If you grew up using Sacagawea dollars, state quarters, or those short-lived presidential dollars, there might be more money in your change jar than you realize. The 2000s were packed with new designs, mint mistakes, and modern commemoratives that now sell for far more than their face value.
Most coins from this era are still worth exactly what they say. The ones below are the exceptions. Condition, grading, and authenticity matter a lot, and fakes are a thing, especially online. But if the details line up, these 16 specific coins from the 2000s can be serious finds.
Table of contents
- 2000-P “Cheerios” Sacagawea dollar
- 2000-P Sacagawea “Wounded Eagle” dollar
- 2000-P Sacagawea dollar / Washington quarter mule
- 2000 Lincoln cent “Wide AM” reverse
- 2004-D Wisconsin quarter “Extra Leaf High”
- 2004-D Wisconsin quarter “Extra Leaf Low”
- 2005-D “Speared Bison” Jefferson nickel
- 2005-P Minnesota quarter “Extra Tree” doubled die
- 2005-P Kansas “In God We Rust” quarter
- 2007 George Washington presidential dollar missing edge lettering
- 2007 John Adams presidential dollar double edge lettering
- 2000 American Silver Eagle $1 bullion coin
- 2001 American Buffalo commemorative silver dollar
- 2000-W Library of Congress bimetallic $10 coin
- 2008-W American Gold Buffalo $50 one-ounce coin
- 2009 Ultra High Relief gold double eagle $20 coin
2000-P “Cheerios” Sacagawea dollar
Back in 2000, a special batch of Sacagawea dollars was slipped into boxes of Cheerios cereal as a promo. A tiny fraction of those turned out to have a special prototype reverse with extra-detailed tail feathers on the eagle. Collectors now call these “Cheerios dollars,” and they are one of the key modern U.S. coins. You can spot one by looking closely at the eagle’s tail: if the feathers are sharply defined and separated instead of soft and rounded, you might have the rare version.
Certified Cheerios dollars are in a different universe from regular 2000-P Sacagaweas. Nice graded examples often change hands in the $5,000–$15,000 range, and a top-graded piece with the best surfaces has brought more than $30,000 at auction. Because of those numbers, fakes and “wishful thinking” are common. Most cereal-promo dollars are the normal type, and you really need clear tail-feather detail and (ideally) a professional opinion before assuming you’ve hit the jackpot.
2000-P Sacagawea “Wounded Eagle” dollar
This is another 2000-P Sacagawea, but with a dramatic die gouge across the eagle’s body on the reverse. The gouge runs through the eagle’s lower belly and looks like a spear wound, which is how this variety got the “Wounded Eagle” nickname. It was created by damage to the die at the mint, so every genuine example shows the same sharp line in the same place.
While not in Cheerios-dollar territory, this variety is still worth a lot more than one dollar. In typical circulated or low-end Mint State, Wounded Eagle dollars often sell in the $100–$300 range, and attractive certified coins can bring a few hundred more. One superb MS68 example has sold for over $5,000. The catch: millions of regular 2000-P Sacagaweas exist, and surface scratches or stains can look “wound-like.” Always compare your coin to clear photos of confirmed examples before getting too excited.
2000-P Sacagawea dollar / Washington quarter mule
This is the wild one. A tiny number of coins were struck with a Washington state quarter obverse on a golden Sacagawea dollar planchet, with the normal Sacagawea eagle on the back. That means George Washington on one side, the Sacagawea reverse on the other, and a gold-colored dollar-sized planchet. It is one of the most famous U.S. error coins of all time, and fewer than two dozen have been confirmed.
If you somehow find one of these, you are not dealing with pocket-change money. Recent auction results show examples selling well into six figures, with some grading-certified pieces bringing in the $120,000–$190,000 range depending on grade and eye appeal. Because the stakes are so high, this is heavily counterfeited. If a coin like this crosses your path, treat it like a lottery ticket: don’t clean it, don’t try to “fix” anything, and get it in front of a major grading service or reputable dealer fast.
2000 Lincoln cent “Wide AM” reverse
Most 2000 Lincoln pennies are worth a cent. A small number, though, were struck with a reverse design meant for proof coins, where the letters A and M in “AMERICA” on the back are clearly separated instead of nearly touching. These “Wide AM” business-strike cents are a fun cherry-pick from pocket change or old rolls. You check this by flipping the coin and looking between the A and M with a magnifier.
Even in lower Mint State grades, Wide AM cents bring real premiums. Slabbed examples in the middle of the pack often sell in roughly the $25–$100 range, with top-grade pieces reaching a few hundred dollars and a record MS68 sale around $800. The vast majority of 2000 cents are the normal “Close AM” type, so do not assume every bright penny is valuable. You need the correct reverse and decent condition for collectors to care.
