Standing Liberty Quarters — Key Dates, Full Head & Collector Guide
Origins and Design
The Standing Liberty Quarter debuted in 1916 as part of the same early 20th-century artistic renewal of U.S. coinage that produced the Walking Liberty Half Dollar and the Mercury Dime — all three designed by different sculptors, all three representing a dramatic break from the conservative Barber designs they replaced. Sculptor Hermon A. MacNeil won a national competition with his dynamic portrayal of Liberty standing at an opening in a wall, stepping forward with shield raised in her right hand and an olive branch extended in her left — an image that combined military readiness with peaceful aspiration.
The design generated immediate controversy for a reason that had nothing to do with numismatics: the original Type 1 obverse depicted Liberty with an exposed breast, a detail that some segments of the public found inappropriate for a coin in everyday circulation. The debate was spirited enough to prompt a redesign in 1917 that added chainmail armor to Liberty's torso, creating the Type 2 design used for the remainder of the series. This controversy gave the Standing Liberty Quarter a cultural notoriety that few coin series can match and created two distinct, collected types within a single year of production.
Design Types and Production Changes
The Standing Liberty Quarter series has three recognized collecting types based on design modifications. Type 1 (1916–1917) is the original obverse with exposed breast and no stars below the eagle on the reverse. Type 2 (1917–1924) added the chainmail and moved three stars to below the eagle on the reverse. Type 3 (1925–1930) recessed the date into the coin's design to prevent the rapid date wear that had made many Type 2 coins appear dateless in circulation — a practical modification that also created a more durable coin overall. Collectors typically pursue all three types as a minimum type set, with the 1916 Type 1 being by far the most valuable and challenging to acquire.
The reverse shows an eagle in full flight — wings spread, body horizontal — above three grouped stars on each side and the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "QUARTER DOLLAR." MacNeil's flying eagle was a sharp departure from the perched eagle of earlier series and gave the coin's reverse the same sense of movement and energy as the obverse. Strike quality varied considerably across the series' production at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, with the Full Head designation playing a central role in value determination — as important to this series as Full Split Bands are to Mercury Dimes.
Key Dates and Notable Issues
The 1916 and Primary Key Dates
1916 Standing Liberty — Type 1
The king of the series — just 52,000 struck in the final weeks of 1916. The only Type 1 issue from Philadelphia. Even worn examples with visible date start at $3,000+. Full Head examples in MS65 can reach $100,000+. Always buy certified. Value: $3,000–$100,000+
1918/7-S Overdate
The most famous variety in the series — a 1917 die was re-dated to 1918 at San Francisco, leaving the 7 clearly visible beneath the 8. Type 2 design. Full Head examples command dramatic premiums. One of the most sought overdates in American numismatics. Value: $2,000–$40,000+
1927-S Standing Liberty
Just 396,000 struck at San Francisco — the lowest mintage of any non-1916 regular issue in the series. Genuinely scarce in all grades and a significant condition rarity in Mint State with Full Head. MS65 FH examples are extremely rare. Value: $300–$50,000+
Semi-Keys and Condition Rarities
1917-S Type 1
The only San Francisco Type 1 issue — the last year of the exposed-breast design from any mint. 952,000 mintage but highly collected as the Type 1 design's final appearance. Full Head Type 1 examples are far scarcer than mintage suggests. Value: $50–$25,000+
1919-D & 1919-S
Both 1919 branch mint issues are condition rarities — relatively available in lower grades but almost impossible to find with sharply struck Full Head details in gem Mint State. The 1919-D in particular is one of the series' most challenging coins in high grade. Values: $30–$30,000+
1921 Standing Liberty
Post-WWI low mintage of 1.92 million at Philadelphia. Scarce in gem condition. The 1921 is one of several early 1920s dates that reward collectors who prioritize quality over mintage numbers — sharp examples with full head details are genuinely hard to find. Value: $100–$20,000+
The Full Head Designation
No grading concept is more central to Standing Liberty Quarter values than Full Head (FH). Liberty's helmet — specifically the three feathers and the overall definition of the head and face — occupies one of the highest points of the obverse relief and was the last area to receive metal during striking. On weakly struck coins or those from worn dies, the helmet feathers merge, the face loses definition, and the overall head appears flat or indistinct. PCGS and NGC award the Full Head designation to examples meeting their standard for complete, sharp head detail.
The value difference between non-FH and FH examples at the same numeric grade can be enormous — sometimes 5× to 20× more for the FH designation on key dates. San Francisco issues from the early and mid 1920s are among the hardest to find with Full Head due to consistently weak strikes at that facility. Building a complete date-and-mint set in Full Head is considered one of the most ambitious challenges in the entire field of U.S. coin collecting. For certified values by date, mint, and Full Head designation, the FRC Coin Price Guide provides a useful starting point. Related guides: Seated Liberty Quarters, Washington Quarters, and Quarters overview.
