6993

1916 25C MS66 Full Head NGC. At the end of the 19

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:110.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1916 25C MS66 Full Head NGC. At the end of the 19
<B>1916<25C> MS66 Full Head NGC.</B></I> At the end of the 19th century, Mint Director James Kimball persuaded Senator Justin Morrill of Vermont to introduce a bill that would enable the Treasury Department to change coin designs after only twenty-five years. After the bill passed as the Act of September 26, 1890, the Treasury Department used it to replace Christian Gobrecht's hardy Liberty Seated Quarter with Charles E. Barber's Liberty Head motif. Once again utilizing this act, the Treasury Department enacted a competition in 1915 that anticipated the expiration of the Barber Quarter's statutory lease in 1917. Following an open competition during which Chief Engraver Barber cooperated as little as possible, the Treasury Department adopted MacNeil's design and revolutionized the Quarter Dollar. The overzealous Philadelphia Mint initiated production of the new design as rapidly as possible and coined a miniscule number of pieces December 16-31, 1916. Along with the first examples of the 1917 production, these 1916 pieces were released into circulation on January 17, 1917. The extremely low mintage of this issue only partially explains its rarity today. The public, as always, set aside sufficient quantities of the new design and, by normal standards, the 1916 should be an easily obtainable issue today. As the average person failed to check the dates of their coins, however, most people invariably set aside the more numerous 1917 Quarters. This set of circumstances probably explains the plethora of Gem and Superb Mint State 1917 Quarters and the shortage of 1916 issues in today's numismatic marketplace. <BR> A remarkably preserved representation of this significant 20th century rarity, this coin is razor sharp and every last detail is strong (although not necessarily complete). The matte-like, satiny surfaces exhibit a fully brilliant finish overall. The grade accurately describes this coin's lack of abrasions and distractions. An immensely important coin that will certainly find its way into the finest collection. Population: 17 in 66, 2 finer (3/05).