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1916 25C Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar, Judd-

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1916 25C Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar, Judd-
1916 25C Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar, Judd-1795 (now Judd-1989), Pollock-2050, R.8, PR65 NGC. Very close to the adopted design for MacNeil's 1916 quarter, but the obverse shows several differences. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. Hermon MacNeil was primarily known as a sculptor, although he had designed several medals. This was the same situation as Adolph Weinman, designer of the Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half. Since both were sculptors first, they brought a three-dimensional way of thinking to coinage design, and the coins reflect this different approach. Generally speaking, little is known today of the patterns created for the Standing Liberty quarter. Few documents survive, and most of what we actually do know is derived from direct examination of the coins themselves. However, there is actually considerable documentation about this particular coin. As pointed out on the USPatterns.com website, this piece was misdescribed in both Judd and Pollock. It is not the regular dies before the designer's initial 'M' was added. It is actually struck from completely different dies. On this piece, the olive branch in Liberty's hand is slightly different from the one used on the regular issue. Also, the coin actually had two leaves scratched off of it. This piece is apparently the one mentioned in an October 22, 1916 letter addressed to A.M. Joyce, Superintendent of the U.S. Mint which is excerpted below."I am returning to you herewith two of the four sample quarters you sent me, one being blank on one side with the reverse design on the other, and the other being your number 4, as submitted in your letter of October 20th."With one slight alteration, the design as it appears on No. 4 is acceptable. The slight alteration referred to is the elimination of the two leaves in the angle of the letter "L" in the word 'Liberty'. You will notice that I have scratched these two leaves off the coin I am returning to you. With this slight change you may go ahead and make up the dies for the finished coin. I have kept here No. 2 and No. 3, which you can charge to me." The surfaces are interesting and quite unlike those seen on any other Standing Liberty quarter. The obverse is softly struck and granular, obviously from having been struck from a matte proof die. It would appear that the Mint personnel did not have sufficient striking pressure to completely strike up the obverse on this piece--not too surprising since this was one of the first coins struck. The reverse, on the other hand, has a completely different texture than the obverse. There is none of the matte finish on that side; in fact, the fields actually have a bright, semi-reflective appearance that is intermixed with satiny luster. However, once again, the striking details are incomplete on the eagle's wings. Business strikes later in the year show better definition than this coin, but the texture, overall appearance, and design modifications seen on this piece give it a singular place in 20th century numismatics. Which brings us to this coin's uniqueness. It is unique in two ways: it is the only surviving pattern of this particular design (we know that one other piece was ground down with a wire brush to determine wear patterns), and it is the only proof Standing Liberty quarter certified by either of the major services. Much of the original brilliance remains, but probably 40-50% of each side shows mottled, deep golden and russet toning that is scattered about in a seemingly random manner. The only identifying marks on either side are the above mentioned leaves that were scratched off by Superintendent Joyce.Ex: William Mc Adoo Estate; bought from the Mc Adoo Estate by Lester Merkin; memo'ed by Merkin to a part-time dealer in Michigan for $5000 in the early 1970s; dealer offered the coin to Jay Cline at that time, Cline declined; sold to Jimmy Hayes; Hayes Sale (Stack's, 10/85), lot 48, purchased out of the Hayes Sale by Jay Cline for $19,000; photographed as the cover coin of Cline's third edition of Standing Liberty Quarters. Important notice: Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid.