Numismatic

1875-S Twenty Cent Piece BU

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In 1875, the San Francisco Mint produced a distinctive denomination that remains one of the most unusual chapters in United States coinage: the twenty-cent piece. Struck in 90 percent silver with a precious metal content of 0.1447 troy ounces, this specific coin survived the decades in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, preserving the sharp details of its original engraving. The obverse displays a classic depiction of Lady Liberty seated upon a rock, grasping a support pole topped with a liberty cap in one hand while her other hand rests on a shield inscribed with the word LIBERTY. This design, created by William Barber as an adaptation of an earlier motif by Christian Gobrecht, is paired with a reverse that showcases a powerful eagle clutching both a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. The reverse also bears the San Francisco Mint's "S" mint mark, representing a total mintage of 1,155,000 pieces for this issue.