The Standing Liberty Quarter is widely considered the most beautiful quarter design in U.S. history. Minted from 1916 to 1930, this short series features a stunning full-length depiction of Liberty holding a shield and olive branch — a symbol of military preparedness and peace. But beneath that artistic beauty lies a challenging collecting series packed with genuine rarities, two distinct design types, and the famous Full Head designation that can multiply values by 10x or more.
This guide covers the most valuable Standing Liberty Quarters in 2026 — the ultra-rare 1916 first-year issue, the key Type I and Type II dates, Full Head condition kings, and the complete value chart you need before buying or selling.
What Are Standing Liberty Quarters?
Designed by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, the Standing Liberty Quarter replaced the Barber Quarter in 1916. The series has two main types: Type I (1916–1917), which features Liberty with an exposed right breast, and Type II (1917–1930), where Liberty’s chest is covered with chain mail after a public controversy. All Standing Liberty Quarters are struck in 90% silver, containing 0.1809 troy ounces of silver per coin.
The series is known for several challenges collectors face: the date is positioned on the high point of the coin and wears away quickly, making dateless examples extremely common but nearly worthless. Additionally, the Full Head (FH) designation — analogous to Full Bell Lines on Franklin Halves — dramatically affects value in this series.
Most Valuable Standing Liberty Quarters: Complete 2026 Value Chart
| Date | Type / Mint | Why It’s Valuable | AG–VG Value | F–VF Value | MS-65 FH Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | Type I | First year — only 52,000 struck | $3,000 – $6,000 | $6,000 – $12,000 | $50,000 – $100,000+ |
| 1918/17-S | Type II, S | Famous overdate — “8” over “7” | $2,000 – $5,000 | $8,000 – $15,000 | $60,000 – $150,000+ |
| 1919-D | Type II, D | Low mintage Denver key | $100 – $400 | $800 – $2,000 | $30,000 – $80,000+ |
| 1919-S | Type II, S | Very low mintage San Francisco issue | $100 – $400 | $800 – $2,000 | $25,000 – $75,000+ |
| 1921 | Type II, P | Low mintage — just 1,916,000 | $100 – $350 | $600 – $1,500 | $15,000 – $50,000+ |
| 1923-S | Type II, S | Key date, scarce above VG | $300 – $800 | $1,200 – $3,000 | $25,000 – $80,000+ |
| 1927-S | Type II, S | Low mintage, scarce in FH | $50 – $150 | $400 – $1,000 | $20,000 – $60,000+ |
The Top 5 Most Valuable Standing Liberty Quarters
1. 1918/17-S Standing Liberty Quarter — $150,000+ in MS-65 FH
The 1918/7-S is one of the most famous U.S. overdate coins. A “7” from a 1917 die is clearly visible under the “8” of 1918. In any grade, it’s a desirable coin — and in high-grade Full Head Mint State, it’s a genuine trophy piece exceeding $60,000–$150,000+ depending on eye appeal. This overdate is one of the most collected mint error varieties in all of American numismatics.
2. 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter — $100,000+ in MS-65 FH
The first year of the series, with a mintage of only 52,000 — making it one of the lowest mintage quarters of the 20th century. In AG to VG grades, it’s still a $3,000–$6,000 coin. In high Mint State with Full Head designation, values soar past $50,000–$100,000+. This is the coin that anchors every serious Standing Liberty set.
3. 1919-D and 1919-S — $75,000–$80,000 in MS-65 FH
Both the Denver and San Francisco 1919 issues have extremely low mintages and are scarce in all grades above VG. In high-grade Full Head condition, they’re major condition rarities — most survivors show significant wear on Liberty’s head detail, meaning genuine FH examples are far rarer than mintage alone suggests.
4. 1921 Standing Liberty Quarter — $50,000+ in MS-65 FH
With a mintage of just 1,916,000, the 1921 is another key date collectors chase. It circulated heavily, making survivors in anything above VG genuinely scarce. MS-65 FH examples are rare and consistently deliver strong auction results.
