1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. MS-61 (NGC).Both sides of this key date 20th century quarter are uncommonly smooth in hand at the BU level. The surfaces are a bit muted in appearance beneath an overlay of light to medium golden-gray patina, however, although the satiny finish is suitably lustrous for the assigned grade. Well struck overall with most design elements sharp and Libertys head with impressively bold detail. Hermon A. MacNeils Standing Liberty quarter design of 1916 is generally considered one of the high-water marks of American coin design, along with the Winged Liberty (a.k.a. Mercury) dime and Walking Liberty half dollar. MacNeil submitted plaster models which the Mints engravers and sculptors modified significantly, apparently without input from MacNeil himself. Although it is widely believed that the addition of the chain mail to Liberty was precipitated due to widespread public outcry regarding the exposed breast, there is no evidence that this was the case. Numismatic scholar Roger W. Burdette has not uncovered any supporting documentation to that effect, and in fact MacNeil had proposed the design change (along with some modifications to the reverse) as a result of the Mints modifications to his original designs before the coins were even released to the general public. The chain mail was actually added to symbolize Libertys preparedness to defend the nation with the coming of the United States involvement in World War One.<p>The 52,000 1916-dated quarters were struck late in the year and released in mid-January alongside the first 1917-dated quarters. The small mintage and the simultaneous release meant that interest in the new design was not confined to just the 1916 quarters and, with far more coins struck, the 1917 Type I is the issue that met most of the public demand for keepsakes of the new quarter design. Consequently, 1917 Type I quarters are far more available than their 1916 counterparts, the latter one of the most highly regarded and sought after 20th century U.S. Mint issues. The present coin is a pleasing specimen for the grade that is sure to have no difficulty finding its way into an advanced numismatic cabinet.
