Happy hunting – and drop me a line when you find one!