Standing Liberty Quarter

The  Standing Liberty Quarter is a U.S. coin minted from 1916 to 1930. Designed by sculptor Hermon A. MacNeil, it features Lady Liberty standing between two columns on the obverse and an eagle in flight on the reverse. This quarter is noted for its artistic design and historical significance, particularly the changes in Liberty's depiction and the design modifications over its minting period. It is a popular coin among collectors due to its historical context and aesthetic appeal.

Standing Liberty Quarter History

Starting in 1905 successive U.S. presidents and their officials at the Treasury department and U.S. Mint worked to redesign the nation’s coinage to make it more pleasing from an aesthetic standpoint. This program, which continued until the early 1920s was a massive undertaking that frequently involved soliciting the talents of a number of the country’s leading sculptors, engravers and artists. It began in 1907-1908 with gold coinage, continued in 1909 with the  1909 penny and in 1913 with the 1913 nickel.

By 1916 the designs of Charles Barber that had appeared on the silver dime, quarter and half dollar since 1892 had been used for 25 years, meaning that under an 1890 law the Mint could change them without congressional approval. Although the law merely provided the option to do that rather than requiring it, Director of the Mint Robert W. Wooley mistakenly believed the law required the designs be changed.

Standing Liberty Quarter Design

By this time dissatisfaction with  Barber’s designs was widespread, and after Wooley took over at the Mint in 1915, he requested that Chief Engraver Barber prepare new designs of those three coins, wanting a distinct one for each coin rather than using the same one for all three as Barber had.

The Commission on Fine Arts did not like the sketches prepared by the Mint’s staff and asked sculptors Adolph Weinman, Hermon MacNeil and Albin Polasek to prepare their own designs. Weinman’s designs for the dime and half dollar and MacNeil’s obverse for the quarter were selected after Wooley discussed this with the Treasury Secretary, and they also approved Weinman’s design for the reverse of the quarter. However, the commission told Wooley that one artist should not be given that much, so MacNeil was allowed to prepare his own quarter reverse.

MacNeil prepared two obverse designs – one with Miss Liberty leaning forward holding an olive branch in one hand and a broadsword in the other that was intended to serve as a warning to belligerents in Europe was rejected. The one selected has Liberty facing to the viewer’s right towards Europe and holding a shield that also faces right as she strides through a gate in a wall. Her right breast is exposed. The reverse had a flying eagle that for some is considered reminiscent of the reverse of the Gobrechct dollar.

But Wooley found the second obverse to be indistinct, and MacNeil was allowed to modify it – this time adding a chain motif around the obverse and two dolphins representing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He also added an “M” for his monogram on the wall. Then the Mint staff made changes to the reverse without consulting MacNeil by lowering the position of the eagle and replacing the olive branches around the eagle with stars.

Production and two types

Because the Mint was still working on the design in late 1916, Barber quarters had to be struck with that date in large numbers. Finally, on January 17, 1917, the Mint released the first  Standing Liberty quarters into circulation, which were dated both 1916 and 1917.

Then MacNeil was asked to redo the obverse that was used on the early coins of 1916 and 1917, so he added a chain mail shirt to Miss Liberty that covered her breast, doing this not because of any public outcry about the partial nudity of the earlier version but because by this time the U.S. was moving towards going to war against Germany.

This resulted in what is known as the Type 2 design, and most coins of this series are of that type whose reverse also saw changes including moving three stars that had been to the eagle’s side and placing them underneath the bird and moving the eagle to the center.

The coins were issued until  1930 except 1922 when no quarters were made, and in late 1924 the step on which the date appears was recessed into the design instead of being raised from it, which solved the issue of the date wearing off quickly in the coins issued until that time. Quarters from 1925-1930 are also more common in lower grades because they have survived in better condition due to the change. It is also the only series that was never issued in Proof except for Matte Proofs dated 1917.