Find Standing Liberty Quarters for Your Collection
From common 1920s dates to the 1916 key date and Full Head certified gems, Standing Liberty Quarters are available on eBay with buyer protection. Browse reference books on Amazon before you buy.
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Where to Find Standing Liberty Quarters
eBay
The largest marketplace for certified and raw Standing Liberty Quarters. Filter by PCGS or NGC, Full Head, type, and date. eBay's Money Back Guarantee on every purchase.
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Competitive premiums on 90% silver Standing Liberty Quarters. Secure checkout, fast shipping, and a well-regarded reputation among silver collectors and numismatists.
Shop Money Metals →Amazon
Find Standing Liberty Quarter reference books, Dansco and Whitman albums, and storage supplies. The John Feigenbaum Standing Liberty Quarter guide is the standard specialist reference.
Shop Amazon →FRC Coin Price Guide
Research certified values for Standing Liberty Quarters by date, mint mark, type, and Full Head designation before you buy or sell.
View Price Guide →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three types of Standing Liberty Quarters?
Type 1 (1916–1917) is the original design with Liberty's breast exposed and no stars below the eagle on the reverse. It was produced for just over a year before controversy prompted a redesign. Type 2 (1917–1924) added chainmail to Liberty's torso and moved three stars beneath the eagle on the reverse. Type 3 (1925–1930) recessed the date into a depression in the coin's design to prevent the rapid date wear that had made many Type 2 coins appear dateless in circulation. The 1916 Type 1 is the rarest and most valuable of the three; a complete type set requires one example of each design.
Why is the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter so rare and valuable?
The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter had a mintage of just 52,000 — produced in the final weeks of December 1916 after the design was approved late in the year. It was the only issue in Type 1 format from Philadelphia and the rarest date in the entire series by a significant margin. The combination of tiny mintage, heavy circulation losses, and intense collector demand has driven even worn examples to $3,000+ and gem Mint State examples with Full Head to $100,000 or more. Counterfeiting exists — altered 1917 Type 1 quarters and fraudulent "1916" dates are documented — making PCGS or NGC certification essential for any purchase of this coin.
What is the 1918/7-S overdate on Standing Liberty Quarters?
The 1918/7-S overdate occurred at the San Francisco Mint when a die originally punched with the date 1917 was re-used and punched again with 1918. The underlying 7 remained partially visible beneath the 8 in the date, creating a clearly identifiable overdate variety. On strong examples the remnant of the 7 is visible without magnification under good lighting. Both non-Full Head and Full Head examples are collected, with Full Head specimens commanding dramatic premiums. The 1918/7-S is the most celebrated variety in the Standing Liberty Quarter series and a required piece for any advanced collection.
Why do so many Standing Liberty Quarters appear dateless?
On Type 2 Standing Liberty Quarters (1917–1924) the date was placed at one of the highest points of the relief on the obverse, making it the first element to wear away in circulation. A coin that circulated for even a modest period could lose its date entirely while the rest of the design remained reasonably intact. This created a large population of "dateless" Standing Liberty Quarters that are worth only a small premium over their silver melt value regardless of any other quality. The Type 3 modification (1925) specifically addressed this problem by recessing the date into a shallow depression in the coin's surface, protecting it from contact wear.
Are Standing Liberty Quarters a good collecting series for beginners?
Standing Liberty Quarters are an intermediate-level series — more accessible than Barber quarters or early American coins, but more nuanced than Washington quarters or Roosevelt dimes. Common-date examples from the mid-1920s in circulated grades cost $15–$30 each and provide genuine 90% silver coins from the interwar period. The type set of three types is achievable at modest cost using common dates — with only the 1916 representing a major financial hurdle. The Full Head quality challenge adds depth for collectors who enjoy the grading study aspect of the hobby. A Dansco or Whitman album provides structure for set building, and PCGS/NGC certification is strongly recommended for any coin costing over $100.
How much silver is in a Standing Liberty Quarter?
Every Standing Liberty Quarter contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver, based on the coin's weight of 6.25 grams at 90% silver purity. At current silver prices this gives each coin a base melt value of roughly $5–$6, providing a meaningful silver floor that ensures even common circulated examples retain real value above face. Standing Liberty Quarters are actively traded as junk silver by bullion dealers in rolls and bags, making them accessible to both collectors and silver investors. The silver content is the same as all 90% silver quarters — the denomination did not change composition until the Washington quarter's silver was reduced in 1965.
Comprehensive Reference – Covers Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, and Liberty Walking half dollars, minted from 1916 to 1947. Hundreds of high-resolution, full-color photographs
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