5. 1923-S Standing Liberty Quarter — $80,000 in MS-65 FH
The 1923-S is often described as the “sleeper key” of the series — overlooked by casual collectors but dreaded by set builders. In grades above VG, it’s genuinely scarce. In Full Head Mint State, it’s a major condition rarity commanding strong five-figure prices at auction.
What Is the Full Head (FH) Designation?
The Full Head (FH) designation is the premium indicator for Standing Liberty Quarters. To earn FH status from PCGS or NGC, three hairline details must be fully visible on Liberty’s head — particularly the distinct separation of the three leaves in her hair. Because of weak die strikes (especially at San Francisco), most Standing Liberty Quarters lack this definition, even in Mint State condition.
The value impact of the FH designation in this series is dramatic — comparable to Full Steps in Jefferson Nickels. Understanding this distinction is essential before investing in any high-grade Standing Liberty Quarter. Our coin grading guide provides the foundation for evaluating strike quality across all U.S. series.
Build Your Complete Quarter Collection
Standing Liberty Quarters are one of the most visually stunning chapters in U.S. numismatics. For the complete cross-series reference covering every key date, error type, and valuation strategy, get the Numismatics Handbook: Mastering U.S. Coins, Key Dates and Errors.
Frequently Asked Questions: Standing Liberty Quarters
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Standing Liberty Quarter Design Types: Type 1 vs Type 2
The Standing Liberty Quarter has two distinct design types that every collector must know. The original 1916 design (Type 1) featured Liberty with a bare right breast on the obverse — a detail that caused public controversy and led to a redesign. In 1917, the Mint modified the design (Type 2) to show Liberty in full armor or chain mail covering her breast. This design change creates two immediately recognizable collecting categories within the series.
Type 1 coins (1916-1917 with the original design) are significantly rarer than Type 2 because the 1916 had an extremely small mintage of just 52,000 coins, and 1917 Type 1 coins represent only part of that year’s production before the design change. Type 1 quarters in all grades command premiums well above equivalent Type 2 examples.
Full Head Standing Liberty Quarters
The most important grading consideration for Standing Liberty quarters is the “Full Head” (FH) designation — whether Liberty’s face, tiara, and the individual strands of hair at the back of her head are fully struck and distinct. On most examples, the head strike is weak because it’s the highest relief point on the design and the area most prone to softness even on coins that appear otherwise well-struck.
A Full Head Standing Liberty quarter commands dramatic premiums over the same coin without FH. For example, a common 1927 quarter might be worth $25 in Very Fine, but a 1927-FH in MS-65 could bring $500 to $1,500. For scarcer dates, the premium for FH can push values into the tens of thousands. This makes FH a crucial designation when buying or selling any uncirculated Standing Liberty quarter.
The related series that preceded this design, the Barber Quarter, and the subsequent Standing Liberty Quarter series overview provide additional context for collecting 20th-century U.S. silver quarters.
Standing Liberty Quarter Date Readability Issue
A unique challenge with Standing Liberty quarters is date readability. The date is placed on a raised area of the design that wears rapidly in circulation. Many lightly circulated examples have completely flat, unreadable dates, which significantly affects their collector value. Coins with visible but worn dates (“G” grade or above) carry modest premiums over dateless examples.
In 1925, the Mint recessed the date into the design to solve this readability problem, and post-1925 dates hold up better in circulation. Coins from 1916-1924 are the most likely to show date wear issues. Many dateless Standing Liberty quarters are sold as “silver content only” pieces near melt value — they’re still 90% silver and worth their silver content regardless of the missing date.
GoldSilverStacks Take on Standing Liberty Quarters
Standing Liberty Quarters combine fine art with genuine numismatic scarcity — a rare combination. The 1916 and 1918/7-S are trophy coins that anchor any serious collection, while Full Head examples of common-date years deliver outsized returns to collectors who understand strike quality. The series is short enough to study completely and deep enough to reward a lifetime of collecting. Buy certified, verify Full Head designations carefully, and don’t waste money on dateless coins unless you’re specifically stacking them for silver.
