Standing Liberty Quarter (1916-1930)
Mint Location: Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco
Designer: Hermon Atkins MacNeil
Composition: 90 silver; 10% copper
Weight: 6.25g
Edge Type: Reeded
Many drafts were denied before Hermon Atkins MacNeil’s design was accepted. The obverse features Liberty facing to the viewer’s right (heraldic east) in the direction of the European war, and her shield faces in that direction as well. She holds an olive branch as she strides through a gate in a wall which is inscribed, “In God We Trust”, with the “U” in “Trust” shaped as a V. MacNeil stated that the obverse depicted Liberty “stepping forward in … the defense of peace as her ultimate goal”.
There are three Types of the coin: Type 1, No Stars Below Eagle (1916-1917), Type 2, Stars Below Eagle (1917-1924), Type 3, Recessed Date (1925-1930). No proofs were done.
Coin Values: Highly sought after coins in this design are based on clean strikes with no wear on Date, Head or Shield. A slabbed 1917 Type 1 MS65 Standing Liberty Quarter sold for $800 while a 1930 Type 3 MS62 Standing Liberty Quarter sold for $145.
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Type 1
1921 Standing Liberty Quarter Type 2
1930 Standing Liberty Quarter Type 3