| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 65 |
| 60 or Better | 65 |
| 65 or Better | 12 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-8.3 |
| 60 or Better | R-8.3 |
| 65 or Better | R-9.5 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 4 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 4 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 4 TIE |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 4 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 4 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 4 TIE |
|
#1 PCGS PR67CAM
Heritage Auctions, May 9, 2024, Lot 4437 - $84,000. Glassy obverse fields show shades of green, blue, amber, and lavender around frosted motifs. The reverse features deep-violet and peach-gold toning. |
#1 PCGS PR67CAM
The 1994 Collection; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 13, 2017, Lot 39 – $55,812.50. Deeply mirrored surfaces with vivid rainbow toning. The obverse showcases blue fields with purple and orange splashes over Liberty; the reverse is dominated by golden-yellow hues punctuated by red and blue. |
#3 PCGS PR66CAM
As "Brilliant Proof." "The Frank H. Chase Collection," Stack's, December 1958, Lot 263; Stack's Bowers, November 15, 2011, Lot 5112 - $31,625. Golden-yellow centers are framed by a ring of intense red and blue toning along the peripheries of both sides. |
| #3 PCGS PR66CAM |
#3 PCGS PR66CAM
"The Austin Simmons Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Golden-apricot toning. Darker toning spot to the right of Star 7. |
#3 PCGS PR66CAM
Champagne-peach centers are accented by a crescent of muted russet, olive, and orange along the left obverse border. The reverse exhibits light olive spotting and streaking. |
#3 PCGS PR66CAM
Faint champagne toning. Diagonal mark to the right of Stars 11 and 12. |
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.
* * *