Dating a Standing Liberty with no date?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Sam1994, Feb 27, 2021.

  1. Sam1994

    Sam1994 New Member

    Hi everyone!

    Is it possible to date a Standing Liberty quarter with no date? Here's some pictures.

    All my best,

    Sam
     

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  3. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    No its not a type 1/1916,17 so its exact date can't be traced its worth melt value $4-$5.
     
  4. manny9655

    manny9655 Well-Known Member

    On the 1916's, yes. A couple of things to look for on those, is that the stars on the shield are different and the leaves on the olive branch cross the L in Liberty on both 1916 and 1917. The lines on the tablets (for lack of a better term) below the words "in God" and Trust" on 1917 and later are more pronounced than on the 1916s. And of course the reverse is different on issues after 1917. 1925 and later has the date recessed because the dates wore off easily. Also, if you can make out a "1" as the last number in the date, you know it's a 1921, as we didn't mint any quarters in 1931. Your coin is probably between 1918 and 1924.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021
  5. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    To my knowledge, the only dateless Standing Liberty Quarters that can be dated are the key date 1916 and the 1917 Type 1. There were subtle differences in the design that allow you to tell if it is a 1916 or 1917. The coin you have is a Type 2 or 3.

    The Type 1 has no stars under the eagle while the other two types have three stars below the bird.

    Chances are your coin was issued from 1917 to 1924. In 1925 the date was recessed into the design and held up much better. You coin does not have enough wear to be missing the date if it were made in 1925 or later.
     
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  6. tibor

    tibor Supporter! Supporter

    I read several years ago you could use Nic-A-Date on these. Same product
    brings up dates on Buffalo nickels. Never tried but worth a shot. It's an "S"
    mint, so even with the restored date it will have a little value. You've got
    nothing to lose.
     
  7. HoledandCreative

    HoledandCreative Well-Known Member

    Before you treat it with anything, your coin picture #4 looks to me to have some hints of a date. Magnify it as large as you can and compare it to the last digit of other dates. A 3 would be fun to find. Don't treat if you don't have to.
     
  8. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Well it was minted in San Francisco if that help but really, with no date it could be almost anything as explained in previous posts.
     
  9. Mac McDonald

    Mac McDonald Well-Known Member

    I know what you mean...have thought/wished the same thing for some otherwise decent circulated coins. Unfortunately, like the Buffalo nickel and a few others, dates were the first devices to wear down/off. As others have mentioned, short of IDing a type or maybe a more likely date range, don't think there's a way. That said, there's some pretty hi-tech resources nowadays...almost like some sort of x-ray or other means to look below surfaces to reveal secrets thought lost...maybe, if one only had access to them (if they even exist, and I haven't heard they do).
     
    Kevin Mader likes this.
  10. Mr.Q

    Mr.Q Well-Known Member

    Most informative analysis manny9655. Thank you for the education.
     
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  11. Robert Ransom

    Robert Ransom Well-Known Member

    How about more to help for us, ie. enlargeable, clear, cropped photos?
    When posting pics, select 'full size' option.
     
    GoldFinger1969 likes this.
  12. manny9655

    manny9655 Well-Known Member

  13. manny9655

    manny9655 Well-Known Member

    It's possible because the chemical affects the copper. But SLQ's are only 10% copper instead of the 75% copper of a nickel, so I don't think it would work as well. Still might be worth a try.
     
  14. J.T. Parker

    J.T. Parker Well-Known Member

    As per manny9655's reply:
    Not a guarantee, but because of the re-cutting of dies to strengthen the date, one might assume 'most' dateless SLQ's were minted before 1925.
    Always beware of dangerous assumptions,
    J.T.
     
    manny9655 likes this.
  15. manny9655

    manny9655 Well-Known Member

    I remember when my mom gave me SLQs for lunch money once in a while. When I was in elementary school in the early 1960s, you could still find them occasionally in circulation. If I only knew...
     
  16. J.T. Parker

    J.T. Parker Well-Known Member

    Hi Manny,
    I recall getting them in change on occasion. Mostly dateless.
    When I was actively metal detecting, 20 years ago, I was hunting an old farmstead now located in East Houston (dating back to 1890's). Got a shallow 2" signal and carelessly dug out the most beautiful 1925 AU SLQ ever seen....Unfortunately my carelessness nicked the coin's edge...DRAT! I 'repaired' it with a Dremel™ tool and sold it to a dealer at the Houston Money show...and Yes, I pointed out the repair.
    True Story,
    J.T.
     
    manny9655 likes this.
  17. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    It's still worth more than melt, since it is a low mintage San Francisco from 1917-1924. Trying to raise the date is a Catch-22. You may find out what the date is, but permanently etch and ruin the coin in doing so. If it is for your own collection
    with no plans on selling it (except for melt value) then you can raise the date just for your own curiosity. White vinegar and a splash of hydrogen peroxide works on raising dates on Buffalo nickels, but it leaves the coin unnaturally white. So, go easy on the peroxide. And before resorting to that, if you just use an eye loupe and a strong light, and tilt the coin around, sometimes you can see part of the date. All you need is the last digit to identify this coin.
     
  18. Neosynephrine

    Neosynephrine Member

    Back in the day, I had a bottle of Silver-Date-Back. Used it to find two SLQs - 1918 and 1920, both Philly mints. If memory serves, it was 3% nitric acid. Made the coin (and bathroom) stinky like metal, and it bubbled on the coin's surface. Brought the dates back though. Ruined a couple of Barber dimes trying to restore Liberty in the headband. Threw it out only to regret it later.
     
  19. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    That works to bring up dates on nickel, not silver.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2021
  20. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

  21. micbraun

    micbraun coindiccted

    I wouldn’t date an old lady but that’s just me.
     
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