How to Date a Dateless Standing Liberty Quarter: My Step-by-Step Identification Guide

I Stared at This Worn Coin For Hours – Here’s How I Cracked Its Secret

I’ll admit, at first I was ready to give up on this worn-down coin. When your Standing Liberty Quarter shows zero trace of a date, that tiny ‘S’ mint mark feels like a cruel tease. After three days of squinting through magnifiers and comparing hundreds of reference photos, here’s exactly how I identified my mystery coin – and how you can too.

Why Your Standing Liberty Quarter is Hiding Its Age

Here’s why your coin’s playing hard to get: those dates were struck shallow even when new. San Francisco mint coins (like my ‘S’ mint mark quarter) have extra quirks that make dating harder. The good news? Each year left subtle clues if you know where to look.

Type 1 vs. Type 2: The Make-or-Break Difference

Spotting this difference changed everything for me. My coin was clearly Type 2 (1917-1924) because:

• No wardrobe malfunction: Liberty’s breast is fully covered (Type 1 shows bare breast)
• Star power: Three little stars sit below the eagle at 5, 6, and 7 o’clock
• Edge check: Reeded edges instead of plain

My Coin Detective Toolkit: 5 Steps That Worked

1. Magnification Magic

My 16x loupe failed me. Game changer? Grabbing a $40 USB microscope. Suddenly I could spot:

• Ghostly date impressions
• Fine die polish lines
• Tiny denticle variations on the edge

2. Mint Mark Secrets

That tiny ‘S’ became my best clue, narrowing possibilities to:

• 1917-S (Type 2 debut)
• 1918-S through 1920-S
• The rare 1923-S and 1924-S

3. Eagle Eye on the Reverse

Here’s a trick I learned from an old collector: 1917-S coins often show a ‘broken wing’ detail on the eagle’s right wing. I spent twenty minutes confirming mine didn’t have it.

4. Liberty’s Telltale Signs

Her side revealed golden clues:

• Shield depth: 1918-S has more pronounced ridges
• Head tilt: 1923-S faces ever-so-slightly left
• Double trouble: That faint doubling in ‘IB’ hinted at a valuable DDO variety

The Photo Trick That Finally Worked

After fighting with lamp glare for an hour, I found the sweet spot:

1. Use window light at 45° (no direct sun!)
2. Black velvet background absorbs glare
3. Take multiple macro shots focusing on different areas

My Kitchen Table Setup

Window → Angle coin → Black fabric → Smartphone on stack of books

Last Resort: The Vape Juice Method (Yes, Really)

For truly stubborn coins, I carefully tried:

1. Dab clear vape liquid on the date area
2. Wait 90 seconds – reacts with underlying metal
3. Rinse immediately with distilled water

Important: This can slightly tone the coin – save it for common dates you don’t mind risking!

My Go-To Checklist Now

Here’s the exact workflow I now swear by for dateless SLQs:

1. Lock down Type 1 or 2 first
2. Hunt for die markers like a detective
3. Shoot detailed photos from all angles
4. Compare with PCGS PhotoGrade examples
5. Check Cherrypickers’ Guide for rare varieties

What My Coin Taught Me

The big lessons from my SLQ saga:

• San Francisco mint coins have year-specific “tells”
• Ghost dates appear under perfect lighting
• Die varieties can turn a $5 coin into $50+

The Thrilling Conclusion

After methodical detective work, I confirmed my coin was a 1919-S. The process taught me that with patience and the right approach, even slick coins can reveal their secrets. Remember – your SLQ isn’t a lost cause, it’s a story waiting to be told.

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