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The Standing Liberty Quarter

Silver Coinage Redesign of 1916

The new designs that appeared on our nations silver coinage in 1916 marked the end of the last of the 19^th Century designs – the Barber series. It also marked the completion of former President Teddy Roosevelt’s initiative to beautify and modernize US coinage. He began by commissioning Augustus Saint-Guadens to redesign our gold coinage. Saint-Guadens’ Eagle and Double Eagle designs along with Bela Lyon Pratt’s Quarter and Half Eagle designs appeared in 1907 and 1908 respectively. The creation of the Victor D. Brenner’s Lincoln Cent followed in 1909 honoring our 16^th president on the 100^th anniversary of his birth. James Earle Fraser’s "Buffalo" Nickel followed in 1913 leaving only Charles Barber’s silver dime, quarter, and half-dollar as links to the 19^th Century. The Barber series however was protected by law, the Coinage Act of September 26, 1890 locked a coin’s design in for 25 years. The Barber series was safe until 1917. In 1915 the Secretary of the Treasury announced a competition for new designs for the dime, quarter, and half-dollar; each being unique, a major departure from earlier policy which used the same design on all silver coinage; and with a target date of "fiscal 1917" (July 1, 1916). Last month The Winged Liberty Head Dime was profiled. This month's installment will be The Standing Liberty Quarter .

The winning design for the new quarter to be issued in 1916 was submitted by Hermon Atkins MacNeil. A capital M appears above and to the right of the date on the top step to identify him as the designer. His winning design went through some modification with the moving of the motto "In God We Trust", the removal of a pair of dolphins from the wall, and an overall reworking of the wall. This was only the beginning of change, as this coin design would go through three more changes in its short fifteen-year life span.

The obverse of the "type I" quarter features Miss Liberty with her right breast bared, an olive branch in her right hand, and a shield draped with flowing cloth in her left hand raised in a defensive position stepping through an open gate. This design symbolizes America’s emergence in the early part of this century as a world power with interests beyond our own boundaries. The olive branch signifies the nations desire for peace while Miss Liberty’s raised shield and stepping out from behind the wall signal America’s willingness to go beyond her own borders to defend her interests and allies. The motto and thirteen stars for the original thirteen states are blended nicely into the design of the wall. The word LIBERTY forms an arc around the top of the coin punctuated by Miss Liberty’s head.

The model for Miss Liberty was believed to be Miss Doris Doscher, who appeared on Broadway and some silent era films under the stage name Doris Doree, until 1972. In 1972 articles appeared claiming that Mrs. Irene MacDowell was the true model for the Standing Liberty Quarter. There is evidence that both women modeled for MacNeil and Miss Liberty may be a composite of both; however, Breen states that Mrs. MacDowell is clearly the principle model.

The reverse of the "type I" quarter features an eagle in flight moving from left to right, low on the field of the reverse. Interestingly British heraldry and the United States War Department Heraldic Section both indicate that the eagle should be shown flying in the opposite direction showing it’s honorable side. The statutory requirements of the denomination "QUARTER DOLLAR", thirteen stars, seven on the left and six on the right, with "UNITED STATES" form a ring around the reverse. The remainder of "OF AMERICA" and the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" appear above the eagle framed by his wings.

The "type I" quarter was minted for 1916 and part of 1917 only. Organizations including Anthony Comstock’s Society for the Suppression of Vice, which had forced the recall of 35 million "Electricity" (Educational Series) $5 notes in 1898 on the grounds of obscenity, were putting pressure on the treasury over Miss Liberty’s bare breast. This forced Treasury Secretary McAdoo’s hand and he order Charles Barber to redesign the obverse. Miss Liberty’s bare breast was covered with medieval chain-mail armor. Many people believe this change was made to mark America’s entry into World War I; however, there is no evidence to support this theory. The reverse was also altered raising the eagle to the center of the design and redistributing the stars. The heraldry error was not corrected. This formed the "type II" issue.

The "type II" issue was minted from 1917 through 1924. By 1924 it was clear that the date was wearing off much too quickly reminiscent of the Buffalo nickel. This time the services of George T. Morgan were enlisted to modify the design. He removed the date from its raised platform and put in a recess in the lower step. There were no changes to the reverse at this time.

The "type III" quarter was minted from 1925 to the end of the series in 1930.

Although the series is short, only 38 date and mint combinations struck over a fifteen-year range, it is very challenging to complete. The only year Standing Liberty Quarters were not minted was 1921. The set contains two keys, the 1916 and the 1918/7 S (which a space is included for in most commercially available albums), both of which exceed $ 1000 in VG and go for 2 ½ to 3 times that in EF! Most of the "type II" coins are difficult in high grade and demand a premium especially S mint coins. Even the "type III" has a key, the 1927 S, which is pricey in higher grades. Mint State coins are expensive and those with fully struck heads can be prohibitively expensive. Like the Mercury Dime this series is very interesting and worthy of additional study and possible inclusion in ones collection portfolio; at least, a type set. So until next month and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar – Happy Collecting !