Two Bits, Four Bits—Wait a Minute, 20 Cents?
Few collectors realize that the U.S Mint struck 20 Cent Pieces during the 19th century. First proposed by Thomas Jefferson as part of his decimal model for U.S. currency, the 20 Cent Piece wasn’t adopted until the massive amounts of silver pouring out of the Comstock Lode in Nevada made it feasible. Alas, like the Susan B. Anthony Dollar 100 years later, it was too close to the size of a quarter for the public to accept it. Only struck from 1875-78, fewer than 1.4 million were minted. Nearly all have long since disappeared. Coins are in Fine condition are struck in .900 Silver.