1875-1878 Liberty Seated
NAME: TWENTY-CENT PIECE 1875-1878 Liberty SeatedDESIGNED BY: William Barber (obverse after Christian Gobrecht)
ISSUE DATE: 1875-1878
COMPOSITION: 0.900 part silver, 0.100 part copper
DIAMETER: 22 mm
WEIGHT: 5 grams, 77.16 grains
EDGE: Plain
BUS MINT: 1,349,840
PROOF MINT: 5,000
The limited mintage suggested the Treasury was not sure about the acceptance of the Twenty-Cent Piece as a coin of modern commerce. As it turned out, the hunch was right. It was soon learned that the public confused the pieces with quarter dollars of approximately the same diameter.
The obverse design features Christian Gobrecht's motif of Miss Liberty seated, stars surrounding, and the date below. The reverse is a new motif by William Barber and depicts a perched eagle, somewhat similar in configuration to that used on the trade dollar, surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination expressed as TWENTY CENTS. The edge is plain, unlike other silver denominations of the era.
Specimens are readily available in grades from Very Good to Extremely Fine. AU pieces are scarce, and Uncirculated coins are quite elusive. Truly superb Uncirculated pieces are rare. The striking is apt to be erratic, and often pieces will show lightness of impression, particularly on the eagle on the reverse and on the Liberty Seated figure and stars on the obverse. Many Philadelphia Mint business strike coins in higher grades exhibit prooflike surfaces. Proofs are available of the four Philadelphia issues 1875 through 1878.
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