By Tom LaMarre, Coins Magazine November 16, 2009

Like a celebrity making a grand entrance, the Standing Liberty quarter arrived fashionably late. Whether the much publicized new design was worth the wait was a matter of opinion.

The dime and half dollar also received a makeover in 1916. All three denominations were supposed to be released by mid summer. The June 9, 1916, issue of the Stevens Point Daily Journal reported, “After July 1, new design dimes, quarters and halves will be seen. Stevens Point people will soon notice coins of new design among the change they receive. Dimes, quarters and half dollars of new design will be minted after July 1, Secretary McAdoo announces.”

The new quarter had a full-length view of Liberty on the obverse. The June 1, 1916, issue of The Lima Times-Democrat said she was “in symbolic posture” and would replace the long-familiar Liberty portrait. The reverse pictured a flying eagle.

At least one newspaper, however, seemed more interested in the stars on the coin. The May 17, 1917, issue of the Middletown Times-Press noticed the new quarter had six-pointed stars on the obverse, and five-pointed stars on the reverse. “The reverse of these coins is a copy of the Great Seal with the stars and clouds omitted,” the writer mistakenly imagined. “So far as can be ascertained, the six-pointed star is derived from colonial coins.”

There also seemed to be some confusion as to who actually designed the new quarter. In reality, it was Hermon MacNeil who won the design competition with his Standing Liberty entry. The Iowa Recorder got it right, citing MacNeil as the designer and saying he was “a sculptor of prominence in the United States.” But the July 12, 1916, issue of the Gettysburg Times claimed the Mint director designed the quarter.

“Woolley Quarters,” the writer called them. “In time to come we will refer to the quarter dollar coin, called in the West two bits, as a ‘Woolley’ because the design is that of Robert W. Woolley, Director of the Mint, who has been selected as the chief publicity man of the Democratic National Committee.”

It was a presidential election year. The United States had not yet gone to war, but preparedness was on everyone’s mind and was a central issue in the campaign. That’s why Liberty was carrying a shield on the new quarter.

Struck in December, the first Standing Liberty quarters were dated 1916, but they weren’t released until January 1917. The Jan. 20, 1917, issue of the Mansfield (Ohio) News reported that a few Standing Liberty quarters had arrived in town.

“The first opportunity of Mansfield people to look at the new quarter, of which so many favorable and unfavorable comments have been heard from all over the country, came today when a small shipment of the coins arrived.”

A few weeks later, the newspaper said: “The new quarter and half dollar, which recently made their appearance, are fair to look upon. They would make beautiful medals.” As coins, however, both denominations were said to be “dirt collectors.” The design was changed slightly in the summer of 1917, but there is no evidence it had anything to do with Liberty’s exposed breast.

The Mint had its own problems with the Standing Liberty quarter. The design was difficult to strike with full detail, and despite modifications, the date wore away too quickly.

Although collectors love the Standing Liberty quarter, Mint officials were happy to see the Standing Liberty quarter give way to the Washington quarter in 1932. Today, you can buy a common-date Standing Liberty quarter in Very Fine-20 for around $15.

More Resources:

• Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes 4-CD Set, 1782-1866

• Fascinating Facts, Mysteries & Myths About U.S. Coins

• 2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date, 4th Edition

• State Quarters Deluxe Collector's Folder