How much can be earned from collecting state quarters?

Earnings, in this case, means profits by the U.S. Mint from the sale of the state quarters to collectors, that is, the value of currency taken out of circulation less the cost of production. Uncle Sam has "earned" $4 billion to $5 billion so far, the New York Times reports. The program has worked so well that it's being extended to the one dollar coin. By February of 2007 Sacagawea will be joined first by George Washington, then all the rest of the dead Presidents on a schedule that extends to 2016.

I think it's unfortunate that the new Presidential dollars will be no larger that the Sacagawea, which is too close to the quarter in size to be quickly distinguished. On the other hand, I expect better acceptance of Presidential dollars as real money.

I wonder whether any collectors have profited from collecting the state quarters thus far?