Published by
Joe Palmieri
If you’ve recently pulled a shiny quarter from your pocket and noticed the motto reading “In Cod We Trust” instead of the familiar “In God We Trust”, you’re not alone—and no, you haven’t stumbled upon a millionaire-making mint error. This quirky optical illusion has sparked excitement (and plenty of misleading eBay listings), but the truth is far less lucrative. Let’s break down what’s really going on with these “Cod” quarters from the 2022–2025 American Women Quarters Program.
What Are the American Women Quarters?
The United States Mint launched the American Women Quarters Program in 2022 to honor trailblazing women in American history. Each year features five new reverse designs celebrating figures like Maya Angelou, Sally Ride, and Nina Otero-Warren. The obverse remains consistent: a right-facing portrait of George Washington, with the motto “In God We Trust” inscribed along the edge.
It’s on the obverse where the “Cod” confusion arises.
Why Does “God” Sometimes Look Like “Cod”?
At a glance, the “G” in “God” can appear to be a “C”, transforming the phrase into the fishy “In Cod We Trust”. But this isn’t a printing mistake or a rare defect. Here’s the real explanation:
1. Modern Font Design
- The U.S. Mint updated the typeface for the Washington obverse in 2021 (as part of the transition from the America the Beautiful quarters).
- The serif style of the “G” is sleek and minimal, with a short, subtle spur (the little tail on the bottom right). In certain lighting or at small scale, this spur can be hard to see, making the letter resemble a “C.”
2. Die Wear and Striking Variations
- Over time, minting dies wear down from striking millions of coins.
- As the die degrades, fine details—like the spur on the “G”—can become faint or filled in with metal flow, enhancing the “C” illusion.
- This is a normal byproduct of mass production, not an error.
3. Not a True Mint Error
- A genuine mint error would involve a misstrike, double die, or wrong planchet—something that deviates from the intended design.
- The “Cod” effect is intentional in the font and common due to production tolerances. Every 2022–2025 quarter could exhibit this trait under the right conditions.
Are These Quarters Rare or Valuable?
The short answer is no. Despite viral TikToks and eBay listings claiming values of $500, $1,000, or more, these quarters are worth 25 cents.
Evidence from the Marketplace
- Hundreds of Listings: If you search “In Cod We Trust quarter” on eBay, you’ll find dozens (if not hundreds) of auctions—many from sellers with zero feedback or exaggerated claims like “Ultra Rare Mint Error!” Try filtering to the “sold” category on eBay and you will see almost zero of these quarters have actually been sold.
- No Premium Sales: Legitimate coin dealers and grading services (like PCGS or NGC) do not recognize this as an error variety. None have been slabbed and sold for more than face value.
- Common Circulation: Millions of these quarters are in circulation. You may have one, and thousands of others do as well.
How to Spot Misinformation
Coin collecting is fun—but it’s also full of hype. Here’s how to avoid falling for the “Cod” trap:
Red Flag | What It Means |
“One of a kind!” | False—millions were minted. |
Sold by 0-feedback seller | Likely a scam or flip attempt. |
Price > $1 | Overpriced for a common quarter. |
Claims “certified” without PCGS/NGC slab | Unverified and only worth face value. |
The Bottom Line
The “In Cod We Trust” quarter is a delightful example of how design, wear, and/or perception can create a convincing illusion. But it’s not rare, not an error, and not worth over face value. You can always keep it as a conversation starter, spend it, or just enjoy the pun, but it will only ever be worth its initial value of 25 cents.
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