Except for the 1916 this is the lowest mintage of the series. Designed by Hermon A. MacNeil. In 1917 Liberty’s bare breast was covered due to public outrage. In 1925 the fate was recessed in order to stop the date from wearing off. The earlier issues developed worn dates due to being raised. The recessed dates proved to be more lasting. Only 396,000 were minted and despite circulation wear, this is one of them.
Why, in the year of our Lord 2024, does this fable and myth perpetuated by the insufferable Breen still exist? This is completely unsubstantiated in history. The truth is: The country was preparing for War. When the coin was designed, it was a time of peace. There were problems with the design and struggles at the mint. Herman MacNeil was called in to re-work the coin, and it was decided that Liberty should armor up in preparation for War. You can read the remarkably well written Wikipedia article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_Liberty_quarter Or, you can read Roger Burdette's immaculate original research in the Renaissance of American Coinage (which the wikipedia article heavily references) The idea that her breast was covered because of prudes is a fairy tale.
Because of you, physics-fan3.14, I just bought from Amazon Roger Burdette's Renaissance of American Coinage 1905-1908. I hope I hate it or else i will be buying both otjher books (and they are not cheap).
No, they are not cheap. But the amount of original research that went into those books is completely worth it. What you'll find is... many of the popular myths around the coins we love are lies. The truth is quite fascinating on its own. I love the trilogy, own signed copies, and reference them regularly. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Very nice. I like the Standing Liberty Series. I was fortunate to be an active collector at a time when SLQ's were found in change almost everyday. Most had the date worn off. But, occasionally we would find one that was readable/visible. Here is a 1927-S that I found in change way back then.
Wow. I remember my father talking about how many Indian cents were still circulating in the '40s and '50s. He got a Flying Eagle cent in change, once. And a Shield nickel.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/building-a-twentieth-century-circulation-collection.385921/ I published this some time back. It would also apply to the time your father was collecting.
MacNeil may have decided it but it was not ordered by the mint. They gave him a list of changes they wanted made and said no changes other than the ones requested. They didn't request the chain mail.
