Twenty-Cent Piece Values & Mintages
The twenty-cent piece was one of the shortest-lived US coins. It looked so much like a quarter that the public refused it.
- Years
- 1875–1878
- Issues listed
- 10
- Lowest mintage
- 10K
- Diameter
- 22 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip.
It was struck for circulation only in 1875 and 1876; 1877 and 1878 were proof only. The 1876-CC is a famous rarity because almost the whole mintage was melted.
Designer: William Barber.
Key dates: lowest mintages
See all 10 →Every Twenty-Cent Piece by year and mint
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| Owned✓ | Coin | Year | Mint | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 Twenty-Cent Piece | 1875 | None | 36,910 | Circulation strike | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1875 Twenty-Cent Piece Proof | 1875 | None | 2,790 | Proof | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1875-S Twenty-Cent Piece | 1875 | S | 1,155,000 | Circulation strike | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1875-S Twenty-Cent Piece Proof | 1875 | S | 12 | Proof | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1875-CC Twenty-Cent Piece | 1875 | CC | 133,290 | Circulation strike | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1876 Twenty-Cent Piece | 1876 | None | 14,640 | Circulation strike | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1876 Twenty-Cent Piece Proof | 1876 | None | 1,260 | Proof | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece | 1876 | CC | 10,000 | Circulation strike | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1877 Twenty-Cent Piece Proof | 1877 | None | 510 | Proof | 0.1447 oz | |
| 1878 Twenty-Cent Piece Proof | 1878 | None | 600 | Proof | 0.1447 oz |
Composition by year
| Years | Metal | Weight | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1875–1878 | 90% silver, 10% copper | 5 g | 0.1447 oz |
Mint mark location
1875–1878: On the reverse, below the eagle. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark.
Grading tips
LIBERTY on the shield is raised on this coin, so it wears quickly. Check the eagle's breast and the stars.
Why Congress created a twenty-cent coin
Senator John P. Jones of Nevada introduced the bill that created the twenty-cent piece in 1875. His state's Comstock mines were producing huge amounts of silver and a new denomination meant new demand for it. Supporters also argued it would solve a change-making problem in the West, where prices were still often quoted in bits of twelve and a half cents and small coins were scarce. A buyer paying for a one-bit item with a quarter might get only a dime back, losing two and a half cents.
The Act of March 3, 1875 authorized the coin at 5 grams of 90% silver, exactly two-fifths the weight of the half dollar of the time. It went into production that spring.
How it was made to differ from the quarter
William Barber adapted the Seated Liberty obverse used on other silver coins. He kept the shield on Liberty's side but raised the word LIBERTY, which on other coins was incuse. The reverse eagle was similar to the one Barber had designed for the trade dollar. To tell it from the quarter, the edge was left plain rather than reeded and the denomination was spelled out as TWENTY CENTS.
It did not work. The coin was 22 millimeters across against 24.3 millimeters for the quarter and both showed a seated Liberty and an eagle. Most users never turned a coin over or ran a finger along the edge. Shopkeepers and the public complained almost at once.
The brief life of the coin
San Francisco struck by far the largest number in 1875, which is why the 1875-S is the most available date. Carson City made the coin in 1875 and 1876 and Philadelphia in both years for circulation. By 1876 demand had collapsed. Most of the 1876-CC mintage was never released and was melted, leaving only about 20 known today.
Philadelphia struck proofs for collectors in 1877 and 1878 while the coin waited for formal repeal. Congress abolished the denomination on May 2, 1878. Many twenty-cent pieces were later redeemed by the Treasury and melted.
How to collect twenty-cent pieces
For a single type coin, the 1875-S is the natural choice. Date collectors face the 1876-CC, which is beyond most budgets. They also face the proof-only 1877 and 1878. Many collectors therefore aim for the business strikes other than the 1876-CC plus one proof.
Because the raised LIBERTY wears away quickly, a sharp LIBERTY is a good sign of a higher grade. Check the edge to confirm it is plain. Counterfeits exist, along with quarters altered to imitate the coin, so look for the correct diameter and weight.
A coin of the silver politics of the 1870s
The twenty-cent piece was one of the first wins for the silver mining interests that grew powerful after the Coinage Act of 1873 ended the standard silver dollar. It was abolished in 1878, the same year the Bland-Allison Act forced the Treasury to buy silver and coin it into Morgan dollars. Seen together, the two laws show Congress swapping a failed small coin for a much larger silver program.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rarest Twenty-Cent Piece?
By mintage, the scarcest regular circulation issue is the 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece with 10,000 struck, followed by the 1876 Twenty-Cent Piece (14,640). Survival rates and condition also matter: some higher-mintage dates are scarce in top grades.
Are Twenty-Cent Pieces silver?
1875–1878: 90% silver, 10% copper.
Where is the mint mark on a Twenty-Cent Piece?
1875–1878: On the reverse, below the eagle. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark.
How many Twenty-Cent Pieces were made?
About 1,349,840 for circulation across 5 date and mint combinations, from 1,155,000 for the 1875-S Twenty-Cent Piece down to 10,000 for the 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece.
Who designed the Twenty-Cent Piece?
William Barber.
How can I tell a twenty-cent piece from a quarter?
A twenty-cent piece has a plain edge, a smaller 22 millimeter diameter and TWENTY CENTS on the reverse. A Seated Liberty quarter has a reeded edge and reads QUAR. DOL.
When was the twenty-cent piece discontinued?
Congress abolished it on May 2, 1878. The last two years, 1877 and 1878, were struck only as proofs.
Other odd denominations
Mintages from Wikipedia's US Mint-sourced tables (CC BY-SA 4.0). Specifications from US Mint records. All sources.