1875-S 20C MS(PCGS#5298)

December 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1058

等级

MS66

价格

23,595

详细说明

1875-S Twenty-Cent Piece. BF-9. Rarity-2. MS-66 (NGC). An impressive high grade example from this eagerly sought odd denomination series. Satin to softly frosted luster enhances the brilliant surfaces. The strike is sharp to full overall and the coin presents solid Gem Mint State quality overall. The twenty-cent piece features the Liberty Seated design, after Gobrecht, but by Chief Engraver William Barber. On the shield the word LIBERTY is raised, quite unlike the regular Liberty Seated coinage (but similar to that used on early Gobrecht silver dollars). The reverse illustrates an eagle holding three arrows and an olive branch, copied from the design used on Barber's trade dollar of 1873. Inscriptions are around the border. The twenty-cent pieces were produced under the Act of March 3, 1875, sponsored by John P. Jones, Nevada senator, who felt that this denomination would be useful in commerce in the West. At the time, no silver coins of any kind were to be seen in circulation in the East or Midwest (explaining why mintage was concentrated on the West Coast once it began). With enthusiasm production began at the San Francisco Mint and, as noted, over a million were struck. Almost immediately such pieces were confused with quarter dollars. They became unpopular and the denomination was discontinued. At 1,155,000 pieces produced, the 1875-S has the highest mintage in the twenty-cent series. It is by far the most available issue of this denomination in today's market, and is the quintessential type candidate. Perhaps interestingly for a denomination that proved such a failure in commerce, most 1875-S twenty-cent pieces are worn, often to a considerable extent. Even so, Mint State survivors are usually available in quantity in major auctions and at other large numismatic gatherings. However, in the finer Gem and Superb Gem grades, it becomes scarce to rare. A significant bidding opportunity for the discerning type collector or twenty-cent piece specialist. The Larry H. Miller specimen was struck from an early state of the BF-9 dies with no cracks evident on the reverse. Provenance: From the Larry H. Miller Collection. PCGS# 5298. NGC ID: 23R7. Click here for certification details from NGC.