Standing Liberty Quarter Centennial Gold

The Standing Liberty Quarter Centennial Gold coin is a modern United States collector issue released in 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of the original 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. Unlike the circulating silver quarter it honors, this coin was struck in 24-karat gold — one-quarter troy ounce of .9999 fine metal — and sold directly to collectors by the U.S. Mint rather than placed into circulation.

It carries a legal face value of 25 cents but was purchased for far more, its worth tied to its gold content and collector demand. The example shown bears the 2016 date. Every coin in the series was produced at the West Point Mint and carries a W mint mark, and the coins were struck to a brilliant, high-relief finish that showcases Hermon A. MacNeil's classic figure of Liberty.

In 2016 the U.S. Mint issued a trio of gold coins reviving three beloved 1916 designs — the Mercury dime, the Standing Liberty quarter, and the Walking Liberty half dollar — each rendered in 24-karat gold for its centennial. The Standing Liberty piece revived Hermon A. MacNeil's design, which had first appeared on the quarter dollar in 1916 and was replaced by the Washington quarter in 1932.

The centennial coins were not restrikes of the old quarters; they were new products with modern specifications, gold composition, the West Point W mint mark, and the 2016 date. Struck for a single year, the Standing Liberty gold coin had a limited authorized production of well under 100,000 pieces and sold out its allotment, making it a one-year commemorative rather than an ongoing bullion series.

The obverse displays Liberty standing in a gateway, holding a shield in one arm for defense and extending an olive branch. The inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST appear around the figure, with the date 2016 below. Look for the W mint mark, marking production at West Point.

The reverse shows an eagle in flight, wings spread, above the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination expressed as QUARTER DOLLAR (25 cents). Stars flank the design, and the fineness and weight (1/4 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD) are inscribed on this side.

Physically the coin is small and heavy for its size: about 22 mm in diameter and roughly 7.8 g, containing a quarter ounce of pure gold with a reeded edge and a rich yellow-gold color. That gold weight, the 2016 date, the W mint mark, and the gold-specific inscriptions together distinguish it from the original silver Standing Liberty quarters of 1916–1930.

Because the coin contains one-quarter ounce of pure gold, its baseline worth moves with the gold spot price, and a collector premium sits on top of that intrinsic value. As a sold-out one-year issue with a modest production, it typically trades above its melt value, with the exact premium shifting according to gold prices and collector demand.

Condition and originality matter: coins retaining their original Mint packaging and certificate of authenticity, or those certified in high grades by a reputable service, tend to command the strongest prices. Treat any figure as general context rather than a firm quote — check current gold prices and recent sales, and have high-value or uncertain pieces authenticated by a trusted third-party grader.