| Coin | Quarter Dollar 1917 Standing Liberty |
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The Quarter Dollar is a United States coin worth 25 cents. It has been produced on and off since 1796 and consistently since 1831.
After the initial issue of the "Draped Bust" type (1796 - 1807), a Capped Bust obverse was used until 1838, a Seated Liberty type (1838 - 1891) and then the so-called Barber Quarter (1892 - 1916).
In 1916, this new design was introduced; it is known as the Standing Liberty Quarter after the symbol on its reverse, emphasising the desire of the United States for peace but also its readiness to enter the war then raging in Europe.
The Standing Liberty Quarter was only issued until 1930; no quarters were struck in 1931, then the Washington Quarter was issued - initially meant as a one-year type commemorative, it became the definitive style for the quarter dollar which is still issued today.
The composition of the Standing Liberty Quarter, like that of earlier coins of the denomination, is 90% silver and 10% copper. In later years, the denomination underwent changes in size and composition (the quarter is now lighter and made of copper-nickel), but these coins have never been demonetised and are still legal tender. This, of course, is of academic interest only, as their numismatic value is enormously higher than their face value.
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the standing figure of Miss Liberty, emerging from an opening between two pedestals; she holds an olive branch in her right hand, and a shield decorated with the Shield of the United States in her left hand. The design was created in the context of World War One, which was raging in Europe in 1916 but the US had not yet joined it. Liberty faces to the viewer's right (heraldic east) in the direction of the European war, and her shield faces in that direction as well.
On the pedestals, divided by the figure of Liberty, is inscribed the motto IN GOD WE TRUST with the "U" in "trust" shaped (in the original Latin fashion) as a V, so IN GOD WE TRVST. Vertically on the pedestals, thirteen stars (seven on the left, six on the right) representing the original thirteen States of the Union.
Around above, LIBERTY. Below the figure, the date 1917. The designer's initial M (for [Hermon Atkins] MacNeil) is at the base of the right pedestal.
The border around the rim is of dashes and dots.
Coins struck by the Philadelphia Mint have no mint mark. Coins struck by the Denver Mint or the San Francisco Mint have a tiny letter D or S respectively, to the right of the lowermost star on the left pedestal. |
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| Reverse | |
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The central device on the reverse is an eagle flying to right.
Above, the legend UNITED · STATES OF AMERICA, with the first two words around near the rim and "OF AMERICA" on two lines horizontally below. In small letters below that, the motto E · PLURIBUS UNUM (translated from Latin: Out of many, one); the letters U are rendered as V, so: E · PLVRIBVS VNVM.
Around below, the value and denomination in words: QUARTER · DOLLAR. The design also includes thirteen stars representing the original thirteen States of the Union - seven on the left and six on the right. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | During the year, the obverse design was changed and chainmail was added in order to cover Liberty's formerly bare breast; on the reverse, three of the stars were moved below the eagle. All three mints made coins of the old (known as Type 1 or Variety 1) and new (Type 2, Variety 2) designs. None of them made any proofs.
Mintage breakdown is as follows:
Type 1 (original design):
Philadelphia Mint : 8,740,000 (8.7 million)
Denver Mint: 1,509,200 (1.5 million)
San Francisco Mint: 1,952,000 (2.0 million)
Type 2 (new design):
Philadelphia Mint : 13,880,000 (13.9 million)
Denver Mint: 6,224,400 (6.2 million)
San Francisco Mint: 5,552,000 (5.6 million) |
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