Following the era of the Barber quarter, the U.S. used a new design for its quarter-dollar silver coins of 1916 to 1930: a standing Liberty design. While Liberty had in the past been seated on quarters, and most recently shown in profile on the Barber design, the standing Liberty showed the allegorical figure standing and holding a shield in one hand, an olive branch in the other. The message: America wants peace but can engage in military action if necessary.
The standing Liberty quarter as issued, with occasional modifications in the design to reduce problems at the mints, until 1930. Soon afterwards, the quarter coins of the United States honored founder George Washington.
