The Standing Liberty Quarter was first produced in 1916 and the last year of issue was 1930. This design was by Herman A. MacNeil. It was produced at three Mints, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. There are two varieties, the first has no stars below the eagle on the reverse and the second variety has stars below the eagle. Variety 1, is no stars below the eagle and they were all produced in 1916 and 1917. In 1916 just the Philadelphia Mint was used but in 1917 all three mints made them. The original designed exposed Lady Liberty's breast. The public did not like having her breast exposed so in 1917 the coin was re-designed to cover her breast. The redesign became known as Variety 2, which the public excepted. On both designs the left arm of Liberty is upraised, uncovering a shield for protection. Liberty's right hand holds an olive branch for peace. The designers initial, an M appears to the right of the date. On Variety 2 the stars were redesigned and the eagle is higher. In 1925 a depression was made on the pedestal where Liberty stands. The date is below her feet. On the earlier issues, the dates wore off because they were too high and not protected by the coins other features. The new recessed dates lasted longer as a result of this change. From 1917 to 1924 Variety 2 was the pedestal date and the change to a recessed date started in 1925 and lasted until 1930. In 1918 the San Francisco mint had an 8/7 Variety and in 1928 there is a large and small mint mark on the San Francisco quarter. No proof coins were officially issued but the Variety 1, dated 1917 has specimen striking's that are known to exist. Last year, I won an auction for the 1917 variety one. I also won a bunch of other items but when the package arrived the quarter was missing. A note was inclosed that said it would be shipped later. After 2 months and a couple of very polite conversations I received this coin in the mail. Two grades higher than the coin I was bidding on. I was very pleased and still am.
You'll get no 'sass' from me as I like any SLQ's that show a date. I recall digging 2 when I was actively Metal Detecting, one was dateless the other was so shallow I nicked it on the edge with my knife. It was an AU 1925 showing a beautiful full head strike and popping out of the ground with amazing- blazing-whiteness. I was able to repair the small nick w/ my Dremel and still sold it to a dealer for $25...(Yes, I pointed out the repair) J.T.
I like the series. I like your example in particular. A couple of quibbles with the write-up: while I see Type 1 and Type 2 most commonly, I see some people refer to the recessed-date Type 2 design as "Type 3", and I think it deserves being called its own variety. The 1916 quarter's design also has a few characteristics that set it apart from the 1917 Type 1 quarters, but since it's practically a pattern, I don't see any references calling it out as "Type 0". Oh, and there's no consensus on the "public outrage over nudity" angle. As best I can tell, that was a story made up a number of years after the fact.
Thanks Jeff. It is very nice in hand. I've heard that some sources refer to them as types and the change in the date may be considered a type. I decided to go with my Red Book which calls them Variety 1 and Variety 2. It also refers to them as Pedestsl and Recessed Dates. I felt more members would relate to the Red Book but yes, they are different theories. Again the Red Book list the 1916 with the early 1917 Variety 1. I could not find anything about it being listed as a separate Variety. I've read several articles in the past about public outrage over the nude breast but It couldn't quote them. I do remember my grandparents and my dad telling me that people refused to accept them in change or from the bank so I went with my family's experiences.
I've read that the sculptor had been working on a redesign before the Type I ever reached the public, so the covered breast was not a response to public pressure. I guess he wanted a more martial and less vulnerable look for Liberty with World War I approaching. Here's one reference. They say MacNeil was angry about the mint making changes to his design without telling him, such as having the eagle off center towards the bottom of the coin.
I'm pretty sure that both the NGC and PCGS registry require 3 types for SLQs with the date modification for SLQs minted 1925-1930 being Type 3. I don't have any problem with your recognition of only two types, just trying to explain why people will insist there are three for the casual reader. The coins shown below were my type set coins when I was building a type set. Type 1 (1916-1917): 1917-P SLQ NGC MS65 FH Type 2 (1917-1924): 1924-D SLQ NGC MS67 Type 3 (1925-1930): 1926 SLQ NGC MS66 CAC The 1924-D was one of my all time favorite coins and I was devastated when I had to sell it last year to raise money to buy a new car.
A DREMEL ? YikEs :O Me too - I have used a Dremel, with a toothpick clamped in, to polish recessed lettering in old Western W 49 Bowie Knives (which I collect / trade).
All these coins are beautiful..but that Type 2 (1917-1924): 1924-D SLQ NGC MS67 is out of this world. Thanks for sharing.
Of the three new designs adopted in 1916 (dime, quarter, half dollar), I find this to be by far the most visually appealing. Shame it was replaced so early by the Washington Quarter.
I suppose the people of 1916 were still very much influenced by the Victorian taboos of the 19th century. I wonder what they would have thought of all the naked gods and goddesses on Roman coins. How often do we see Jupiter and Sol in full-frontal nudity, unashamed of their assets? Speaking of assets, let's not forget Venus... The Romans had a point when it came to depicting the gods nude, though, and that was that they had no modesty because they had nothing to be ashamed of. Perhaps MacNeil was thinking something similar when he bared Liberty's breast. Liberty certainly has nothing to be ashamed of.
Collecting Nut, I can't recommend J.H. Cline's SLQ book highly enough for (I Believe) the best reference on the mintage...and for less than $20. https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Lib...nding+liberty+quarters&qid=1593626698&sr=8-34 J.T.
I know! This is well before I got any 'sense'. My only weak excuse was that only a very small nick made me sick each time I looked at this coin knowing that my carelessness had ruined it's perfection...Hence the repair.... Mea culpa, J.T.
This is a wonderful coin type. US coinage at its best. The image of Liberty here is interesting. Take a look at this statue: (Getty images) This, however, isn’t Liberty. This is the minor goddess Virtus: «In Roman mythology, Virtus was the deity of bravery and military strength, the personification of the Roman virtue of virtus. The Greek equivalent deity was Arete.[1] The deity was identified with the Roman god Honos (personification of honour) and was often honoured together with him, such as in the Temple of Virtus and Honos at the Porta Capena in Rome itself» (Wikipedia) Although a rather obscure deity, Virtus was no stranger to US legal tender. The 1776 Virginia continental $4 note had the image of Virtus: (Source and image; Wikipedia) Argueably, Virtus was always represented as a woman, with one breast bare, like on the statue. Now, I’m not suggesting that the SLQ should be renamed SVQ, but I find it interesting that the imagery of Liberty has so much in common with the «deity of bravery and military strength» in the middle of a world war. There was an interesting discussion about Virtus on ancient coins recently on the ancients board: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/is-there-anything-more-macho-than-the-emperor-as-virtvs.361356/ Finally, this is my 1917 SLQ Type 1:
I believe that some TPGers call the 1925 change a Type I, I question that, but I've also read that the designer changed to the chainmail design due to the US entering WW I and he didn't want people to think lady liberty would go to battle bare breasted. Here's mine:
I agree that there are technically three types; however, for whatever reason, most type set albums I've seen only have enough slots for the 1916-1917 and the 1917-1930, treating the 1925-1930 as part of Type II.
Sounds like they matched the Red Book. As time goes by maybe the pedestal change for the date will become Variety 3 as we need standards.
Guys, I'm'a be honest, I don't see any difference between Type 2 and 3. Can someone please point out where I should be looking? They seriously look identical.