Type 3 Standing Liberty Quarters, those with a recessed date, are more difficult to grade than any other series featured on this site. This is due to the inconsistency in the design's wear pattern. A coin with an overall better appearance may show a particular design element in worse condition than that of a coin receiving a lower grade. This scenario might occur for many of the primary design features of the coin. The collector's best option is to grade the chainmail adorning Liberty's chest. This aspect of the design shows consistency and the highest correlation to a sequential grading system. Readers should note that although type 2 Standing Liberty quarters also include Liberty wearing chainmail, the wear pattern was slightly dissimilar (especially in lower grades), and this guide should be used with caution for type 2 coins. The QuickGrade guide for types 1 & 2 or the complete grading guidelines are more suitable options.
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In the lowest of grades, a type 3 Standing Liberty quarter will display poorly formed chainmail straps. No other detail will be present, and the quality of the straps is such that a viewer can make an identification only on their location since they do not readily appear as anything recognizable. The example images show two staps appearing similar to the coin's darker surface grime. The detail is poor, but this is characteristic of quarters grading at the "about good" level.
The differences between the various lower-end grades of type 3 Standing Liberty quarters are subtle. At the "good" level, there is no detail found on the chainmail other than the straps, but these are somewhat better formed than those found on truly lower-grade coins. In the example image, Liberty's left strap (on the viewer's right) is only marginally superior to one found on an AG coin, but a more significant difference exists in Liberty's right strap. The deeper contours of the right strap form something resembling the actual armor and not a jumbled mess of darker and lighter colors.
Standing Liberty quarters grading "very good" offer minor improvements over those grading "good." There is no detail found on the chainmail below the straps. Liberty's left strap is now roughly as detailed as the right strap, which is a significant change from a G coin. Both straps descend to where the remainder of the chainmail should begin, yet at the VG level, little to none of this lower detail will show.
The "fine" grade is the first where there is real evidence that Liberty is wearing armor. There should be light chainmail detail in the upper-most regions of Liberty's chest. Early signs of chainmail detail also show in the lower regions, represented in the example image as a darker area close to the center. This dark spot will ultimately form the basis of breast separation in higher grades. The example image only shows faint chainmail detail by Liberty's left strap; it is a baseline fine, and some F coins will show more detail.
In grades up to "fine," the chainmail detail only makes small incremental progress as the coin grade increases, but in grades of "very fine" and higher, the design comes into focus at a faster rate. VF coins will show visible chainmail detail across the upper portion of the design. The center detail, represented by a mere spot on "fine" coins, should merge with the top, creating the appearance of a "T." The left and right breasts are also separated, with each still being worn smooth. The example images are of a baseline VF. This coin would qualify as a VF, but stronger coins are often encountered within the same grade range.
Standing Liberty quarters in the "extremely fine" grade range will exhibit wear across the chainmail, but a coin representing the true essence of the design begins to come together. Liberty's left breast (on the viewer's right) should show only minimal wear as the chain links over this area show plainly. Liberty's right breast remains flat, but evidence of chain links shows on all four sides. The remainder of the chainmail design displays all its deep contours and some fine details.
Standing Liberty quarters are one of the few series where visible wear and missing design elements are still a factor at the "about uncirculated" level. The area over Liberty's right breast is still lacking in detail, and the chain links at the design's high point have worn down with handling. The chainmail over Liberty's right breast is only minimally worn, so a collector will notice a difference between the AU and XF grades, where much greater flatness is evident. The AU coin also features bold chainmail in most other areas, and the whole design will show some luster, further differentiating itself from an XF coin.
Some very high AU coins may show full chainmail, but the majority of Standing Liberty quarters showing a design with complete detail are also uncirculated examples. The BU coin will feature a rigid full-link chainmail that covers both breasts. This wear-free quality is complemented by a coin surface with full luster and attractive surfaces. Strike weakness may exist in other design elements like Liberty's head or the shield in her hand, but the chainmail is usually fully struck.
