1920-S Standing Liberty Quarter Value Guide

The 1920-S Standing Liberty Quarter is a premier example of Hermon Atkins MacNeil's Type 2 design, featuring Liberty clad in protective chain mail. This San Francisco Mint issue is particularly sought after by numismatists because the raised date on early series strikes was highly susceptible to wear, making specimens with full legibility rare.

What affects the value of 1920-S Standing Liberty Quarter?

• The presence of a 'Full Head' (FH) designation, indicating a crisp strike on Liberty's helmet, significantly increases market value.
• Overall grade and preservation of the 90% silver and 10% copper surfaces, with uncirculated examples reaching the $1,200-$1,300 range.
• The clarity of the date, as coins with 'slick' or worn-off dates carry substantially lower premiums.
• Luster and the absence of heavy contact marks or cleaning, which are critical for high-tier collectible status.

How to Identify 1920-S Standing Liberty Quarter?

• Locate the 'S' mint mark positioned to the left of the date on the obverse side.
• Verify the Type 2 design features, specifically the chain mail covering Liberty's chest and three stars below the eagle on the reverse.
• Check for the designer's initial 'M' located to the right of the date.
• Examine the date for sharpness, as 1920 strikes often suffer from 'flat' or worn digits due to the high-relief design.

History of 1920-S Standing Liberty Quarter

Designed by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, the Standing Liberty quarter was first released in 1916. The initial design caused a public outcry because Liberty's right breast was exposed, leading to a redesign in 1917 that covered her with chain mail. The 1920-S is a notable date in the series, particularly prized by collectors when found in higher grades with a clear date, as the date on early Standing Liberty quarters was prone to wearing away quickly due to being raised above the rim.