1917 Type 1 Standing Liberty Quarter... holding a piece of history.
Peace_dollar88
Posts: 1,245 ✭✭✭✭✭
Holding a circulated 1917 Standing Liberty quarter is like holding a silent witness to one of the most transformative years in human history. By the time that silver coin was clinking in a pocket or being exchanged for a newspaper, the world was essentially on fire, and the coin itself was undergoing a physical transformation to reflect it.
1917: A World in Upheaval
In 1917, the coin wasn't just "old money"—it was a brand-new design entering a world of chaos. Several world-altering events would have been the "current news" as that quarter moved from hand to hand:
America Enters WWI: In April 1917, the U.S. officially abandoned neutrality and joined the Great War. The quarter's design—Liberty holding a shield and an olive branch—suddenly felt less like an allegory and more like a national mandate.
The Russian Revolution: As Americans were spending these quarters, the Russian Empire was collapsing, replaced by the Bolsheviks. The modern geopolitical map was being drawn in real-time.
The Suffrage Movement: 1917 saw picketers from the "Silent Sentinels" arrested in front of the White House. The irony of carrying a coin featuring a powerful, standing woman while women were still fighting for the right to vote was surely not lost on the public.
While legend says the change was due to "puritanical" outrage over Liberty’s nudity, many historians believe the switch to chainmail was a deliberate symbolic shift. As American boys headed to the trenches of France, the Mint wanted Liberty to look less like a Greek goddess and more like a warrior prepared for battle.
The Journey of a Circulated Coin
A "circulated" coin tells a story of survival. Because the date on Standing Liberty quarters was "high" (raised), it was usually the first thing to wear off. If your coin still has a visible "1917," it was likely tucked away in a jar or a collection relatively early.
Imagine the hands that held it:
1918: Perhaps it was used to buy a "Liberty Bond" to support the war effort.
1929: It might have been one of the few coins left in a pocket during the Great Depression.
1940s: It survived the silver melts of WWII when the government needed metal for the war.
Every scratch and "wear" mark on that silver surface represents a transaction during the Roaring Twenties, the Dust Bowl, or the jazz clubs of the 30s. It isn't just 6.25 grams of 90% silver; it’s a physical fragment of the "American Century."
I plan to complete a grading set up to ms64 to ms65. This has been a fun journey.
Comments
My only wish? The photo was larger so each coin could be more easily visible.
Nice write-up.
Thanks for sharing.
One of my favorite designs too! Nice looking collection.
My dad was born in 1919. Don't forget that the first major modern day plague, "The Spanish Flu" also upset the apple cart of life. james
Right click on Image/More Tools/Magnify Image
quite a set and great writeup !!
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
I'm on an flip phone.
Wow! That's quite the undertaking! I'd love to see the completed set with larger images!
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
Very thoughtful - thanks for sharing.
@Tranquility
Great collection!
I just picked up my only type 1 a few days ago. It’s already one of my favorites.
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects.
Nice grading set/collection. Thanks for the close-ups. I sold my only silver one. Just have the gold one now
Nice gathering of grades. I just picked up a Type I Elongated J.H Cline advertisement piece.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
Sweet!
Your FA02 looks better than the AG03.
This is a really cool collection I think. 1917 was a very dynamic year for sure, and especially for the AU50 and below coins ... oh the stories I bet they could tell. Thanks for sharing!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Very cool endeavor @Peace_dollar88 . Love the write up! So glad that 40 found its way into that grouping!