Standing Liberty Quarter
Numismatic art, circulating coinage, reeded edge disc • Hermon Atkins MacNeil (Designer); United States Mint
Style & Movement
Beaux-Arts and Art Deco transition
Medium & Technique
90% silver, 10% copper; struck by steel dies (die striking technique)
Creation Period
1928
Dimensions & Format
Diameter: 24.3 mm; Circular format
Subject Description
Obverse features Lady Liberty stepping through a gate between two stone walls, holding an olive branch (peace) and a shield (defense). The design includes the date 1928, the word LIBERTY, and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; significant circulation wear, flattened high points, and surface scratches.
Estimated Market Value
Standard circulated silver value plus small premium; approximately $6 - $12 USD.
Auction Estimate
$5 - $15 USD
Provenance History
Likely entered general circulation in the United States; currently held in a staple-closed cardboard 2x2 coin flip.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the 'Golden Age of American Coinage,' reflecting the aesthetic shift from 19th-century motifs to more dynamic, allegorical designs influenced by the Renaissance revival.
Notable Features
Type 2 modified design with chainmail covering Liberty's chest; designer's initial 'M' visible to the right of the date near the bottom of the wall.
Condition Issues
Heavy wear on Liberty's chainmail and knees, loss of fine detail in the shield and head, toning, and surface abrasions from circulation.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in a PVC-free archival holder; do not clean or polish as it removes the original mint luster and reduces numismatic value.