1916 Standing Liberty 25c

While priority was given to the production of Adolph Weinman’s new dime and half dollar in 1916, Hermon MacNeil’s new quarters were treated as something of an afterthought. MacNeil seems to have been entirely ignored in the final production process as George T. Morgan and/or Charles Barber reworked MacNeil’s designs and the Philadelphia Mint struck a token 52,000 quarters on December 16, 1916.

While resembling MacNeil’s original models from the spring of 1916, the result was a product with significantly lower relief than MacNeil’s revised design as approved in August 1916. Weak details in Liberty’s head and shield are commonplace, and the upper left rim of the shield can disappear into Liberty’s bust even on specimens certified as “Full Head”.

“I have just had word from the Secretary that he would like to have the figure of ‘Liberty’ on the obverse side of the Quarter Dollar brought out more clearly. I told him that I thought we could not do this without consuming a great deal of time and going over all of our past work again. He, therefore, agreed to let the quarter go as it is. I told him, however, that we decided to sharpen the design of the shield, and I hope that you can do this before sending out the dies.”

Friedrich Johannes Hugo von Engelken, Director of the United States Mint, writing to Philadelphia Mint Superintendent Adam M. Joyce, November 11, 1916 (1)

This example of the Philadelphia Mint’s quarter production for 1916 is certainly one of its best. Liberty’s hair is well defined, and the larger shield is well detailed with an edge that is clear about its full circumference. The luster is full and unmistakably original, frosty in texture, and with minimal surface abrasion. The toning is pleasing and natural, the obverse light gold and pale silvery blue with amber, olive and russet about the rim, while the reverse is faintly colored in pale blue and yellow.

PCGS #50025033

Provenance

Heritage, February 2002, lot 5630 at $24,150 as NGC MS66FH #1635629-001; Heritage, January 2003, lot 6821 at $34,500 as PCGS MS66FH #50025033; Stack’s Bowers, May 2019, lot 1059 at $99,000 as PCGS/CAC MS66+FH to Laura Sperber (Legend) for the “Black Cat Collection” by William Anderson.