1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Value Guide

The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter is a premier American numismatic rarity, marking the debut of Hermon Atkins MacNeil’s iconic design. This specific year is highly coveted due to its incredibly low mintage and the controversial Type 1 design featuring Liberty with an exposed breast.

What Is 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Worth?

The typical price range for 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter is $1,800 - $2,000 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Extreme mintage rarity, as only 52,000 of these coins were struck in 1916 compared to millions in later years.
• The Full Head (FH) designation, which indicates a sharp, complete strike on Liberty's helmet and significantly increases value.
• Overall surface preservation and the absence of wear on high points like Liberty's knee and the eagle's wings.
• Professional grading by services like PCGS or NGC is essential for authenticating this high-value date.

How to Identify 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter?

• Look for the Type 1 design where Lady Liberty's right breast is exposed and there are no stars below the eagle on the reverse.
• Verify the 1916 date at the base of the coin, which represents the first and rarest year of the series.
• Check for the designer's initial M located to the right of the date, signifying Hermon Atkins MacNeil.
• Confirm the composition is 90% silver and 10% copper, consistent with early 20th-century US coinage.

History of 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter

The Standing Liberty Quarter, designed by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, was minted from 1916 to 1930. The initial 1916 and early 1917 issues are known as Type 1, featuring Lady Liberty with her right breast exposed. This design caused some controversy, leading to a modification later in 1917, where Liberty's breast was covered by mail, creating the Type 2 variant. The 1916 mintage was particularly low, making it a highly sought-after and valuable coin among collectors.