The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter
The standing liberty quarter was designed by Hermon MacNeil, the Amercian sculptor whose works
appear in the US Supreme Court Building.
Along with the Walking Liberty half dollar, the buffalo nickel, and mercury dime, it began the "golden era" of
US coins in which the insipid Barber series was replaced by coins that were artistically more pleasing. In 1916, the
Standing Liberty Quarter was released where Miss Liberty had an exposed breast. This should have been nothing new, after
all, there were exposed breasts on the 1896 five dollar note. which depicted five semi-naked females. In 1899, the hussies
on the five dollar bill were replaced by an Indian Chief.
Covering the Breast
By 1917, they made Miss Liberty wear chain mail. Although it is well accepted that this was due to public outcry over the exposed breast, it is likely that the chain mail was chosen to be symbolic of the american entry into World War I.
Preserving the date
On the early standing liberty quarters, the date was the highest point on
the coin, and therefore the first to wear off.
In 1925, the date was recessed, thus preserving it from wear.
