What it is
Grease filled the T of TRUST on an obverse die, so some 2005-P Kansas quarters read IN GOD WE RUST. It is a struck-through error rather than a die variety, so the strength varies from coin to coin.
How to identify it
- The T in TRUST is missing or very faint.
- The rest of the motto is normal.
- Philadelphia: P mint mark 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
The same grease error appears on other quarters but is most famous on the Kansas coin. A T removed after minting leaves scratches.
The regular 2005-P coin
The variety appears on the 2005-P Kansas Quarter, which had a total mintage of 263,400,000. That figure counts the whole issue, so it does not tell you how many coins show the variety.
The Kansas quarter and how the error happened
The Kansas quarter was released in 2005 as the 34th coin in the 50 State Quarters program, marking the state's admission in 1861. Its reverse shows a bison with sunflowers. The error is on the obverse: during striking, a dense mix of grease and debris filled the recessed T in TRUST on a working die. Metal could not flow into the filled letter, so coins struck while the grease was there show no T.
Grease builds up and gets knocked loose during production, so the error came and went. Coins from the same die show everything from a full T to a completely missing one. The strongest examples are the ones collectors want.
Why this error became famous
The phrase IN GOD WE RUST made the coin a natural news story and it became one of the best-known errors of the State quarter program. Coins struck through grease are common in every series, but most go unnoticed because the missing detail does not change a word. Here, one missing letter changed the meaning of the motto. That is what gave the coin its fame.
Collectors searched rolls of Kansas quarters and the coin drew attention well outside the hobby.
A step-by-step check
Use a 5x loupe and an overhead light. Look at IN GOD WE TRUST on the obverse. On a strong example the T is missing entirely and the space looks like smooth field. On weaker examples a faint outline of the T remains.
Next, use a 10x loupe and tilt the coin. A genuine struck through error has a smooth, slightly soft texture where the T should be and it blends into the field around it. Then check the other letters of the motto and LIBERTY, since grease can weaken nearby letters as well. Finally, confirm the P mint mark.
How strength affects collectability
Because the error depends on how much grease was in the letter, no two coins are exactly alike. Collectors sort them roughly into coins with a completely missing T, coins with a ghost of the T and coins with a weak but readable T. Only the first two are usually sold as In God We Rust quarters.
When buying, look at a clear photo of the motto before anything else. A clean, empty space where the T should be is what makes the coin desirable.
Grades and preservation
The error was found on coins from circulation and from rolls, so both circulated and Uncirculated examples exist. Collectors look for a clean, complete RUST and few marks on Washington's cheek and neck. High grade coins with a completely missing T are the most desirable.
Authentication
PCGS and NGC certify struck through grease errors and the Kansas In God We Rust is a well-known attribution. Because a T can be removed by hand, certified coins are much safer to buy than raw ones. If you find a strong example in a roll, keep it in a capsule and avoid rubbing the motto, since even light handling marks can make the empty space look tampered with.
Other grease-filled errors
Grease-filled letters occur on every denomination. Collectors find coins with missing letters in LIBERTY, in the motto or in the date. Other State quarters show similar grease errors. Some quarters of other designs also read IN GOD WE RUST, but none has drawn the same attention as the Kansas coin.
Grease errors are a good introduction to error collecting because they are easy to find and teach the difference between an error that happened during striking and a variety that is part of the die.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a 2005-P Kansas "In God We Rust" Quarter?
The T in TRUST is missing or very faint. The rest of the motto is normal. If your coin passes these checks, have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.
Is the 2005-P Kansas "In God We Rust" 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 struck-through grease?
A struck-through error occurs when something sits between the die and the planchet during the strike. Grease, cloth, wire or another coin can leave an impression or block part of the design. Read more about struck-through errors.
Are all In God We Rust quarters from Kansas?
No. Grease-filled T errors appear on other quarters too, but the 2005-P Kansas is the best known.
Is the In God We Rust quarter a die variety?
No. It is a struck through grease error, so its strength varies from coin to coin even from the same die.