2004-D Wisconsin quarter “Extra Leaf High”
The Wisconsin state quarter has a cow, a wheel of cheese, and a stalk of corn. On some 2004-D coins, a mysterious extra leaf appears on the left side of the corn husk, pointing up. This “Extra Leaf High” variety became a big modern error story, because it was a neat visual mistake right in the middle of a program millions of people collected.
Regular worn Wisconsin quarters are still worth 25 cents, but Extra Leaf High pieces can bring real money. Circulated examples have been trading around the $50–$200 range, while nicer Mint State coins graded MS64–MS65 can reach several hundred dollars. A few top-graded coins have sold for over $1,000. You do need the leaf to be bold and clearly separate from the husk; random scratches or stains do not count. There is also a similar “Extra Leaf Low” version, which is its own thing.
2004-D Wisconsin quarter “Extra Leaf Low”
The “Extra Leaf Low” Wisconsin quarter has the same basic design as above, but the added leaf on the corn husk points downward instead of up. It came from a different damaged die, so it is cataloged as a separate variety. Collectors like owning both, and some people hunt rolls and bags of old state quarters just for these two errors.
Values are similar but usually a bit softer than the High Leaf. Many Extra Leaf Low coins in circulated condition sell for somewhere in the $40–$150 range, with nice certified Mint State pieces landing a few hundred dollars. As with the High Leaf, condition and clarity matter a lot. The extra leaf should look like a small, raised extension of the husk, not a tiny nick. Because these quarters have been cherry-picked heavily for years, finding one in loose change is tough but not impossible.
2005-D “Speared Bison” Jefferson nickel
The 2005 Buffalo-reverse nickel was already popular because it brought back a classic American animal. A dramatic die gouge on some Denver-minted coins cuts through the bison’s body, creating the “Speared Bison” variety. On genuine examples, you will see a strong raised line running diagonally through the buffalo, usually from its shoulder toward the midsection.
Because the error is bold and the design is attractive, collectors pay up. Circulated Speared Bison nickels often sell in the $20–$50 range, while certified Mint State examples commonly bring a couple hundred dollars, and high-end MS66–MS67 pieces can push into the high hundreds or even low thousands. There are also plenty of nickels with random scratches near the bison, which can trick the eye. Compare carefully to confirmed photos before sending one off for grading.
2005-P Minnesota quarter “Extra Tree” doubled die
The Minnesota state quarter shows an outline of the state, a lake, and a line of trees. On some 2005-P coins, doubling in the tree line creates what looks like an extra tree trunk or shadowy forest in the background. There are several different doubled-die varieties, but the strongest “Extra Tree” versions have a very clear extra trunk between the main trees.
Not every Minnesota quarter with a weird mark is valuable, but the stronger varieties have sold well. Good Extra Tree examples in nicer circulated or lower Mint State grades often bring around the $75–$200 range, and at least one certified MS67 example has approached $800. Minor doubled-tree varieties are worth less, sometimes only a few dollars. You really need strong, clear extra tree detail plus clean surfaces for collectors to pay the bigger premiums.
2005-P Kansas “In God We Rust” quarter
naj32 via eBay
On some 2005-P Kansas quarters, grease on the die partially filled in the letter T in “TRUST” on the obverse. The result looks like the coin says “IN GOD WE RUST,” which made headlines and turned a fairly common error type into something people actively hunted for. Grease-filled letters happen a lot, but this particular phrase is what made this one famous.
Value depends on how strong the missing T is. Mild examples might only be worth a few dollars, but bolder “WE RUST” coins in nice shape often sell in roughly the $15–$50 range, with especially sharp or graded pieces sometimes going higher and some guides suggesting top examples can reach into the low hundreds. Lots of coins have weak letters or dirt in the word “TRUST,” so you should look for a clearly missing T and otherwise decent condition. Even then, this is more of a fun bonus coin than a retirement fund.
2007 George Washington presidential dollar missing edge lettering
When the Presidential dollar series launched in 2007, the date, mint mark, and “IN GOD WE TRUST” were moved to the coin’s edge. On some Washington dollars, that step never happened, leaving a coin with a totally plain edge and no motto. Collectors rushed to search unopened rolls, and these “godless dollars” became the best-known modern edge error.
Missing-edge Washington dollars are not as rare now as they felt at the time, but they still carry a solid premium. Certified Mint State coins often sell in the $20–$50 range, with some higher-grade or special-label pieces bringing more, and a few sales in the $50+ bracket. The key is that the edge has to be completely blank; weak or patchy letters are less desirable. Plenty of regular presidential dollars with normal edges are sitting in jars and drawers, so do not assume any 2007 dollar is valuable until you check the rim under good light.
