1917 Standing Liberty Quarter

The 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter minted two varieties. On the original, Liberty’s right breast is uncovered, which stirred up some ‘controversy’ about her nudity. The second variety subtly covered Liberty’s chest with chainmail armor and variety 1 was retired. Not all accounts back this up, however, and some think the addition of chainmail was meant to give Liberty a more martial appearance in the midst of WWI.

For collectors, it is always a goal to find coins in the best possible condition because no one wants to boast a collection of coins that is not easy on the eyes. With regard to the 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter, finding one in great condition is no simple task.

Grading the 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter

For any coin produced during the early 1900s and utilized as a collector’s item today, the first question on the mind of any collector will be with regard to the coin’s condition. While the age of these coins may make it hard to believe that any could have been preserved in great condition, the reality of the matter is that this happens more often than you might think.

Typically, collectors prefer to have the coin in question graded by a professional company, but that is not always an option. Understanding this, below is an outline that highlights the characteristics of different coin grades to give you a better understanding of what coins of a certain grade might look like.

Uncirculated: A coin that receives an Uncirculated grade is one that never spent any time exchanging hands. Because of this, the coin will have avoided any and all damage typically associated with coinage that has been through decades of exchange. As you might expect, coins of this grade are the most highly sought after on the market.

Extremely Fine: To receive this grade, the coin in question will have only been circulated for a short period of time. Appearing pristine, the only wear and tear on these coins will be able to be seen under close inspection. Extremely Fine Standing Liberty Quarters are an undeniably great addition to any and all collections.

Fine: Coins of this grade have been circulated for longer periods of time, but they have not incurred so much damage that the imagery and texture has been completely compromised. You will almost always notice some light, consistent scratching, and the overall texture of the coin may have been worn down a bit due to the constant changing of hands these coins had to undergo.

Very Good: Very Good is the grade reserved for coins that have been extremely heavily circulated. These coins will show a lot of damage, including scratching, chipping, and sometimes bending. Though in relatively poor condition, these coins are still highly sought after by collectors of all types—and especially those looking to put together a complete collection.

Pricing the 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter

Determining a price for a 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter is as easy as taking into consideration a few different factors. For one, the fact that multiple types of Quarters were minted every year, the scarcity associated with that specific type will affect the price. Secondly, the condition of the coin, being as important as it is, will play heavily into how much you might be asked to pay for the coin. Below is a list of the prices you might be asked to pay for a graded Standing Liberty Quarter from 1917.

Standing Liberty Quarters

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1917 Standing Liberty Quarter (Variety I)	$25	$65	$110	$200
1917 Standing Liberty Quarter (Variety I) (D)	$30	$80	$200	$250
1917 Standing Liberty Quarter (Variety I) (S)	$40	$10	$210	$285
1917 Standing Liberty Quarter (Variety II)	$25	$55	$100	$150
1917 Standing Liberty Quarter (Variety II) (D)	$45	$85	$150	$210
1917 Standing Liberty Quarter (Variety II) (S)	$45	$90	$160	$225
Source: Red Book