What it is
Some 2004-D Wisconsin quarters show an extra leaf on the corn stalk to the left of the ear of corn. There are two versions, the "High Leaf" and the "Low Leaf", depending on where the extra leaf curves.
How to identify it
- Look at the left side of the corn stalk on the reverse.
- High Leaf: the extra leaf curves up toward the ear of corn.
- Low Leaf: the extra leaf sits lower on the stalk and curves downward.
- Denver only: the D is on the obverse.
A 5x to 10x loupe and good, angled light make the details much easier to see. For anything that looks genuine, a digital scale and a certified comparison coin help.
What gets mistaken for it
Post-mint scratches can look like leaves. The genuine extra leaf is raised and matches the style of the other leaves.
The regular 2004-D coin
The variety appears on the 2004-D Wisconsin Quarter, which had a total mintage of 226,800,000. That figure counts the whole issue, so it does not tell you how many coins show the variety.
The Wisconsin quarter design
The Wisconsin quarter was the 30th coin in the 50 State Quarters program, honoring Wisconsin's admission to the Union in 1848. It was released in late 2004. Its reverse shows a cow's head, a large wheel of cheese and an ear of corn with the husk partly peeled back, with the state motto FORWARD on a banner.
The extra leaf varieties come from Denver reverse dies. On both the High Leaf and the Low Leaf the added leaf sits on the left side of the corn stalk, but its shape and direction differ, so the two are attributed as separate coins.
How the extra leaves appeared
The extra leaves were made in the die, not after striking, which is why every coin from an affected die shows the same leaf in the same place. How they got there has been debated. Some specialists think a tool slipped during die work and gouged the die in the shape of a leaf. Others believe the leaves were cut into the dies on purpose, pointing out that two separate dies show leaves of a similar style. No official explanation has settled the question.
The varieties were reported late in 2004 and drew national news coverage early in 2005, which sent many people to search their change and bank rolls for Wisconsin quarters.
A step-by-step check
Use a 5x loupe and an overhead light. Find the corn stalk to the left of the ear of corn and compare it with a normal 2004 Wisconsin quarter. Count the leaves on the left side of the stalk on both coins. If yours has one more, look at which way the extra leaf curves to decide whether it is a High Leaf or a Low Leaf.
Then follow the edges of the extra leaf with a 10x loupe. On a genuine coin they are raised, rounded and as smooth as the other leaves. The leaf stands at about the same height. Finally, check the obverse for the D mint mark to the right of Washington's ponytail.
Look-alikes
Small die chips, die cracks and scratches near the stalk can look like extra leaves at a glance. A die chip is a small, shapeless lump. A die crack is a thin, wandering line. A scratch is cut into the coin and shows a groove. None of them has the curved, tapering shape of a real leaf.
Remember that the variety is known only on Denver coins. A 2004-P Wisconsin quarter with a leaf-like mark is not the variety.
Grades and preservation
Many extra leaf quarters were saved directly from rolls in late 2004 and early 2005, so Uncirculated examples are available. Collectors look for coins with full luster and few bag marks on the cow, cheese and corn. High grade coins with a clean, fully formed leaf are the most desirable.
Store a find in an inert holder or a coin capsule. Quarters from rolls often pick up fresh marks when handled loosely. A single mark across the leaf can make attribution harder.
Authentication
PCGS and NGC certify both the High Leaf and the Low Leaf and name the leaf type on the label. The varieties are also listed in the Cherrypickers' Guide. When buying, make sure the holder states which of the two leaves the coin has.
Related State quarter varieties
The 2004-D Wisconsin is one of a handful of State quarter varieties that drew wide public attention. Others include the 2005-P Kansas In God We Rust grease error, the 2005-P Minnesota doubled die reverse and the 1999-P Delaware Spitting Horse die crack. Many collectors keep these together as a short set of the program's best-known varieties.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter?
Look at the left side of the corn stalk on the reverse. High Leaf: the extra leaf curves up toward the ear of corn. If your coin passes these checks, have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.
Is the 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter valuable?
Genuine examples sell for a premium over regular coins of the same date. The amount depends on how strong the variety is, the coin's condition and whether it is certified. Compare recent sold auction results for certified coins in the same grade.
What is a die gouge or added detail?
Some 2004-D Wisconsin quarters show an extra leaf on the corn stalk to the left of the ear of corn.
Is there a 2004-P Wisconsin extra leaf quarter?
No. The extra leaf varieties are known only on Denver quarters with the D mint mark.
Was the Wisconsin extra leaf done on purpose?
Nobody knows for certain. Some specialists see an accidental die gouge, while others think the leaves were cut into the dies deliberately.
Which side of the corn is the extra leaf on?
The extra leaf is on the left side of the corn stalk, below the ear of corn. It curves either up or down depending on the variety.