Standing Liberty Quarters Mintage
The quarter dollar was redesigned, continuing the efforts first began by President Theodore Roosevelt to return our coinage to objects of artistic beauty. The new series would come to be known as the Standing Liberty Quarters and would begin with an incredibly low mintage first year of issue. Mintage levels were generally higher for the balance of the series. Assembling a complete collection can be a challenge due to the low mintage key date and several other issues which are particularly conditionally challenging in higher grades.
The Standing Liberty Quarter had two distinct designs during the course of the series, known as Variety 1 and Variety 2. The initial design features the full figure of Liberty standing within a gate adorned with stars and the motto “In God We Trust”. She holds an olive branch and shield, and has her breast exposed. The inscription “Liberty” appears above. The initial reverse design featured an eagle in flight with seven stars to the left and six to the right. Inscriptions read “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “Quarter Dollar”. Part of the way through 1917, the design was changed. Most noticeably, Liberty now wore a suit of chain mail, covering her breast. On the reverse, the stars were realigned, with five to each side and three below the eagle.