Hermon A. MacNeil’s Standing Liberty quarter was one of three new silver designs of 1916 (with the Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half) that are widely regarded as the high point of U.S. coin design. The obverse shows Liberty standing in a gateway holding a shield and olive branch; the reverse depicts an eagle in flight.
Key facts
- Designed by: Hermon A. MacNeil
- Issue dates: 1916–1930
- Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
- Diameter: 24.3 mm
- Weight: 6.25 grams
- Edge: Reeded
The series has two types. Type 1 (1916 and early 1917) shows Liberty with a bare right breast and no stars below the eagle; public reaction led to a revision, and Type 2 (1917–1930) added a coat of mail over Liberty and three stars beneath the eagle. In 1925 the date was recessed to protect it from wear, since the raised date on earlier coins wore away quickly.
Key dates include the first-year 1916 (only 52,000 struck), the 1918/7-S overdate, the 1921, 1923-S, and 1927-S. Full Head (FH): Liberty’s head detail was prone to weak striking, so coins showing a fully struck head — the three leaves and the complete hairline — bring strong premiums.
We actively buy Standing Liberty quarters in every grade, from well-worn and dateless coins to the key 1916, the 1918/7-S overdate, and sharp Full Head examples. Send photos for a free, no-obligation offer.