Counterfeit Detection: 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter

The Standing Liberty quarter began with the 1916 issue, which has the smallest mintage (52,000) of the entire series. Examples in any grade cost thousands of dollars today, making it the most expensive date to acquire.

Besides the 1916 key date (and an overdate variety of the 1918-S that is even pricier), the series is relatively easy to collect. However, hobbyists should pay close attention when going after a raw 1916 Standing Liberty quarter. Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) recently received a purported example of this expensive coin that has multiple red flags.

The genuine 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter (top) and its spurious counterpart (bottom). Click images to enlarge.

First and foremost, while the obverse has the correct design for a 1916 Standing Liberty quarter, the reverse has the Variety 2 motif that was not used until well into 1917. Notably, on the Variety 2, three of the thirteen stars on the reverse had been moved beneath the eagle. Additionally, a planchet crack on the bottom left of the reverse points to this being a clumsy counterfeit.

This counterfeit quarter notably features a 1917 Variety 2 reverse. The clearly defined beads on the shield (right) are much nicer than those seen on the obverse of a genuine example. Click images to enlarge.

The obverse is troubling as well. The rim is too narrow and the beaded border vanishes at the top left. While many details are too weak, the beads on Liberty’s shield are actually too strong for what is expected on this quarter.

The coin is also underweight at 5.9g instead of the standard 6.25g. Finally, a metallurgical analysis reveals a composition of 58-percent copper, 26-percent zinc, 14-percent nickel, and 2-percent other elements. This is obviously not the expected 90-percent silver and 10-percent copper composition.

Collectors who buy uncertified key-date coins like the 1916 Standing Liberty quarter are well-advised to submit them for third-party certification as soon as the purchase is complete. Remember, NGC backs its determinations of authenticity and grade with the NGC Guarantee.

Reproduced with permission from the May 2022 edition of The Numismatist, an official publication of the American Numismatic Association.

Did you know? NGC has created a comprehensive Counterfeit Detection resource to help collectors and dealers identify counterfeit and altered coins. Visit NGCcoin.com/counterfeit.