Standing Liberty Quarter (1916-1930) Question

nope most of what I have read is that it takes some funky acid that will just as easily destroy the coin
might aswell take a sharpie and write a date on them

nope

I agree that you are probably sol if looking at type 2 slqs. If you are looking at type 1 slqs, there are die characteristics that are used to distinguish a dateless 1916 from a 1917. I don't remember off hand, but there are differences in the hair details and the robe between the two coins. This is worth researching, as even a dateless 1916 can be worth nearly a grand.

You should have made it a 1916 yotie! ;-P

yotie:
and a full face to boot!

Very scarce variety.

wish I did ebay

So far, I've had no luck. I've tried different things, strong acid, strong base, formaldehyde, iodine, and other things. Some leave a permanent stain (especially iodine), but nothing brings back the date.

I'm thinking that unlike the buffalo nickels- on which the date was punched deeply enough to allow restoration with acids, the SLQ's were not punched deeply enough. This, plus the silver composition makes it harder to crack. But I'll keep trying. I have more than 100 dateless SLQs, some with mint marks.