1916 Standing Liberty Quarter (Type 1, Bare Breast)

In late 1916, sculptor Hermon Atkins MacNeil delivered a new quarter dollar design to the United States Mint. Lady Liberty stood facing forward, holding a shield in her left hand and an olive branch in her right, a gap in a fortress wall behind her. She wore a flowing garment that left her right breast exposed. The design was beautiful, controversial, and short-lived. Only 52,000 were struck before the year ended. Within months, public outcry led to a redesign that covered Liberty with chain mail. That tiny mintage and the quick revision made the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter one of the most sought-after dates in American coinage.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter (Type 1)

• Year: 1916

• Category: Coins

• Condition Range:

  • Poor to About Good (PO-1 to AG-3): $960 - $3,000
  • Good to Very Good (G-4 to VG-8): $3,000 - $6,000
  • Fine to Very Fine (F-12 to VF-25): $6,000 - $10,000
  • Extremely Fine (EF-40): $10,000 - $13,000
  • About Uncirculated (AU-50+): $13,000 - $20,000
  • Mint State (MS-60+): $20,000 - $100,000+

• Record Sale: Over $100,000 for gem uncirculated examples

• Rarity: Very Rare (52,000 mintage, most heavily circulated)

The Story

The Standing Liberty Quarter replaced the Barber Quarter, which had been in production since 1892 and was widely considered one of the dullest coin designs in American history. In 1916, the Mint commissioned new designs for the dime, quarter, and half dollar. Adolph Weinman got the dime (Mercury Dime) and half dollar (Walking Liberty). MacNeil got the quarter.

MacNeil was a respected sculptor who had studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His design for the quarter was ambitious. Liberty was depicted as a strong, active figure stepping through a gateway in a fortification wall. In her left hand she held a shield, symbolizing defense. Her right hand extended an olive branch. The figure's classical drapery left her right breast visible, consistent with the tradition of depicting Liberty as a Greco-Roman figure.

The Mint began production late in 1916. Philadelphia struck 52,000 pieces before the end of the year. No branch mints produced the coin in 1916. By early 1917, complaints about the design's "indecency" reached Congress. MacNeil was asked to modify the design, and by mid-1917, Liberty was wearing a coat of chain mail that covered her previously exposed breast. This revised design is known as Type 2.

The 52,000 mintage figure is extraordinarily low for a 20th-century U.S. quarter. For comparison, the 1917 Type 1 Philadelphia mintage was 8,740,000. Most 1916 quarters entered circulation immediately and wore down through decades of use. Finding one in high grade is genuinely difficult.

How to Identify It

• Date: "1916" appears at the bottom of the obverse, on the wall below Liberty's feet. This is the highest-wear area on the coin, and the date is often the first detail to disappear.

• Type 1 design: Liberty's right breast is exposed. On Type 2 (1917 and later), Liberty wears chain mail.

• No mint mark: All 1916 Standing Liberty Quarters were struck at Philadelphia. There is no mint mark.

• Reverse: An eagle in flight with no stars below (Type 1). The 1917 Type 2 added three stars beneath the eagle.

• Size and composition: 24.3mm diameter, 6.25 grams, 90% silver, 10% copper, reeded edge.

The Date Problem

The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter shares a frustrating characteristic with the entire series: the date wears off quickly. MacNeil placed the date in a recessed area that was the first point of contact in circulation. Many surviving 1916 quarters have lost their dates entirely. A dateless Standing Liberty Quarter could be any year, but the Type 1 bare-breast design narrows it to 1916 or 1917. Confirming "1916" specifically requires a readable date.

Common Confusions

• 1917 Type 1: The 1917 Philadelphia Type 1 (bare breast, no stars under eagle) looks identical except for the date. With 8.7 million minted, a 1917 Type 1 in Good condition is worth about $25, not $3,000. Confirm the date carefully.

• Counterfeit dates: Some unscrupulous people have attempted to alter "1917" dates to read "1916" by tooling the metal. Under magnification, the altered metal will show different texture and flow lines.

Value by Condition

Poor to About Good / PO-1 to AG-3 ($960 - $3,000)

The coin is identifiable as a 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter, but barely. The date may be partially visible, the breast detail may be worn smooth, and the overall design is heavily worn. A PCGS Poor-1 example sold for $960 at Stack's Bowers in March 2019. Even in this condition, the coin is valuable due to rarity.

Good to Very Good / G-4 to VG-8 ($3,000 - $6,000)

The date is readable. Major design elements are visible but flat. The outline of Liberty is clear, and the Type 1 design features (exposed breast) can be confirmed. Most collectors begin their search at this grade level.

Fine to Very Fine / F-12 to VF-25 ($6,000 - $10,000)

Liberty's gown shows moderate detail. The shield's rivets are partially visible. The date is clear and strong. This is the sweet spot for collectors who want a presentable example without paying uncirculated premiums.

Extremely Fine / EF-40 ($10,000 - $13,000)

Light wear on the highest points only. Most design details are sharp. The breast and drapery lines are clearly defined. Liberty's head shows full detail.

About Uncirculated / AU-50+ ($13,000 - $20,000)

Trace wear on Liberty's knee, breast, and shield. Full detail elsewhere. Original mint luster may be partially visible in protected areas.

Mint State / MS-60+ ($20,000 - $100,000+)

Full mint luster, no wear. Strike quality varies. Well-struck examples with full head detail (designated "FH" by grading services) command substantial premiums. Gem examples (MS-65+) are extremely rare and have sold for over $100,000.

Authentication and Fakes

The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter is heavily counterfeited. Common fakes include:

• Cast copies: Made by pouring metal into a mold taken from a genuine coin. Look for a seam around the edge, porous surface texture, and incorrect weight.

• Altered dates: A 1917 quarter with the "7" tooled to resemble a "6." Under magnification, the metal around the date will show unnatural tooling marks.

• Struck counterfeits: More sophisticated fakes made with counterfeit dies. Weight, diameter, and specific gravity testing are essential.

PCGS and NGC authentication is strongly recommended for any 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. Grading fees start at $30-$65 for coins in this value range. Given that even a Poor-1 example is worth nearly $1,000, the grading fee is a worthwhile investment.

Where to Sell

• Heritage Auctions: Regular offerings of Standing Liberty Quarters in their U.S. coin auctions.

• Stack's Bowers: Another premier venue for key-date coins.

• Local coin dealers: For quick sales, but expect 70-80% of retail value.

• Coin shows: Major shows like the ANA convention attract serious buyers for key dates.

Expected selling costs: PCGS/NGC grading is $30-$65 for coins valued under $10,000. Auction house commissions run 10-15%. Insured shipping for a coin worth $3,000-$10,000 costs $25-$50.

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