1917-D Type 1

The 1917-D Type 1 Standing Liberty quarter is the Denver branch mint's only contribution to the original bare-figure design and one of the lower mintages among the Type 1 varieties. Denver struck 1,509,200 pieces before production switched to the modified Type 2 master hubs partway through the year. That figure is barely seventeen percent of the Philadelphia Type 1 mintage and gives the 1917-D Type 1 genuine scarcity in higher grades, even though it remains affordable in circulated condition. The coin is essential for any collector pursuing a full Type 1 set across the three mints, and it is the only chance to obtain a Type 1 Denver issue because the design was retired before the branch could strike another full year of the variety. Surviving examples are typically found in grades from VF through low Mint State, with sharp examples becoming markedly scarcer above MS64.

Identification of the Type 1 design follows the same diagnostics on Denver strikes as on Philadelphia issues. Liberty stands in the gateway with her right breast exposed and the shield held high in her left arm. The reverse shows the eagle in flight with wings level and no stars below the bird, all thirteen stars arranged along the perimeter to either side. The D mintmark sits on the obverse above and to the left of the date, where it can be checked for proper shape and placement against certified references. Specifications are unchanged from the Philadelphia variety: 6.25 grams, 24.3 millimeters in diameter, 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper, with a reeded edge. Authentication should include verification that the mintmark is original to the coin and not added to a Philadelphia Type 1 host, since the spread in value between mintmarked and Philadelphia Type 1 quarters creates incentive for tampering.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) population data show the 1917-D Type 1 thinning rapidly above MS64, and Full Head examples in MS65 or finer appear at auction less frequently than the Philadelphia counterpart. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers records reflect strong premiums for original surfaces and complete head detail. Most set builders treat the 1917-D Type 1 as a mid-priced acquisition that becomes a centerpiece in higher grades. For the full design-change story and Denver's role across the series, see our Standing Liberty Quarter series history.