In a quiet farming town in Iowa, a retired farmer has made headlines after uncovering one of the rarest coins in American history. While cleaning out his old tool shed, 74-year-old Harold Jensen stumbled upon an 1866 Liberty Seated Quarter—missing the famous motto “In God We Trust.” This ultra-rare find is now valued at a stunning $2.1 million.
A Routine Day Turns Into a Rare Coin Discovery
What began as a typical spring-cleaning task took an extraordinary turn when Jensen opened a rusty tobacco tin hidden beneath an old bench. Inside were a few coins, but one in particular stood out. “It looked different,” Jensen recalled. That single coin turned out to be a genuine 1866 ‘No Motto’ Liberty Seated Quarter, one of the rarest minting errors in U.S. coinage.
Why the 1866 ‘No Motto’ Quarter Is So Rare
Following the Civil War, the motto “In God We Trust” was added to most U.S. coins. However, a few 1866 quarters were mistakenly struck using outdated dies that lacked the motto. These coins are known as transitional error coins—and they are exceptionally rare. Experts estimate that fewer than 20 authentic examples of this coin exist today.
This particular coin’s rarity is further elevated by its condition. Despite being over 150 years old, the coin remains in near mint state—an astonishing level of preservation for such a historical piece.
Expert Authentication and Valuation
After finding the coin, Jensen took it to a local coin shop in Des Moines. Initially mistaken for a reproduction, the quarter was sent for professional evaluation. Numismatic specialists and grading experts confirmed it was a genuine 1866 ‘No Motto’ Liberty Seated Quarter and assigned it a MS-63 grade through the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).
Michael Baines, a renowned coin expert from Chicago, remarked, “This is a museum-grade coin. To find one in a shed—it’s the kind of story that makes collectors dream.”
A Family Heirloom Hidden for Generations
Jensen believes the coin may have belonged to his grandfather or great-uncle, both of whom lived on the farm decades ago. “We’ve been on this land for generations,” he said. “This coin must have just waited patiently to be found.”
Although he’s received multiple offers from collectors and auction houses, Jensen hasn’t decided whether to sell the coin. “I’m still trying to take it all in,” he said. “Who would’ve thought a dusty tin in a tool shed was hiding something more valuable than the entire farm?”
Historic Coins Could Still Be Out There
This discovery has sparked fresh interest among treasure hunters, coin collectors, and everyday Americans. Experts encourage people to examine old coins found in attics, sheds, or inherited collections, especially those minted in the 1800s. A forgotten coin could be worth far more than expected.
The 1866 ‘No Motto’ Liberty Seated Quarter is more than a valuable collector’s item—it’s a rare piece of post-Civil War American history. Its discovery highlights how numismatic treasures can still be hiding in plain sight.
Conclusion
What started as a routine cleanup turned into a life-changing moment for Harold Jensen. His story is a powerful reminder that some of history’s greatest treasures aren’t buried underground—they’re waiting quietly in places like old sheds, attics, and boxes of forgotten keepsakes.
If you’ve ever dismissed a dusty coin as junk, think again. You could be holding a multi-million dollar piece of history in your hand.