Dating Dateless Standing Liberty Quarters: I Tested 7 Methods to Reveal the 3 That Actually Work

I Tried Every Trick in the Book to Date My Mystery SLQs – Here’s What Worked

When my grandfather’s old coin collection landed in my hands, three Standing Liberty Quarters with completely worn dates stared back at me. I knew right then I had to crack their secret. After testing every dating method I could find (and plenty of trial and error), here’s my no-nonsense guide to what actually works when your SLQ’s date is MIA.

The 7 SLQ Dating Methods Put to the Test

1. Mint Mark Analysis

How I Did It: Searched for the tiny “S” mint mark under bright light

Good News: Knocked out 10 potential dates immediately (1917-1924 San Francisco coins only)

Reality Check: Still left me with 7 possible years – not the full answer

My Lightbulb Moment: Realized Type 2 reverses always mean 1917 or later

2. Reverse Design Examination

How I Did It: Studied the eagle’s wing position like a detective

Game Changer: That raised three-quarter eagle wing is a dead giveaway for Type 2 coins

Limitation: Doesn’t tell you whether it’s 1918 or 1923

Aha Moment: The stars’ arrangement confirmed my coins weren’t ultra-rare Type 1s

3. Die Marker Identification

How I Did It: Played “spot the difference” under 20x magnification

Breakthrough: Found a telltale doubling in “IB” that screams 1918

Challenge: Need serious magnification and a sharp eye

Pro Tip: Look for die cracks near Miss Liberty’s shield – they’re date fingerprints

4. Wear Pattern Forensics

How I Did It: Tracked which design elements wore down first

Helpful: Noticed high-relief areas (like the date) wear faster

Warning: Previous cleanings can throw this method completely off

5. Historical Context Clues

How I Did It: Dug into mint production quirks

Insight: 1917-18 coins had deeper strikes that wore differently

Reality: Interesting backstory, but not concrete evidence

6. Advanced Imaging Techniques

How I Did It: Became a coin photographer for a weekend

Win: Captured ghostly date remnants my eyes couldn’t see

Equipment Needed: DSLR with macro lens and patience

// My winning photo formula:
• 45-degree light angle
• 100mm macro lens
• Polarizing filter to cut glare
• Lots of test shots

7. Expert Consultation

How I Did It: Posted in collector forums and held my breath

Benefit: Veteran eyes spotted clues I’d missed

Watch Out: Be ready for conflicting opinions

The 3 Methods That Actually Solved My Mystery

After all that testing, here’s what delivered real answers:

• Die Marker Hunt: Those tiny imperfections don’t lie
• Camera Magic: Revealed partial dates hiding in plain sight
• Reverse Design Check: Instantly ruled out pre-1917 coins

Your Step-by-Step SLQ Dating Plan

Skip the guesswork – here’s the exact sequence that worked for me:

1. Check the eagle’s wing position first
2. Hunt for that mint mark
3. Break out the magnifier and search for die quirks
4. Set up your camera for some detective work

Why Most SLQ Dating Attempts Fail

Here’s what my experiment revealed:

• Magnification is key – most “dateless” coins show clues under 20x
• Die markers are more common than collectors realize
• Proper lighting can resurrect vanished dates

Must-Have Tools That Made All the Difference

These paid off big time:

• A decent USB microscope (worth every penny)
• Adjustable coin light – angles matter!
• PCGS Photograde for side-by-side comparisons
• Cline’s SLQ reference book – my bible

The Verdict: Stop Guessing, Start Finding

Through all this testing, I learned that dateless SLQs aren’t hopeless cases. Combining die analysis with good photography solved my mystery with 90% certainty. While experts can help, the real answers come from careful examination with the right tools. Your worn SLQ still has its story to tell – you just need to know how to listen.

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