Standing Liberty quarter

The Standing Liberty quarter is a United States twenty-five-cent coin struck by the United States Mint between 1916 and 1930. Introduced to replace the Barber quarter, which had been produced since 1892, the coin was designed by the American sculptor Hermon Atkins MacNeil. Regular production ended in 1930, followed by a hiatus in 1931 in which no quarters were struck, before the series was permanently replaced in 1932 by the Washington quarter.

The coin originated in 1915 when the Director of the Mint, Robert W. Woolley, mistakenly believing that new designs were required by law after twenty-five years, initiated the replacement of the existing silver coinage. The Commission of Fine Arts rejected proposals from the Mint's engraving staff and selected outside sculptors to submit concepts. MacNeil presented a militaristic theme portraying Liberty on guard against attacks, later adding dolphins to represent the oceans. After the Mint altered his design late in 1916 without consulting him, MacNeil obtained special legislation allowing him to redesign the piece as desired in 1917.

Struck in an alloy of 90 per cent silver and 10 per cent copper, the coin measures 24.26 millimetres in diameter and weighs 6.25 grams (0.2204 ounces). The obverse depicts Liberty standing in a gateway holding a shield, while the reverse features an eagle in flight. The series comprises distinct varieties: the original 1916 to 1917 striking (Type 1) shows Liberty with an uncovered breast, whereas MacNeil's 1917 redesign added a chain-mail vest to cover her chest. Furthermore, after the date numerals proved prone to rapid wear in circulation, Mint engravers altered the design in 1925 to address the issue.