1917-S Standing Liberty Quarter. Type I--Defective Planchet, Hole Thru Coin at Right Foot--MS-63 FH (NGC).One of two fascinating and rare major Mint errors from the Standing Liberty quarter series that we are offering in this sale. The present example involves the 1917-S Type I issue and an imperfect planchet. The planchet likely contained a piece of slag, sand or some other debris when it was prepared, the pressure of striking causing the impurity to break free from the planchet and leaving a noticeable hole on both sides of the resulting coin. The hole is located at Liberty left (right facing) foot on the obverse, the hole larger in size on the reverse in the field above the letter C in AMERICA. Close inspection with a loupe reveals that the hole is jagged and irregular, as expected for an imperfect planchet error of this type, and quite unlike what one would expect to see on a coin that was damaged after striking by a puncture. Despite the error, the Standing Liberty quarter design is well rendered with sharp to full detail throughout, the surfaces brilliant with lively mint luster. There are no post-production blemishes of note.This coin was the result of a Guest Commentary article by J.H. Cline titled Planchet Flaw Creates Holed 1917-S Standing Liberty Quarter that appeared in the December 15, 2014 edition of Coin World. The author acquired this coin from a man at the Whitman Baltimore Spring Expo earlier that year and, after contacting NGC, was told by the certification service that it had been encapsulated at least 10 years prior. A unique find that will appeal to advanced Mint errors collectors as well as Standing Liberty quarter enthusiasts.From the J.H. Cline Collection.
