In 1916 Hermon A. MacNeil, a well-known sculptor, produced a new design for the quarter dollar, replacing the familiar Barber motif which had been employed since 1892. The obverse depicts Miss Liberty standing in a gateway, her right breast exposed, wearing a gown, holding a branch in her right hand and a shield in her left. LIBERTY is in an arc above, while IN GOD WE TRUST is lettered on the wall or parapet to each side of where she stands. The date is on a pedestal beneath her feet. The reverse shows an eagle flying to the right, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM above, with QUARTER DOLLAR below. Seven stars are to the left and six to the right. 52,000 were minted in 1916, followed by generous mintage of over 10,000,000 at the three mints in 1917. Complaints arose concerning the partial nudity of Miss Liberty, and because of this the design was soon changed.

While examples of the 1916 date are rare, the type set collector desiring a Standing Liberty quarter of 1917 will have no difficulty in acquiring one from any desired grade from Good through AU. Uncirculated pieces are fairly scarce, while superb Uncirculated coins are very elusive. Unlike their later counterparts, Type I quarters are usually sharply struck at Miss Liberty's head and on the shield. Most Uncirculated pieces possess full details.

Complaints arose concerning the exposed right breast of Miss Liberty, so partway through 1917 the design was changed. The new Miss Liberty now appears safely and nearly completely encased in a suit of armor or mail, perhaps a classic situation of overcompensation! The date, high on the pedestal below Miss Liberty, was continued in this position, but later, in 1925, this portion of the coin was recessed, to minimize the effects of wear. The reverse was restyled in 1917 and in its new form the eagle is higher and more centered on the coin, with three stars below the eagle and five to each side. The so-called Type II quarter was produced from 1917 through 1930, continuously except for the year 1922. Although Congress earlier mandated that coining design should not be changed more often than each 25 years, by the early 1930s it was decided to discontinue the Standing Liberty motif in favor of a new design.

The collector will have no difficulty acquiring specimens of commoner dates of the 1917-1930 era in any desired condition from Good to AU. Uncirculated pieces are readily found, particularly of dates from 1925 through 1930. Uncirculated pieces with sharply struck details at Miss Liberty's head and also on the highest part of the shield are quite elusive, and for some issues (such as 1926-D) are very rare. Such pieces often command a sharp premium over normal Uncirculated coins. No Proofs were minted during this span.