Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 39

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Twenty Cent Pieces

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1337		1875-CC Twenty Cents. NGC graded MS-64. Mostly white and well struck for this "CC" mint coin. A sought-after high quality coin for the Type, this 1875-CC example puts on show of almost action-packed luster whose smooth satiny velour is untoned, with sharp detail including the eagle. A munificent strike, to say the least, as well as freedom from the usual small problems typical for this Carson City issue where insufficient die pressure occurs all too often. And that is why this is a coin to jump at before it's sale is history. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,888
Lot 1338		1875-S Twenty Cents. NGC graded MS-66. Blast white gem. Brilliant, blast-white surfaces allow full appreciation of frosty mint bloom. The strike is razor-sharp over virtually all elements of the design, with further evidence of a high grade in an absence of abrasions that would call into question the validity of the high-end Gem 66 designation. A silky-smooth representative of this curious, short-lived denomination. Given that the denomination was intended to make life easier for those in the western United States, it should come as no surprise to read that the 1875-S boasts the highest mintage in the Twenty-cent series. Indeed, this is the "Type coin" for the series, with examples eagerly sought in both circulated and Mint State grades. All the same, the '75-S is a genuinely scarce coin in an absolute sense whose original mintage of 1.1 million pieces is fairly limited when compared to, say, the number of dimes and half dollars minted in San Francisco the same year. A mere five issues constitute the business strike pieces in the series. All are scarce, the lower-mintage 1875, 1875-CC and 1876 especially so and the 1876-CC being a well-known and highly prized rarity. Pop 39; 5 finer; 4 in 67; 1 in 68 Star. (PCGS # 5298) . Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $9,430
Lot 1339		1875-S Twenty Cents. NGC graded MS-65. A moderately toned frosty mint gem. The 1875-S is the most often seen issue in this series, but Gems have always been in demand for high grade type sets. Both sides of this handsome example are toned in warm russet-gray hues. A few sprays of deeper patina are also noted on the rims. The strike is above-board itself, sharp for the most part, for this is often a poorly impressed type. Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,025
Lot 1340		1876 Twenty Cents. NGC graded Proof 68. The coin is encased in NGC holder 1727945-047. Spectacular blending of violet and turquoise on both sides. Only 1,260 proofs minted. This coin is tied for finest-known honors for the issue, and it is easily one of the most breathtakingly beautiful Proof Twenty-cent pieces of any issue you will ever bid to own. Both sides are richly endowed in tone with layers of olive-charcoal, lavender-charcoal and pinkish-apricot colors. Pinpoint striking definition has touched all elements of the design, as one should expect for the Proof production methods, some of the finest ever achieved. The level of surface preservation is truly top-notch as we are unable to locate even a single grade-limiting compromise to the 68 quality. Uniformly brilliant in mint finish, and eagerly anticipating inclusion in the finest collection or rare coin portfolio of rare U.S. coins. The Philadelphia Mint delivered 1,260 proof Twenty-cent pieces in 1876 -- the second-highest delivery in this short-lived specimen series. The low-mintage, elusive nature of the business strike '76-P explains why this Proof enjoys such strong demand among both date and type buyers. It is one of several unusual denominations produced by the United States during the 19th century. It is also one of the shortest-lived series in numismatics. Although the government had tinkered with the idea of issuing a coin of this denomination as early as 1791, the proposal that actually brought forth a Twenty-cent piece did not originate until 1874. Senator John Percival Jones (R.-Nev) introduced a bill for coinage of this denomination. In it, his proposal may have been borne out of the realization that the lack of small change in the Western United States resulted in citizens being short-changed whenever they purchased a ten-cent item using a quarter dollar or "two bits" as it was nicknamed. Minor coins (cents and nickels) would not be produced in any mint other than Philadelphia until the early 20th century, and the half dime was rapidly disappearing from circulation after its abolition through the Mint Act of February 12, 1873. While Jones' proposal may have been altruistic, we suspect an underlying motive may have been to provide another reason for the federal government to purchase silver from western mine owners. (Jones' home state of Nevada was the site of the rich Comstock Lode and, even today, the state is known by the nickname of "The Silver State.") Regardless of why Jones' proposed the Twenty-cent piece, the denomination proved an utter failure in commercial channels. Much like the Susan B. Anthony Dollar of today, the Twenty-cent piece in its day was similar in size to the quarter. It was easily confused with that coin in circulation. To aggravate the matter, it bore a design that was very similar to its contemporary, the seated quarter. The denomination was produced for circulation in only two years, and a further two years of Proof-only deliveries sufficed before the denomination passed into history. Pop 3; none finer at NGC. (PCGS # 5304) . Estimated Value $40,000 - 50,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1341		1877 Twenty Cents. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. Gold, violet and electric blue create an exquisite field of toning for the near-superb underlying luster and mirror-fresh surface. The rarest issue in the Proof Twenty-cent series, the 1877 was produced in fewer numbers than the 1875, 1876 and 1878. A mere 350 pieces emerged from the presses in the Philadelphia Mint, and survivors are eagerly sought among advanced Type collectors. The short-lived Twenty-cent piece was struck in Proof format for only four years from 1875 to 1878. Two of these year (1877 and 1878) are Proof-only, while all four have long been popular with collectors seeking a high-grade representative of this curious denomination. Pop 9; 1 finer in 67. (PCGS # 5305) . Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1342		1877 Twenty Cents. PCGS graded Proof 63 Cameo. Mostly white. Untoned gleaming mirror luster around nice satin devices. Well struck in all areas, a choice example of an elusive year. Only 350 proofs struck for this Proof only issue. Pop 12; 20 finer. Pop 12; 20 finer; 13 in 64; 5 in 65; 2 in 66. (PCGS # 85305) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,888
Lot 1343		1878 Twenty Cents. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Light gold toning near the edges. Blue and gold reverse toning at the edges. Meticulous strike on every device, including Liberty and shield, eagle feathers and all legends. The stars come to needle-sharp points as well. The agreeable example offered here not only shatters the normally seen striking woes, but its sparkling surfaces border on Proof 65 quality in many ways. In fact, only scattered light hairlines preclude that grade. Last of the twenty-centers. A Proof-only issue. Only 600 struck in Proof. Pop 13; 3 in 65 CAM, 2 in 66; 1 in 67. (PCGS # 85306) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,750
Lot 1344		1878 Twenty Cents. PCGS graded Proof 64. Lovely blue and gold toning. An exciting example of a relatively scarce Proof-only date, this well-toned coin displaying sharp mirror-smooth luster. Extra crisp detail on all relief portions which show some of the typical light frost associated with Proofs this year. A visually outstanding coin that would grace any numismatic holding. Only 600 Proofs struck for this Proof-only issue. Pop 94; 41 finer; 27 in 65; 14 in 66. (PCGS # 5306) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,060