Standing Liberty quarter

Standing Liberty quarter
United States
Value25 cents (.25 US dollars)
Mass6.25 g
Diameter24.3 mm
Edgereeded
Composition.900 silver, .100 copper
Silver.18084 troy oz
Years of minting1916–1930
Mint marksD, S. Found immediately to the right of the lowest of the left-hand column of stars on the obverse (to the left of Liberty's feet.) Philadelphia Mint specimens lack mint mark.
Obverse
Design1916 version
DesignerHermon MacNeil
Design date1916
Design discontinued1916
DesignType 1
DesignerHermon MacNeil
Design date1917
Design discontinued1917
DesignType 2 or Type 2a
DesignerHermon MacNeil
Design date1917
Design discontinued1924
DesignType 3 or Type 2b
DesignerHermon MacNeil
Design date1925
Design discontinued1930
Reverse
Design1916 version
DesignerHermon MacNeil
Design date1916
Design discontinued1916
DesignType 1
DesignerHermon MacNeil
Design date1917
Design discontinued1917
DesignType 2 and 3
DesignerHermon MacNeil
Design date1917
Design discontinued1930

The Standing Liberty quarter is a 25-cent coin that was struck by the United States Mint from 1916 to 1930. It succeeded the Barber quarter, which had been minted since 1892. Featuring the goddess of Liberty on one side and an eagle in flight on the other, the coin was designed by American sculptor Hermon Atkins MacNeil.

In 1915, Director of the Mint Robert W. Woolley began steps to replace the Barber dime, quarter, and half dollar, as he mistakenly believed that the law required new designs. MacNeil submitted a militaristic design that showed Liberty on guard against attacks. The Mint required modifications to the initial design, and MacNeil's revised version included dolphins to represent the oceans. In late 1916, Mint officials made major changes to the design without consulting MacNeil. The sculptor complained about the changes after receiving the new issue in January 1917. The Mint obtained special legislation to allow MacNeil to redesign the coin as he desired. One change made by the sculptor was the addition of a chain mail vest that covered Liberty's formerly bare breast.

In circulation, the coin's date wore away quickly, and Mint engravers modified the design in 1925 to address the issue. The Standing Liberty quarter was discontinued in 1931, a year in which no quarters were struck. By Congressional act the Washington quarter, featuring the first president's profile, was introduced in 1932 to celebrate the bicentennial of his birth.