STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER DOLLARS (1916-1930)
SPECIFICATIONS:
Designer: Hermon A MacNeil
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Metal Content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%
Weight: 96 grains (6.3 grams)
Edge: Reeded
Mint marks: The mint mark appears as a small letter just below the eagle's tail on the reverse, as follows:
None = Philadelphia
S = San Francisco
D = Denver
Images courtesy of Early American History Auctions, Inc.
STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER (1916-1930)
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NO STARS BELOW EAGLE (1916-1917)
FACTS:
The Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar was designed by Hermon A. MacNeil. The initial design included a bare-breasted Liberty, which proved to be much too daring for some influential individuals. The complaints against the design were sufficient to force a change in 1917, but the re-design was extreme to the opposite degree. Instead of covering Liberty's breast with the same flowing material of the rest of her dress, the designer clothed her in a coat of mail. The reverse design was also re-worked in 1917; the eagle was moved more to the center of the coin and three of the thirteen stars that used to be on the sides of the reverse were now placed beneath the majestic bird. Beginning in 1925, the dates on the coins were recessed, giving them more protection from wear. Well struck examples are the most desirable and much attention is focused on Liberty's head. So-called "Full Head" examples (those with complete details) often bring considerable premiums over poorly struck examples, but attention should also be paid to the rivets on the shield. Any coin with a Full Head and full rivets is a true prize. Mintmarks on this type ("D" for Denver or "S" for San Francisco) appear on the obverse just to the left of, and slightly above, the date. The small M that appears to the right of the date is the designer's initial.
Coat Of Mail Over Breast ®
Cherry Picker's List:
1916
1918/7-S
1919-D
1919-S
1921
1923-S
1927-S (This date is very rare in VF and worth thousands in higher grades.)
1918-S Look for the very rare 1918/7-S over date.
The listed values are for the grade G4 because Standing Quarters are commonly found in this condition. Coins that are damaged, scratched or cleaned in any way will be less then values listed in price guides. Also, the below values are just examples of what the date has sold for, and not what a dealer would pay for the same date, mint or grade.
An example of a G4 grade Standing Quarter
