By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
The Twenty Cent piece took its final bow with this 1878 Proof-only issue. Six hundred coins were reportedly struck – a slight increase over the Proof-only 1877 Twenty Cent piece.
The 1878 Twenty Cent coin was included in the Silver Proof Sets issued struck between January 29 and March 18. After May 2, Congress eliminated the denomination.
Twenty Cent pieces were not struck for the 200 Silver Proof Sets delivered for sale on May 17.
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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
The combined certified population of the 1878 Liberty Seated Twenty Cent piece at NGC and PCGS exceeds the reported mintage. Red Book Senior Editor Jeff Garrett posits that its possible that the reported mintage of 600 might be too low. Given the rate of resubmissions and crossovers it is not possible to ascertain with any precision what these numbers might indicate about the size of the total mintage.
Top Population: PCGS PR-67+ (1, 2/2024). NGC PF-677 CAM (2, 2/2024). CAC PR-67CAM (1:0 stickered:graded, 2/2024).
- NGC PF-67* #2706273-003: Stack’s Bowers, March 30, 2017, Lot 3039 – $22,325. Black and white obverse with toned reverse.
- NGC PF-67 #406467-011: Heritage Auctions, November 4, 2004, Lot 6466 – $24,150.
- PCGS PR-67CAM: 1994 Collection; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 13, 2017, Lot 39 – $55,812.50. PQ rainbow toning on obverse and reverse. Blue fields with splash of purple and orange over Liberty’s body.
- PCGS PR-66+ CAC #34577952: Legend Rare Coin Auctions, November 15, 2018, Lot 131 – $17,625. Aquamarine and purple toning on the obverse. Gold and green toning on the reverse. PQ.
- NGC PF-66 #564154-013: “The Kling Family Collection”, Heritage Auctions, January 6, 2016, Lot 3200 – $10,575; Heritage Auctions, December 15, 2022, Lot 3432 – $9,000. Rainbow toning. Red, purple and blue on obverse. Predominately blue reverse.
- PCGS PF-66UCAM #6329272-005: Heritage Auctions, October 6, 2022, Lot 3029 – $15,600.
- PCGS PR-66 #33461466: Heritage Auctions, April 28, 2016, Lot 4604 – $12,925. Dark red, orange, and red toning.
- NGC PF-66 #3811959-005: Heritage Auctions, April 22, 2015, Lot 4059 – $7,637.50. Blue and green toning on the obverse blue and pink toning on the reverse.
- PCGS PR-66CAM CAC #09865842: Heritage Auctions, August 10, 2016, Lot 4022 – $28,200. Orange, Red, and blue toning on the obverse and reverse.
- NGC PF-66 #1898746-004: Pinnacle Rarities to Eugene Gardner, December 2005; Heritage Auctions, June 23, 2014, Lot 30344 – $10,575. Dark rainbow toning, fingerprint on obverse left field.
- NGC PF-66 #1945233-005: Heritage Auctions, August 3, 2012, Lot 5106 – $8,851.28. FERRARI COLLECTION on insert. Dark aqua and green toning. Certification number no longer active.
- PCGS PR-66DCAM: “The Rajj Collection”, Stack’s Bowers, August 13, 2011, Lot 7300 – $23,000.
- NGC PF-66CAM #3171167-002: Heritage Auctions, October 22, 2009, Lot 472 – $10,925. Black and white.
- NGC PF-66CAM #597883-003: Heritage Auctions, December 23, 2003, Lot 11391 – $10,637.50.
- PCGS PR-66 #50049026: Heritage Auctions, November 8, 2003, Lot 6164 – $11,730. Darkly toned.
- NGC PF-66 #274451-041: “The Philip Kaufman Collection”, Heritage Auctions, February 27, 2003, Lot 6604 – $8,337.50. P. KAUFMAN on insert. Certification number no longer active.
- NGC PF-66 #283999-001: Heritage Auctions, November 22, 2002, Lot 7006 – $8,050.
- NGC PF-66 #119335-002: Heritage Auctions, March 2, 2000, Lot 189 – $7,245. Darkly toned. Certification number no longer active.
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Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year Of Issue: | 1878 |
| Denomination: | Twenty Cents (USD) |
| Mint Mark: | None (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage: | 600 |
| Alloy: | .900 silver, .100 copper |
| Weight: | 5.00 g |
| Diameter: | 22.00 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| OBV Designer | William Barber |
| REV Designer | William Barber |
| Quality: | Proof |
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