U.S. Mint’s Best of the Mint Series Turns to the Rare 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter
Collectors have a new reason to circle their calendars. First, the U.S. Mint is preparing to launch the second release in its Best of the Mint program. This time, the spotlight falls on one of the most storied coins of the twentieth century: the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. Overall, the Best of the Mint series pairs a modern gold reissue with a silver companion medal. Moreover, the new Standing Liberty set is scheduled to go on sale July 10, 2026, at 12 noon Eastern Time. It will carry the product code 26BM2.
Rare coin collectors have prized the story of the original 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter for generations. To begin with, sculptor Hermon A. MacNeil won an invitational design competition against two other accomplished artists, including Adolph A. Weinman. The Mint tasked him with creating a replacement for the aging Barber Quarter. Once officials approved his design, MacNeil showed Liberty turning her head to look over a shield resting on her arm. She also extends an olive branch in her other hand. In effect, this pose struck a visual balance between vigilance and peace. That design resonated with a nation watching World War I unfold in Europe.
Because approval came so late in the year, the Philadelphia Mint didn’t begin striking the new design until the final weeks of 1916. As a result, that short turnaround between design and production gave the coin one of the lowest mintages of any circulated coin in the twentieth century, cementing its appeal to collectors. Indeed, only 52,000 pieces left the presses before the coins entered circulation in January 1917 alongside that year’s dated quarters. Consequently, that tiny production run turned the 1916 issue into the acknowledged key date of the entire Standing Liberty series. As a result, high-grade survivors remain some of the most sought-after pieces in American numismatics today.
The U.S. Mint, however, didn’t choose this coin at random. In fact, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Mint curated a list of 21 historic coins spanning the country’s history, from its founding in 1792 into the 21st century, and ultimately narrowed the field to five Best of the Mint selections following public input and expert review. Alongside the Standing Liberty Quarter, the lineup includes the 1916 Mercury Dime, the 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, the 1804 Silver Dollar, and the 1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle. In each case, the Mint pairs a 24-karat gold coin reissue with a companion silver medal. That medal reinterprets the historic design through a contemporary lens.
For this release specifically, the gold coin faithfully reproduces MacNeil’s original artwork. As before, Liberty is shown turning her head to look over the shield on her left arm while holding an olive branch in her right hand, standing within an opening in a wall bearing 13 stars, with inscriptions reading “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRVST,” and “1916.” Notably, though, one distinguishing detail sets the 2026 issue apart from the original: a Liberty Bell privy mark bearing the numeral “250” appears on the design, tying the coin directly to the Semiquincentennial celebration. Meanwhile, the reverse retains the eagle in flight flanked by 13 stars, along with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLVRIBVS VNVM,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”
By contrast, the silver medal takes a more artistic approach rather than simply mirroring the quarter. Specifically, the one-ounce medal draws inspiration from the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter while reimagining its classic imagery with fresh artistic elements, and its reverse focuses on a close-up of the eagle’s talons clutching olive branches, continuing the visual narrative that begins on the obverse. Together, the two pieces tell a single story across gold and silver. They show vigilance giving way to peace.
To start, the West Point Mint will strike the gold coin, while the Philadelphia Mint will produce the silver medal. In addition, Mint listings put the mintage limit at 30,000 sets, with a household order limit of one per buyer at launch. As for pricing, the Mint ties the cost to the daily market value of gold. Thus, collectors should expect the final figure close to the sale date rather than fixed in advance.
Typically, order limits on Mint numismatic releases loosen after the opening rush. Specifically, the Mint usually lifts household order limits 24 hours after a product goes on sale, though it reserves the right to adjust or remove limits at its discretion as it monitors demand. Given the enthusiasm that greeted the first Best of the Mint release, the 1916 Mercury Dime, collectors interested in the Standing Liberty Quarter set should plan to log on the moment sales open.
Ultimately, this Standing Liberty release marks only the second of five planned Best of the Mint issues leading up to America’s 250th birthday in 2026. Going forward, future releases will revisit the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, the 1804 Silver Dollar, and the Saint-Gaudens double eagle. Each will pair a faithful gold reissue with a newly designed silver medal. For collectors building a complete Semiquincentennial set, then, the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter marks an essential middle chapter. Its original scarcity made it legendary, and its modern reissue now offers a rare chance to own a piece of that story in 24-karat gold.
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