My Favorite Coin Of The Week: 6/14/15

1917 Type 1 Standing Liberty quarter:

Mintage: 8,740,000
Obverse Designer: Hermon A. MacNeil
Reverse Designer: Hermon A. MacNeil

My Standing Liberty has strong frosty luster on this AU graded coin by PCGS.

There are two major subtypes of the Standing Liberty quarter, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 was issued for only two years, 1916-1917, and Type 2 from 1917-1930.

While there may have been some concern over the Miss Liberty's bare breast, it is mostly myth that this is the main reason for the design change. It seems there were many reason's for a design change, which included improvements the designer MacNeil wanted, political aspirations from Treasury Secretary McAdoo, and changes to improve the quarter's ability to stack. There are record's that indicate that MacNeil himself was pushing for changes to his Type 1 design. A notice dated Feb 1917 announced that the Mint was considering slight changes to the design at MacNeil's request.

After the proposed changes were passed, Chief Engraver George Morgan, who replaced the late Charles Barber February 1917, made extensive changes to MacNeil's design mid-way through 1917. His modifications made the eagle higher on the reverse and moved three of the thirteen stars from its sides to below it. Liberty's nude torso is covered with chain mail and her shield rivets are reduced from 30 to 16. Finally, a convexity was applied to the dies to aid in striking production. Unfortunately, the changes had the opposite effect, with Type 2 examples displaying poorer definition overall and notably to Liberty's hair and face.

Interesting Events in 1917:

[*]The Allied Governments respond to US President Wilson's December 1916 note, giving their terms for ending the war

[*]US pays Denmark $25 million for Virgin Islands

[*]US liner Housatonic is sunk by German submarine, on the same day that US President Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany

[*]1st NHL championship game ever played, Toronto Arenas beats Montreal Canadiens 7-3 in 1st of 2 game set (second game on March 13)

[*]Stanley Cup: Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA) beat Montreal Canadiens (NHL), 3 games to 1 - Seattle is 1st US team to win Stanley Cup

[*]US declares war on Germany, enters World War I

[*]Walt Disney graduates from Benton High School

[*]Secret Service extends protection of president to his family

[*]Sir Thomas Whyte introduces the first income tax in Canada as a "temporary" measure (lowest bracket is 4% and highest is 25%).

[*]Giants Rube Benton is 1st lefty to pitch a World Series no hitter

[*]20,000 women march in a suffrage parade in New York, US

[*]1st class US mail now costs 3 cents per ounce (55 cents in today's money)

[*]The 18th Amendment, authorizing prohibition of alcohol, is approved by the US congress and sent to the states for ratification