Standing Liberty Quarters
The Standing Liberty Quarter was first minted in 1916 and there were only about 50,000 of these placed in circulation. This Hermon A. MacNeil engraving was a controversial and shocking sight to the conservative American public because Lady Liberty was dressed in a flowing garment that exposed her bare breasts. Although this figural depiction was similar in design to great sculptures by famous European artists it seemed to be too overwhelming for the more straight laced members of American society.
1917 Design Changes
The very next year there was a change in the design that resulted in complete coverage of the coin's female figure. Now she appeared clad in a suit of armor. Even the reverse engraving was re-worked. The eagle was moved into the center position and 3 stars were placed under this national symbol, leaving 10 stars on the sides, instead of the original 13.
Recessed Dates
Standing Liberty quarters were produced for 14 years and the last ones were minted in 1930. In addition to the controversy over the bared breasts it became obvious that the coin dates were wearing away far quicker than expected. The numbers were struck in a raised design which gave the coins an interesting look and feel, but the silver metal could not hold up to the extreme amounts of handling. Beginning in 1925 the dates on the front of these silver coins were recessed so that the numbers would remain visible longer.
You can find some of the earlier Standing Liberty quarters being offered at very good prices but many of them have dates that are almost impossible to decipher. Today eagle eyed collectors search for earlier coins with dates prior to 1925 with the raised numbers that still show sharp definition. These examples are more valuable and are graded much higher than those that show evidence of excessive rubbing and handling.
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US $39.00
Full Head/Full Rivets
Among these quarters are some particular examples that are highly sought by collectors. One of these is described as a "Full Head" Standing Liberty quarter. These are coins that display every detail on the figure's head. Examples of these are very difficult to find, especially in one of the higher grade conditions. Collectors are also eager to collect Standing Liberty quarters with a full complement of rivets on the shield. A true prize is a coin that contains a full rivet shield and a full head and these command very high prices.
Standing Liberty Dates and Marks
If you are a new collector you will notice that in addition to the dates on the front of these coins there is also a small M that can be seen just to the right of these numbers. This is the initial of the designer. The other mint marks that are apparent are S or D. The S means that the coin was produced at the San Francisco mint and the D stands for the Denver mint. The Philadelphia mint produced the quarters that have a date that lacks an accompanying mark.
Collecting Tips
Many coin collectors know that this hobby can be an outstanding investment, but it is the thrill of finding a rare or elusive example that keeps most people interested. Whether you are collecting for fun or profit here are some tips that can help you along the way.
- Talk with experienced collectors and let them help you learn the basics.
- Read books and attend coin shows to gain more knowledge about this hobby.
- Only deal with people that you can trust, and beware of those offers that seem too good to be true. If a rare coin is being sold at an incredibly low price the chances of it being an honest transaction are almost ZERO.
- Try to find the highest grade examples of a coin that you can afford. Those in poor or good condition are acceptable if you just want to complete a set, but most of these will not be very good investments.
- Keep those uncirculated coins in pristine condition at all times. These are kept in special covers or sealed containers, and you should never handle them with bare hands.
- Study the grading scale and make sure that you are familiar with the qualities that determine whether a coin should be listed as NM, VF or Good.
Rarities
In addition to the rarity of the 1916 Standing Liberty quarters there are a few other low production dates that collectors are constantly hoping to find. The 1927 D series contained less than 1,000,000 total coins. The 1927 S series was limited to less than 400,000 Standing Liberty quarters. The 1918 S date was struck on more than 11 million quarters but there are a few that are known to have a 1918/7-S overlay on the date strike mark. This has made this particular coin a particular treasure and it remains one of the most coveted of all Standing Liberty specimens.