Got this quarter as part of a toll payment a couple of weeks ago. Lots of controversy surrounding whether this "low leaf" error is nothing more that a die gouge or even an error at all. Not sure what to believe. Anyway, still pretty cool for only a 25¢ investment on my part.
I'd heard of the high & low extra leaf versions, but had to look it up & refresh my old memory: http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/2004DWiscDieGouges.htm It seems more difficult to consider that low leaf a dye gouge, but I guess anything is possible.
I find it hard to believe it's an error on the mint's part, they meant to put in those variations for the Wisconsin quarter. With the amount of detail in the leaves, it's not a gouge or chip or any anomaly like that. In any case, that's a nice find and you'll probably get $40-50 if you decide to sell it.
There's no real controversy about whether these coins are legitimate or not. A few well respected numismatists had a knee jerk reaction in claiming they were just unintentional gouges but the facts dispute this. It might never be proven beyond question they weren't inadvertant errors the odds of it are extremely low that they were. These are almost certainly unofficial design variations made by a "prankster" at the mint. Since more than a single individual appears to have been involved one might even consider them "semi-official" coin designs. I watch for these religiously but have yet to find one.
Unfortunately - yes is the answer to cladking's question. All were obtained as circulated coins at an Austin, TX toll facility - both myself and domdino - and all have normal circulated wear. Too bad the scan shows every little nick and mark. I collected three in a 2-month period. Makes me wonder how these remained in circulation for 8 years and have as little wear on them as they would otherwise in normal heavier circulation. I suspect someone may have raided Dad's or Grandpa's coin collection.
* * * U P D A T E * * * I was able to sell 2 of the coins (pictured above) on eBay last month for $200. Still have one left. Today, August 11,2012, I was lucky enough to score, from the Austin Toll Road System, the High Leaf companion to my one remaining Low Leaf (see below). Kinda of a cool 25¢ investment on each of these two - $1 overall (including the two I sold).
