1875-S 20C PR60 Details, Artificial Toning, NCS. Little ...

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Branch Mint Proof 1875-S Twenty Cent Piece, NCS Certified

1875-S 20C PR60 Details, Artificial Toning, NCS. Little solid information is known about why and when this branch mint proof was struck, and what (if any) occasion could have prompted its manufacture, other than as a commemoration of the first year of production for the new denomination. Breen estimates 12 pieces were coined in the San Francisco mint, and states that these pieces exhibit pronounced proof characteristics. Unfortunately, the dies used to strike these coins were later used for regular business strikes, as a number of normal production pieces have been examined and found to bear the same diagnostics as the branch mint proofs.
The discovery coin was made by Walter Breen at the 1964 ANA. That discovery specimen was later sold by Pine Tree Auctions in September 1973 and brought an impressive $5,800. The diagnostics were first published in an article by Roy Rauch in The Gobrecht Journal in 1974. The diagnostics he listed are: three horizontal scratches in the bars of the shield and a small triangular die chip very near the staff just below the hand. On the reverse, there is a small scratch from the bottom leaf above the T in CENTS to the S in CENTS, and there is pronounced separation from overzealous die polishing on the bottom serif of the S in CENTS. All these diagnostics are present on this coin except the three horizontal scratches.
The fields have a definite proof reflectivity, far beyond what one would expect from a prooflike business strike. Also, the rims are wide and even around both sides. The striking details are not absolutely complete, but not all branch mint proofs show the same strength of strike as their Philadelphia counterparts. It may well be that branch mint personnel were not familiar with the requirements for proof production as were employees in Philadelphia--they may well have been more concerned with producing a "pretty coin" for some occasion, than adhering to the rigorous requirements of proof coinage in the mother mint.
Deep blue-gray toning covers the obverse, while the reverse displays a rich golden-brown patination. The obverse coloration is especially questionable. A few small contact marks and slide marks are seen over the surfaces, but there are none that are large enough to be used as reliable pedigree identifiers. This branch mint proof is seldom offered at public auction encapsulated by a major certification service, and as such this presents a rare opportunity for specialists.(#5307) (Registry values: N1)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 27H2, PCGS# 5307, Greysheet# 5055)

Weight: 5.00 grams

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper