Standing Liberty Quarter Overview
Minted during a time that saw some of the best coin designs in American history, the Standing Liberty quarter was no exception to excellence in design. After a few bumpy first years, the Standing Liberty quarter was accepted and cherished by consumers across the country.
Hermon MacNeil designed both the obverse and reverse of the Standing Liberty quarter in 1916. MacNeil’s design had to be changed several times to achieve a look that the US Mint found acceptable. Other updates to the coin's design would happen in 1917 and 1925 as a way to lessen the wear of the coin in circulation.
The obverse of the coin features Lady Liberty striding forward holding a shield in her left hand and olive branches in her right. In particular, Lady Liberty is striding through a gate that has “IN GOD WE TRUST” spread across each side. “LIBERTY” can be found centered at the top of the obverse, and the date of mintage can be found centered at the bottom.
On the reverse, a simple design features an American bald eagle soaring, centered. The mottos “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” can be found directly above. “QUARTER DOLLAR” can be found centered below.
If you would like to learn more about collecting all types of quarters, including the Standing Liberty quarter, please read our Ultimate Guide To Rare Quarters.
History of the 1927 Standing Liberty Quarter
Minted closer to the end of the series, the 1927 Standing Liberty quarter was part of a larger mint strike than other years in the series.
The Philadelphia Mint reports minting a total of 11,912,000 Standing Liberty quarters in 1927.
Higher mintages can be contributed to the boom in the economy directly before the Great Depression. Mintage figures would return to normal and even drop off in the years during the Great Depression.
Standing Liberty quarters were composed of a 90% silver and 10% copper mix and weighed 6.25 grams. Each coin had a diameter of 24.3mm and a reeded edge.
Many Surviving 1927 Standing Liberty Quarters
Although 1927 was 90 years ago, many Standing Liberty quarters minted that year still survive. Like most older coin series, most of the surviving coins are not in uncirculated condition. Compared to other Standing Liberty Quarter years, 1927 had a larger amount of coins surviving in uncirculated condition as well.
It has been noted that in 1927 the US Mint struck Standing Liberty quarters that had strong strikes and good luster. Many of these coins have survived to this day still in uncirculated condition with original mint luster.
1927 Standing Liberty quarters are somewhat common in MS-65 grades and even have a significant number in MS-66. Collectors tend to quickly snatch up any examples that come to market in grade MS-65 or higher.
The thing that makes these coins so special is that the strike quality on the average 1927 Standing Liberty quarter will be better than a similar year. Because collectors want premium struck coins, it is a no-brainer that most gravitate toward the 1927 Standing Liberty quarter.
For those not looking to make a large investment, low-grade filler examples can be easily found at prices slightly lower than scarcer years.
If you own a higher grade example, it could be worth getting graded. Despite the large amount that still survive, prices are still elevated and a single point can drastically change the price.
Image Source Flickr user Peter Burka
Valuing the 1927 Standing Liberty Quarter
Even in low grades, the 1927 Standing Liberty quarter is worth a fair premium. However, no matter what grade a Standing Liberty coin is, it will be worth $5 in silver.
1927 Standing Liberty quarters in Fine 12 have a retail value of $6. An increase in grade to Very Fine 20 sees a modest increase in price to $19. Price slightly more than doubles to $40 when the coin is graded as Extremely Fine 40.
Uncirculated examples are where the price for the 1927 Standing Liberty Quarter really increase. A price of $130 is given to MS-60 and $230 for MS-63. A huge jump to $500 is achieved when going to a grade of MS-65
Although the prices for higher grade examples of the 1927 Standing Liberty quarter seem high, other dates in the series are much higher. If few high-grade coins are graded in the coming years, the prices for the 1927 Standing Liberty quarter should rise.