1874 Twenty Cents

HBCC#:

6112

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

1354

Pollock#:

1498

This was the debut of the twenty-cent denomination, with most patterns being rare and highly collectible. In the western states, small denomination coins of bronze and nickel were unpopular and essentially did not circulate. Some members of Congress were convinced that this denomination would facilitate making change. In an April 1874 letter, Mint Director H.R. Linderman noted: “As the difference in the weight between the proposed piece of 20 cents and the 25 cent piece will be quite small, it will be necessary to give the former such devices etc., as will render it easily distinguished from the latter.”

Provenance:

From Superior's sale of the Ruby Collection, Part III, February 10, 1975, Lot 887.

Obverse:

Youthful Liberty seated to left, left hand on globe, LIBERTY on a ribbon around the globe's equator, Western Hemisphere on globe, wheat sheaf behind Liberty, tobacco plant and cotton bales at her feet, 13 stars around, date below.

Reverse:

Virtually identical to the standard reverse adopted for the regular-issue 20¢ pieces of 1875-78, save for a minor difference in the olive leaves.

Commentary: