1875-S 20C VF20 PCGS #5298

Charles Morgan

The 1875-S Twenty-Cent Piece

In the first week of June 1875, the San Francisco Mint commenced production of the new Twenty-Cent Piece. By the end of that year, the mint’s output of this short-lived denomination had dwarfed its total quarter production. In fact, excluding Proofs, the 1875-S alone accounts for approximately 85% of the total mintage for the entire series.

A Western Experiment

The Twenty-Cent Piece was originally conceived as a solution for Western states, where minor coinage was scarce because it was only struck at the Philadelphia Mint. However, the denomination failed to gain traction with the public, who often confused it with the quarter. The impact was immediate:

• 1876: The San Francisco Mint ceased production of the denomination.
• 1877: The series was relegated to Proof-only status.
• 1878: The denomination was officially abolished by the Bland-Allison Act.

Die Varieties and Rarity

For the specialist, the 1875-S Liberty Seated Twenty-Cent (#5298) piece offers a rich field of study. Beyond its high mintage, the diversity of its production dies makes it a favorite for variety collectors. Research by Lane Brunner and John Frost has identified 23 distinct die marriages for the 1875-S.  Among these, the BF-3 and BF-8 marriages are particularly prized as two of the most challenging varieties for specialists to secure. 

Cherrypickers' Guide Varieties

Two significant varieties for this issue are recognized in the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties: 

• FS-301 (Misplaced Date, #395943): Features digits from the date punching visible in the denticles or shield.
• FS-302 (Misplaced Date, Repunched Mintmark, #145009): A doubled mintmark features strong rotational spread.

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