1916 Standing Liberty Quarter

This is the most sought coin of the series because of its mintage of just 52,000 – the second lowest of any 20th century quarters after the 1913-S Barber quarter. It also was not saved in large numbers because it circulated at the same time as the 1917 coins with a much higher mintage. It is always softly struck in the head and shield with only 3% of the surviving mintage having Full Heads. It is worth from $3,750 in Good 4 to $30,000 in MS65 and $250,000 in MS67 FH

1917 Type 1 Standing Liberty quarter

1917 is the date that comes in two versions – Type 1 and Type 2

With a mintage of 8,740,000, this issue is the best struck coin of the entire series and the one with the highest percentage (80) of coins with Full Heads. Experts say that other coins in the series should not be graded by the standards of this coin since it is so much better than the rest.

The 1917-D is scarcer though not super difficult to locate with a mintage of 1,509,200. Then there is the 1917-S with a higher mintage of 1,952,000 but it is by far the hardest of the three 1917 coins to find with a good strike and Full Head with 5% or less having that, and it is always in demand because of the popular “S” mintmark.

1917 Type 2 Standing Liberty quarter

The Type 2 coins were issued in larger numbers with the Philadelphia coin having a mintage of 13,880,000 and being one of the easier dates to find fully struck, while the 1917-D Type 2 with a mintage of 7,380,000 is much harder to find with a Full Head and other details. And the 1918-S of this type with a mintage of 11,072,000 is even harder to find in FH with less than half of 1% being that well struck.

1918/1917-S Standing Liberty quarter

This rare overdate was not recognized by numismatists until the 1930s and not widely noticed until the 1940s but is today very popular. Nearly all examples are circulated and are worth thousands even in the lowest grades. Today probably no more than 100 exist in mint state, and only a handful of those have FH.

The overdate was created as a result of the practice of recutting dies at the end of one year to show the next year’s date. Although it mostly ended around the turn of the century, in 1917 a 1917-S TYpe 2 die that had not been used by the San Francisco Mint was used to strike several thousand 1918-S coins, though the actual mintage is unknown. Only 817 have been graded by PCGS, including 34 with FH.

In Good it is worth almost $2,000, in MS60 $20,000 and in the top grade of MS64 FH it is worth $350,000. 

A PCGS MS65 sold in January for $165,937, which was 50% over the previous record for this issue in that grade.

FAQ

What is a Standing Liberty Quarter?

The Standing Liberty Quarter is a U.S. coin minted from 1916 to 1930. It features Lady Liberty standing between two columns on the obverse and an eagle in flight on the reverse, designed by Hermon A. MacNeil.

What years were the Standing Liberty Quarters minted?

Standing Liberty Quarters were minted from 1916 to 1930.

What is the value of a Standing Liberty Quarter?

The value of a Standing Liberty Quarter varies based on its condition and date. Common dates in circulated condition can be worth $10 to $50, while rare dates or those in uncirculated condition can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

What are the key dates for Standing Liberty Quarters?

Key dates include 1916, 1918/7-S, 1919-D, 1919-S, 1921, 1923-S, and 1927-S. These are considered more rare and valuable.

Why was the Standing Liberty Quarter discontinued?

The Standing Liberty Quarter was discontinued in 1930, partly due to the need for a new design and the introduction of the Washington Quarter in 1932 to commemorate George Washington's 200th birthday.

How can you identify the Type 1 and Type 2 Standing Liberty Quarters?

Type 1 (1916-1917) shows Liberty with a bare breast, while Type 2 (1917-1930) has Liberty with a covered breast and three stars beneath the eagle on the reverse.

What is the composition of a Standing Liberty Quarter?

Standing Liberty Quarters are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.

Where is the mint mark located on a Standing Liberty Quarter?

The mint mark is located on the obverse, to the left of the date.

Are there any known errors or varieties for Standing Liberty Quarters?

Yes, notable errors include the 1918/7-S overdate and various doubled dies and repunched mint marks.

What makes the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter so valuable?

The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter is valuable due to its low mintage of only 52,000 coins, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after coins in the series.

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