1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. MS-62 FH (NGC).Brilliant apart from delicate golden peripheral toning, this attractive 1916 quarter offers superior eye appeal for the assigned grade. Soft satin luster blankets both sides and the devices are quite well struck for the type with overall full detail. Delays in finalizing the design for the Standing Liberty quarter explain the small mintage for the first year 1916. On November 16 of that year, in fact, Mint Director F.J.H. von Engelken ordered that the Philadelphia Mint withhold the dies that it had prepared for the Denver and San Francisco mints, precluding 1916-D and 1916-S Standing Liberty quarter issues. He did allow the Philadelphia Mint to strike 52,000 examples of the new type on December 16. These coins were not required for commercial use -- the mintage was negligible by 20th century U.S. Mint standards -- but they did serve two other purposes. As with the Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half dollar that were also introduced that year, the Standing Liberty quarter was designed under the law that allowed for the replacement of coinage designs after a 25 year period. A 1916-dated mintage met this technical requirement, and fulfilled plans to introduce all three of the new silver coin designs by the end of that year. With one of the lowest mintages of any 20th century U.S. coin, and the lowest of any regular issue Standing Liberty quarter, the 1916 has long been high on the want lists of advanced numismatists. Even circulated survivors are always in demand while in Mint State, as here, the 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is a highlight of any sale in which it is included.From the High Rise Collection.