Numismatic

1917 Standing Liberty Quarter Type-I BU

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In 1917, the United States Mint produced a distinctive variety of the Standing Liberty quarter, known to enthusiasts as the Type I. Struck in Philadelphia, this twenty-five cent piece contains 0.17875 troy ounces of 90 percent silver. It represents the earliest form of this iconic coinage series, which underwent a significant design modification partway through the year. The obverse of this coin displays a full-length figure of Liberty stepping forward through an opening in a wall. In one hand she holds a shield, while the other clasps an olive branch, symbolizing a desire for peace alongside a readiness for defense. The year 1917 is clearly visible at the base, and the inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST" is split across the gate. This original Type I design is easily distinguished from later issues of the same year by the specific details of Liberty's drapery. On the reverse, an eagle is depicted in mid-flight, soaring across the sky. Surrounding the eagle is the traditional Latin motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM". With a total mintage of 8,740,000 pieces, this specific coin survives in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, preserving the crisp details of sculptor Hermon MacNeil's original artistic vision before the design was altered.