1916 Standing Liberty Quarter

The 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is among the most celebrated key dates in American numismatics, produced in only a tiny quantity at the very end of 1916 as the new design was rolled out. It depicts Liberty with an exposed right breast, a design element quickly modified in 1917, making the 1916 date the sole representative of this original 'Type 1' design.

Because of its combination of extreme rarity and status as the first year of an admired design by Hermon MacNeil, the 1916 is considered one of the great trophy coins for collectors of 20th-century US silver.

The Standing Liberty quarter replaced the Barber quarter in 1916 as part of a broader effort to modernize American coin designs, following similar changes to the dime and half dollar. Sculptor Hermon Atkins MacNeil designed the coin, depicting Liberty stepping forward through a gateway, holding a shield and an olive branch, symbolizing preparedness and peace.

Only a very small run was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the final weeks of 1916 before the calendar turned to 1917, making it the lowest-mintage date in the series by a wide margin. The exposed-breast design drew public criticism, and in 1917 the Mint added a coat of chain mail to cover Liberty's chest, creating the distinct Type 2 design for the remainder of the series.

The obverse shows a standing figure of Liberty in a gateway, holding a shield in her left hand and an olive branch in her right, with her right breast bare, LIBERTY above, and the date below. The reverse depicts an eagle in flight with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and QUARTER DOLLAR below, and E PLURIBUS UNUM to the sides.

There is no mintmark since only Philadelphia struck this date. The coin is 90% silver, 24.3mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Collectors distinguish the 1916 Type 1 from the visually similar 1917 Type 1 quarter primarily by the date, since both share the bare-breast design before the 1917 Type 2 modification.

The 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is rare in any condition and valuable even in heavily worn grades, with low circulated examples often starting in the low thousands of dollars and rising sharply with condition. Choice and gem uncirculated examples are major rarities that can command tens of thousands of dollars or considerably more at auction.

Given its fame and value, the date is one of the most frequently counterfeited or altered coins in American numismatics (with genuine 1917 quarters sometimes having their dates altered to '1916'), so certification by a major grading service is essential for any purchase.