2007 John Adams presidential dollar double edge lettering
John Adams dollars brought a different kind of edge error. Instead of missing the lettering entirely, some coins went through the edge-lettering machine twice. That created overlapping or doubled inscriptions around the rim. On genuine pieces, you will see the full edge text repeated, sometimes in the same direction, sometimes inverted, which is why these are called “doubled edge lettering” or “overlapped” errors.
These are scarcer than the Washington missing-edge dollars, and the better ones sell for more. Typical certified examples tend to trade somewhere around the $50–$150 range, and a high-grade MS66 coin has brought close to $300 at auction. As always, grade matters: a bright, problem-free coin with strong, readable doubled edge lettering is what collectors want. Be careful not to confuse this with the normal orientation variation where the edge text is just “upside down,” which is common and not an error..
2000 American Silver Eagle $1 bullion coin
American Silver Eagles are bullion coins with a $1 face value, but each one contains a full troy ounce of fine silver. The 2000-dated coin is part of that series, so even a plain uncirculated example is worth more for its metal alone than its face value. Many people bought these new from the Mint in the early 2000s and tucked them away, so they still show up in drawers, safe-deposit boxes, and inherited collections.
Because they track the silver market, exact numbers move around, but recent completed sales show 2000 Silver Eagles often changing hands in about the $40–$100 range for typical uncirculated or lightly handled coins, with premium graded MS69 or MS70 examples bringing more. Condition, whether the coin is still in original mint packaging, and current silver prices all matter. Watch out for plated or “souvenir” pieces; a genuine Silver Eagle should weigh about one troy ounce and ring like silver when gently tapped.
2001 American Buffalo commemorative silver dollar
This modern commemorative reprises the classic buffalo design on a large silver dollar. Issued in 2001, it has a face value of $1 but contains nearly three-quarters of an ounce of silver and strong collector appeal. Many were sold in nice presentation boxes with a certificate, then stored and forgotten, which is exactly how they might show up in an estate or old safe.
Values vary based on whether it is uncirculated or proof, and whether it has been graded. Regular uncirculated Buffalo dollars in original packaging often sell in roughly the $90–$130 range, while certified MS69 or top-grade pieces can bring a bit more, and a perfect MS70 example once realized over $1,700. Tarnish, cleaning, or missing packaging can drag the price down, even though the coin’s silver content still gives it a floor value well above one dollar.
2000-W Library of Congress bimetallic $10 coin
This $10 coin was issued in 2000 to mark the Library of Congress bicentennial and is the only modern U.S. coin made of both gold and platinum. It has a gold ring around a platinum center and a face value of ten dollars, but its metal content and collector demand push it into a much higher price bracket. Many were sold directly to collectors in special boxes, which is how they tend to surface today.
Because it contains significant precious metal and is a key modern commemorative, prices have stayed strong. MS69 examples in recent years have often sold in about the $900–$1,500 range, with some perfect MS70 pieces bringing closer to $2,000. Condition, grading, and whether all the original Mint packaging is present can move the needle. If you see something that looks like a bimetallic “bullseye” coin with this design, do not treat it like pocket change.
2008-W American Gold Buffalo $50 one-ounce coin
The American Gold Buffalo is a 24-karat gold bullion coin that revives the famous buffalo nickel design. The standard one-ounce coin carries a $50 face value but contains a full ounce of fine gold, which already makes it far more valuable than the number stamped on it. Many 2008-dated Buffalos were bought as investment pieces and stored away, so they sometimes show up in family collections without anyone realizing how much they are now worth.
With gold prices where they are today, even a basic ungraded one-ounce 2008 Gold Buffalo typically sells for several thousand dollars, with many recent sales landing in roughly the $2,000–$3,500 range, and perfect MS70 or special-label pieces bringing more. Any coin like this should be handled by the edges only, kept out of jewelry mounts if you care about collector value, and checked for authenticity, since high-dollar bullion coins are frequent targets for counterfeiting.
2009 Ultra High Relief gold double eagle $20 coin
In 2009, the Mint issued a modern recreation of the famous Saint-Gaudens high-relief double eagle, struck in 24-karat gold with a face value of $20. These Ultra High Relief coins are thick, beautifully detailed, and contain an ounce of gold, so they were never meant for circulation. They were sold directly to collectors and investors, often one per household, and quickly became a modern classic.
Today, even average certified examples bring serious money. Many graded pieces trade in about the $4,000–$8,000 range, depending on grade and whether they come with the original box and paperwork, and the finest known coins have realized over $20,000 at auction. If you find one in a safe or inheritance, resist the urge to polish or “shine it up.” Any cleaning can hurt value fast, and with this kind of money at stake, having it authenticated and graded is almost always worth it.
