The Standing Liberty Quarter was first issued in 1916 and last issued only 15 years later, in 1930. In that time period the design changed twice, resulting in Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 designations for the coins. Type 1 was only issued in 1916 and part of 1917. Design features that are defining for this type are the laurel branch covering the L in LIBERTY, the bare breast, a whole lot of rivets on the shield, and the eagle situated towards the bottom of the reverse. The type 2 revision covered up Liberty's breast, changed the braiding of her hair, and moved the branch she holds. The writing on the wall looks less detailed to me. On the reverse the eagle was moved up and now dominates the center of the coin. Three stars were moved to make room. As shown here, the date is still high and unprotected, and is prone to being poorly struck. It starts to wear quickly. The top of the "1918" is already compromised while the rest of the coin is quite detailed. The Type 2 continued until 1925, when a design change was made to better protect the date from wearing off. This version, Type 3, continued until the end of the series. Here are comparisons of the Type 1 and Type 3 obverses. The dishing of the date field is easy to see. This is the initial reverse on the left compared to the Type 3 on the right. This note is not meant to be definitive in any way, but just an opportunity to compare and contrast a few coins. Any other SLQ photos are certainly welcomed!
One of, if not my favorite coin designs. My friend found the key date while we were metal detecting. I bought it from him and it now sits in my collection!
Very nice informative post! I've been putting together a set of SLQ's for years now and never knew about the branch change from the Type1 to Type2.
In this EBay lot of 40 dateless SLQ's $141.99 +3.65 shipping 3.64 each. Melt is currently 3.07. There are 2 Type 1's. Second row first on left and bottom row second from left. How can you tell the difference between the 1916 and 1917? https://www.ebay.com/itm/40-Standin...740525?hash=item3d4bdc66ed:g:PEAAAOSwCCVZuxH3
Is it just me, or do these coins seem hard to find in nice condition compared to other coins of the same era? Also seemed to have disappeared early from circulation. Even in the early 60s, I would find Indian head cents, buffalo nickels, mercury dimes, even walking liberty halves occasionally in my grandpa's change. But I don't recall seeing any SL quarters.
I don't think either is a 1916. This link may help:https://www.ngccoin.com/boards/topi...if-a-dateless-t-1-standing-quarter-is-a-1916/
Well of course the odds are on 17, 17D, 17S. The bottom one is too circulated to tell. But the top one does not appear to have the robe marker from the article. Still a Type 1 carries a small premium. I am not bidding on the lot (although it isn't too much over melt), but if there was a diamond in the rough, it's good to know what to look for. Thanks for the link.
It isn't. There is no record of any "public outrage", the changes in the design were underway by Feb of 17 and NONE of the requested changes involved covering the breast. And directives from the mint to MacNeil were to not make any changes other than the ones requested. He made the addition of the chain mail on his own initiative. The addition makes sense though. The symbolism of the original design indicates the US's preparation to possibly enter the war currently raging in Europe. Well if you are going into war you don't do so unclothed, you wear protective gear. Hence the chain mail.
Unless of course, you happen to be Scotch. In which case history records, you may tear off your tartan as you run madly into the fray!
Thanks, Ron. After looking at SLQs for 60 years (and finding many, many of them in the cash register as a youngster in my parents' cafe) I never noticed the change in the branch design until you mentioned it. Strange how many times we can "look" but not really "see." Steve
Ron: thanks for the insight on the SLQs. Trying to build a complete set (up to 20 different dates) and was not aware of the 3rd change until now.