PCGS PR66+
PCGS PR66+
- PCGS #:
- 5306
- Designer:
- William Barber
- Edge:
- Plain
- Diameter:
- 22.00 millimeters
- Weight:
- 5.00 grams
- Mintage:
- 600
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $24,725 • PR65 CAC • 03-31-2011 • Stack's Bowers
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 500 |
| 60 or Better | 475 |
| 65 or Better | 55 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-6.0 |
| 60 or Better | R-6.0 |
| 65 or Better | R-8.4 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 2 / 4 |
| 60 or Better | 2 / 4 |
| 65 or Better | 4 / 4 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 2 / 4 |
| 60 or Better | 2 / 4 |
| 65 or Better | 4 / 4 |
Condition Census What Is This?
#1 PCGS PR67+
The Dime Box Collection; "The Black Cat Twenty Cents Proof (1875-1878) Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). |
#2 PCGS PR66+
Legend Rare Coin Auctions, November 15, 2018, Lot 131 – $17,625; Stack's Bowers, September 4, 2025, Lot 3040 - $15,600. The obverse displays a blend of aquamarine, mint yellow-green, purple, and salmon. On the reverse, orange-gold toning frames the borders and fields, encircling an aquamarine center. |
|
#2 PCGS PR66+
"The burke Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Iridescent toning in rose, green, and yellow. |
#2 PCGS PR66+
|
| #2 PCGS PR66+ |
|
#6 PCGS PR66
Heritage Auctions, April 28, 2016, Lot 4604 – $12,925. Violet-toned peripheries with gold and russet centers. |
|
#6 PCGS PR66
Heritage Auctions, November 8, 2003, Lot 6164 – $11,730. |
#6 PCGS PR66
Obverse displays shades of aqua, turquoise, rose, and yellow toning. Reverse is predominantly green. Olive toning spot under the first T in STATES. |
| #6 PCGS PR66 |
| #6 PCGS PR66 |
| #6 PCGS PR66 |
| #6 PCGS PR66 |
| #6 PCGS PR66 |
| #6 PCGS PR66 |
| #6 PCGS PR66 |
The U.S. Mint ended production of Twenty-Cent pieces for circulation in 1876, but continued to manufacture Proof coins for collectors through 1878, after which the denomination was discontinued forever. For some reason, the Proof mintage in 1878 jumped up slightly from the previous year, perhaps due to the introduction of the Morgan Dollar.
While the PCGS Condition Census for the 1878 Twenty-Cent piece includes PR66 and PR67 coins, the typical grade range for this date is PR63 to PR64. Cameo examples are scarce and Deep Cameo examples are rare. The finest examples certified by PCGS include a single PCGS PR67 and a single PR67 Cameo.
1878 Twenty-Cent Piece Proof
The Twenty-Cent Piece made its final appearance with this 1878 Proof-only issue. Six hundred coins were reportedly struck, a slight increase over the Proof-only 1877 issue (#5305).
The 1878 Twenty-Cent Proof was included in Silver Proof Sets struck between January 29 and March 18; however, Congress eliminated the denomination after May 2. Consequently, Twenty-Cent Pieces were not included in the 200 Silver Proof Sets delivered for sale on May 17.
The combined certified population of the 1878 Liberty Seated Twenty-Cent Piece Proof (#5306) across all services exceeds the reported mintage, with PCGS alone accounting for nearly the entire total. A review of certification data and auction history reveals that many active certification numbers represent coins that have long since been cracked out and regraded—a trend particularly prevalent at the high end of the market.
Typically found as brilliant or toned Proofs, only about 15% of 1878 Twenty-Cent Pieces exhibit the frosted contrast required for a Cameo designation.
* * *