How to Identify the 1917 Type 1 Standing Liberty Quarter

What This Coin Is

The 1917 Type 1 continues the original Standing Liberty quarter design introduced in 1916, before the U.S. Mint revised it partway through 1917 to add coverage over Liberty's exposed breast. It was struck at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

Obverse Design

Hermon A. MacNeil's Liberty stands within a gateway formed by two pillars, holding an olive branch in her right hand and a shield in her left, symbolizing readiness for peace but preparedness for defense. On this early "Type 1" version, her right breast is bare. "LIBERTY" arches across the top, "IN GOD WE TRUST" sits to the right of the gateway, and the date is at the bottom rim, unprotected by any raised border.

Reverse Design

An eagle in flight fills the center, wings spread wide, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arched above and "QUARTER DOLLAR" below. On the Type 1 reverse the stars are arranged with several grouped to the right of the eagle rather than beneath it.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

Standing Liberty quarters are struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weigh 6.25 grams, measure 24.3 mm across, and have a reeded edge, matching the specifications of the Barber and early Washington quarters that bracket the series.

Mint Mark Location

Unusually for a coin of this era, the mint mark sits on the obverse rather than the reverse: look just to the left of the date, near Liberty's leading foot. No mark means Philadelphia; a "D" indicates Denver and an "S" indicates San Francisco.

Telling It Apart from the Type 2 Version

The clearest difference is on the obverse: Type 1 shows Liberty's right breast bare, while the Type 2, introduced later in 1917, adds a chainmail vest covering it. On the reverse, Type 1 has no stars directly beneath the eagle, while Type 2 shows three stars added under the eagle's tail. Both types share the 1917 date, so the design details—not the year alone—determine which type a coin is.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Wear appears first on Liberty's head and the rounded shield rim on the obverse, and on the eagle's breast and the leading wing edge on the reverse. On Type 1 coins, the date sits unprotected at the rim, so it wears down or disappears entirely on well-circulated pieces; the head, shield, and date's legibility together give a quick read on grade. Because the date sits unprotected at the rim with no raised border on Type 1 coins, it is often the first design element to wear away, so a well-preserved, fully legible date is a good sign of light overall circulation.

Authenticity Red Flags

Because several dates in this series carry low mintages, watch for added or re-engraved mint marks on the obverse, and for full dates that look freshly re-cut on coins that should otherwise show wear consistent with the rest of the design. A mint mark or date that appears sharper or more raised than the surrounding worn surface is a sign to look closer.