Twenty Cent Piece — History, Key Dates & the 1876-CC Rarity
1875–1878 • America's Shortest-Lived Silver Denomination • The Legendary 1876-CC
Twenty Cent Piece Value Guide
All Four Years — Key Dates and Typical Values
| Date / Mint | Mintage | Good (G-4) | VF-20 | AU-50+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875-S (most common) | 1,155,000 | $145 | $250 | $500+ |
| 1875-CC | 133,290 | $250 | $600 | $1,500+ |
| 1875 (Philadelphia) | 38,500 | $300 | $800 | $2,500+ |
| 1876 (Philadelphia) | 14,640 | $500+ | $1,500+ | $4,000+ |
| 1876-CC — The Great Rarity | 10,000 (nearly all melted) | $300,000+ — fewer than 20 known | ||
| 1877 & 1878 (Proof only) | 510–600 | $8,000 – $25,000+ | ||
Why the Twenty Cent Piece Failed
The Twenty Cent Piece is one of the shortest-lived and least successful denominations in American numismatic history — struck for circulation for just two years (1875 and 1876) before Congress effectively killed it. It was introduced to fill a genuine practical gap: in the Western United States, where Spanish and Mexican coinage still circulated widely, there was no convenient coin to make change from a 25-cent piece when only a 10-cent piece was offered in payment. A twenty-cent coin seemed like a reasonable solution to a real commercial problem.
The fatal flaw was almost immediately obvious: the Twenty Cent Piece was nearly identical in size, weight, and design to the Seated Liberty Quarter already in circulation — both featured the same seated Liberty obverse motif at nearly the same diameter (22mm versus the quarter's 24.3mm). The public confused the two constantly, and merchants and banks quickly grew frustrated with sorting them apart. Congress discontinued the denomination for circulation after just two years, and the Coinage Act of 1878 formally abolished it altogether — making it, alongside the half dime, one of the few U.S. coin denominations to be officially retired rather than simply falling out of use.
Design and Specifications
William Barber — Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint and father of the more famous Charles E. Barber — designed the Twenty Cent Piece, adapting the same Seated Liberty obverse used across the era's silver coinage, paired with a modest eagle reverse bearing no motto or arrows. Each coin was struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 5.0 grams with a diameter of 22.0mm. The single most important identifying feature — and the one most likely to help you tell a Twenty Cent Piece apart from a similarly worn quarter — is the edge: the Twenty Cent Piece has a smooth, plain edge, while the Seated Liberty Quarter it was so easily confused with has a reeded edge.
The coin was struck at three facilities during its short run: Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Carson City. San Francisco produced by far the largest share, striking over a million pieces in 1875 alone in anticipation of strong demand that never materialized. Carson City's contribution, though modest in total volume, produced the single most famous coin in the entire series.
The 1876-CC — One of America's Great Rarities
By 1876, the Twenty Cent Piece was already effectively obsolete — the public rejection had been swift and decisive. The Carson City Mint nonetheless struck 10,000 pieces dated 1876, but by the time they were produced, there was no meaningful demand for them at all. On May 19, 1877, Mint Director Henry R. Linderman directed Carson City Superintendent James Crawford to "melt all 20-cent pieces you have on hand" — and virtually the entire 1876-CC mintage went to the melting pot as a result.
A small number escaped, most likely samples sent east for examination by the 1877 Assay Commission along with a handful distributed locally in Nevada before the melt order arrived. Today, experts estimate that fewer than 20 examples survive across all grades — making the 1876-CC one of the rarest coins in all of United States numismatics, alongside legends like the 1804 Dollar and 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. Given the extreme value and rarity involved, authentication by PCGS or NGC is absolutely mandatory for any purported 1876-CC — counterfeits and fraudulently altered mint marks are a documented and serious concern for this specific date.
Key Dates and Notable Varieties
1876-CC — The Legend
1876 (Philadelphia)
1877 & 1878 — Proof Only
1875-S — The Type Coin
1875-S Branch Mint Proof
1875-S Repunched Mintmark
Shop Twenty Cent Pieces on eBay
Browse the common 1875-S type coin to certified rarities — always look for PCGS or NGC certification on any 1876-CC or proof-only date.
Twenty Cent Piece References on Amazon
Where to Buy Twenty Cent Pieces
These are the marketplaces and resources used by serious Twenty Cent Piece collectors for buying and research.
eBay
eBay — Rarities
JM Bullion
Kitco
Money Metals Exchange
SD Bullion
Silver Gold Bull
FRC Coin Price Guide
Related Coin Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Twenty Cent Piece fail so quickly?
The Twenty Cent Piece was nearly identical in size and design to the existing Seated Liberty Quarter, causing constant public confusion between the two coins in everyday transactions. Merchants and banks grew frustrated sorting them apart, and Congress discontinued circulation strikes after just two years (1875–1876), formally abolishing the denomination entirely with the Coinage Act of 1878. It remains one of the shortest-lived denominations in U.S. Mint history.
How do I tell a Twenty Cent Piece apart from a quarter?
The most reliable method is the edge: the Twenty Cent Piece has a smooth, plain edge, while the Seated Liberty Quarter it resembles has a reeded (ridged) edge. The Twenty Cent Piece is also slightly smaller — 22.0mm in diameter versus the quarter's 24.3mm — and lighter at 5.0 grams versus the quarter's 6.25 grams, though these differences are subtle enough that confusing the two by sight alone was a genuine, common problem for 1870s Americans.
Why is the 1876-CC so valuable?
The Carson City Mint struck 10,000 Twenty Cent Pieces dated 1876, but by the time they were produced the denomination was already effectively obsolete. In 1877, the Mint Director directly ordered the Carson City superintendent to melt all twenty-cent pieces on hand, and virtually the entire mintage was destroyed as a result. Fewer than 20 examples are believed to survive today, making the 1876-CC one of the rarest and most valuable coins in all of American numismatics — comparable in fame to the 1804 Dollar or 1913 Liberty Head Nickel.
What is the difference between the 1875 and 1876 key dates?
Both the 1876 Philadelphia issue (14,640 struck) and the 1876-CC (10,000 struck, nearly all melted) are genuine key dates, but for very different reasons. The 1876-CC is rare because its mintage was almost entirely destroyed after striking. The 1876 Philadelphia issue is rare simply because so few were struck in the first place — the second-lowest mintage circulation strike in the entire series after the 1876-CC itself — reflecting how thoroughly the public had already rejected the denomination by that point.
Should I buy raw or certified Twenty Cent Pieces?
For any Twenty Cent Piece above a few hundred dollars — and absolutely for any 1876-CC or proof-only 1877/1878 issue — PCGS or NGC certification is mandatory, not optional. Given the extreme values involved and the coin's obscurity to casual collectors, counterfeiting and mint mark alteration are documented, serious risks. Certification provides authentication and a standardized grade that protects buyers on what is otherwise a genuinely dangerous area of the market to navigate without expert help.
What is a good entry point for collecting Twenty Cent Pieces?
The 1875-S is by far the most practical entry point — with over a million struck, it's readily available in circulated grades starting around $145, giving collectors a genuine, historically significant type coin at an accessible price. Most collectors of this denomination pursue just one representative example rather than attempting a full date-and-mint set, given how disproportionately expensive and rare the 1876-CC and proof-only later dates are compared to everything else in the series.
With over 400 high-resolution images and detailed explanations, you'll learn to spot rare and valuable coins still found in U.S. circulation today.
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