September 15, 2003, Pre-Long Beach Sale - Coins, Sale 21

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Twenty Cent Pieces

 
Lot 309        1875-S Twenty Cents. NGC graded MS-64. Popular type coin. Nice illustrious example and totally white on both sides (Photo).
Estimate $1,000-1,100.
 
Lot 310        1875-S Twenty Cents. EF-45. Cleaned and now retoning (Photo).
Estimate $115-125.
 
Lot 311        1876 Twenty Cents. PCGS graded MS-66. Unimprovable quality for the date. Nice original toning on both sides, with a tender mix of soft lilac and sky-blue colors. Strong underlying cartwheel luster. Superb strike and near flawless surfaces. The best example we have ever seen of the date. Housed on an old-style, green-label PCGS holder, hinting at the possibility of an upgrade!

By 1876, Mint officials were well aware of the drastic mistake they had made by introducing this unusual denomination. The public confused the coin with the Quarter (much as they would confuse the Quarter with the Susan B. Anthony Dollar a century later), creating economic loss and negative publicity. Thus, the mintage for 1876 consisted of only 14,640 pieces from the Philadelphia Mint (plus 1,260 Proofs) and 10,000 coins from the Carson City Mint (nearly all of which were destroyed). Of this tiny mintage, this is one of the very best survivors (Photo).
Estimate $6,500-8,500.
 
Lot 312        1876 Twenty Cents. PCGS graded Proof 62 PQ. Lovely golden toning adds greatly to its eye appeal. A popular type coin in an old green PCGS holder (Photo).
Estimate $1,000-1,200.
 
Lot 313        1878 Twenty Cents. Proof 60 Plus. Lightly toned around the edges. Only 600 pieces struck, all proofs (Photo).
Estimate $1,200-1,400.