How to Identify the 1927-S Standing Liberty Quarter

What This Coin Is

The 1927-S is one of the scarcer dates in the Standing Liberty quarter series, struck at the San Francisco Mint using the Type 2 design with the chainmail-covered Liberty figure. Its relatively low mintage, especially in higher grades, makes it a notable key date.

Obverse Design

The design keeps MacNeil's standing Liberty figure holding an olive branch and shield within the gateway, "LIBERTY" arched at top and "IN GOD WE TRUST" to the right, but on this "Type 2" version a chainmail vest covers Liberty's previously bare right breast, a modification made partway through 1917.

Reverse Design

The same flying eagle fills the center, but on the Type 2 reverse three stars were added directly beneath the eagle, and the remaining stars were rearranged around the border, giving the lower field a noticeably different look from the Type 1 reverse.

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. Confirming a genuine "S" in this position, paired with the 1927 date, is what separates this scarcer issue from the much more common 1927 Philadelphia quarter.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

The main risk is a common 1927 or 1927-D quarter altered to show a fake "S." Compare the mint mark's size, shape, and placement to verified genuine 1927-S coins, and check that the surrounding surface shows consistent luster and wear rather than tool marks or an unnatural texture around the letter.

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 full, sharp head details on Standing Liberty quarters are notoriously hard to find even on lightly worn coins, well-struck examples with clear head and shield details are especially notable for this date.

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.