United States Standing Liberty Quarters
1916–1930 • Type 1 Bare Breast • Type 2 Mailed Breast • Full Head Varieties
Standing Liberty Quarters Value Guide
| Date / Type | Mint | Mintage | Good–VG | Value Range | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 Type 1 KEY | Philadelphia | 52,000 | $5,000–$6,500 | $5,000–$100,000+ | Shop |
| 1917 Type 1 | Philadelphia | 8,740,000 | $25–$50 | $25–$800+ | Shop |
| 1917 Type 2 (first year) | Philadelphia | 13,880,000 | $20–$40 | $20–$600+ | Shop |
| 1918/7-S Overdate KEY | San Francisco | Included in 1918-S | $2,000–$4,000 | $2,000–$40,000+ | Shop |
| 1919-D | Denver | 1,944,000 | $150–$300 | $150–$3,000+ | Shop |
| 1921 | Philadelphia | 1,916,000 | $150–$300 | $150–$3,000+ | Shop |
| 1927-S | San Francisco | 396,000 | $60–$150 | $60–$25,000+ | Shop |
| 1930 (final year) | Philadelphia | 5,632,000 | $15–$25 | $15–$400+ | Shop |
Standing Liberty quarters were struck from 1916 through 1930, and most dates are affordable in circulated grades. The values above are approximate ranges for authentic, problem-free coins. However, two factors change the picture fast: the 1916 key date, and the Full Head (FH) designation, which can multiply a coin's value in the same numeric grade. Every coin also holds 0.1808 ounces of silver, worth about $10.44 at $57.72 per ounce (October 2026), so even worn common dates sell above face value.
This series sits between the Barber quarters it replaced and the Washington quarters that followed, and our U.S. quarters overview covers every era. For values across all denominations, see the coin price guide. If you're still identifying your coin's date or grade, start with What's My Coin Worth?
The History of Standing Liberty Quarters
The Standing Liberty quarter grew out of a push to modernize American coin design in the early 20th century, after the success of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle and the Lincoln cent. Sculptor Hermon A. MacNeil won the commission. His Liberty strides through a gateway, holding a shield in her left hand for preparedness and an olive branch in her right for peace. On the eve of World War I, that message fit the national mood.
The quarter debuted in 1916 alongside the Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half dollar, a year many collectors call the high point of American coin art. Compared with the restrained Barber design it replaced, MacNeil's quarter was far more ambitious, with flowing drapery and a sense of movement.
Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco struck the series over its 15-year run. In addition, a mid-series redesign created two distinct types, which adds real depth for collectors. The Mint ended the design in 1930, struck no quarters in 1931, and introduced the Washington quarter in 1932 for the bicentennial of Washington's birth.
Type 1 and Type 2 — A Mid-Series Redesign
The original Type 1 design (1916–1917) showed Liberty with her right breast bare. The popular story says public objections forced a change. Still, Mint records show MacNeil was also revising the design for artistic reasons. Either way, in 1917 the Mint added a coat of chain mail over Liberty's upper body, creating the Type 2 design that ran through 1930. Because the change came mid-year, 1917 quarters exist in both types, which makes that year a popular type-collecting target.
The reverse changed too. Type 1 quarters have 13 stars around the rim, while Type 2 quarters move three of them below the eagle, which also sits higher. Type 1 coins had a production window of barely two years, so they generally carry higher premiums than Type 2 coins in the same grade.
One later change matters for value as well. The date on early Type 2 coins sat high on the step and wore off quickly in circulation, which is why so many dateless Standing Liberty quarters turn up today. Starting in 1925, the Mint recessed the date into the step to protect it. As a result, dates from 1925 onward survive far better on worn coins.
Type 1 (1916–1917)
Type 2 (1917–1930)
1916 Key Date
Full Head Designation
1918/7-S Overdate
1925 Recessed Date
Key Dates and Notable Rarities
The 1916 quarter is the key date of the series. The Mint struck just 52,000 in December 1916 and released them in January 1917 alongside the far more plentiful 1917 Type 1 coins. As a result, most people saved the 1917 issue as a keepsake, and the 1916 slipped past them. Today even worn examples sell for several thousand dollars, and a PCGS MS-66+ Full Head brought $99,000 at Stack's Bowers in 2019.
Beyond 1916, the 1918/7-S overdate is the series' most famous variety. It came from a San Francisco die made with both 1917 and 1918 dates, so a 7 shows beneath the 8 under magnification. The 1919-D, 1921, and 1927-S are also low-mintage dates with strong premiums. The 1927-S, in particular, is common in low grades yet very scarce in Mint State, where it runs from about $10,000 to over $25,000 before any Full Head premium.
Strike quality matters across the whole series, too. Denver and San Francisco coins are often weakly struck, so a sharp example of almost any branch-mint date is scarcer than its mintage suggests.
Full Head Grading — A Premium Designation
Full Head (FH) is a grading designation from PCGS and NGC, used only for this series. It applies when Liberty's head shows complete detail: on Type 2 coins, that means the three leaves on her helmet, the hairline along her forehead, and a clear ear hole. Many Standing Liberty quarters came from worn dies or light striking pressure, especially at Denver and San Francisco. For that reason, true Full Head coins are much scarcer than their numeric grades suggest.
The premium can be dramatic. For example, a common date in MS-64 might sell for $150–$250 without the designation, but $1,000 or more with it. Serious collectors often chase Full Head coins specifically, so always check for the FH designation on the holder, and compare it with the coin itself, before a major purchase.
Related Coin Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most valuable Standing Liberty quarter?
What does "Full Head" mean on a Standing Liberty quarter?
Why does Liberty's design change partway through the series?
Are Standing Liberty quarters made of silver?
What is the 1918/7-S overdate and why is it valuable?
What is a good starting point for collecting this series?
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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