1875-S 20C MS67 NGC....

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Radiant Superb Gem 1875-S Twenty Cent

1875-S 20C MS67 NGC. The Specie Redemption Act, passed on Jan. 14, 1875, mandated that as of Jan. 1, 1879, gold coins would be exchangeable at par with paper bills--for the first time since the end of 1861. This ensured that paper currency of one dollar or more would be backed by gold, and that the government would gradually reduce the number of "greenbacks" in circulation. Western silver miners, who had been increasing in wealth, power, and political influence in the 1870s, wanted more. The silver twenty cent piece was introduced in that same year, even though it was confusingly similar in size and design to the quarter (the Susan B. Anthony dollar was still far in the future).
This marvelous Superb Gem type coin, from the generous first-year S-mint production (it is not a coincidence that most examples were made in the West, at both San Francisco and Carson City), is one of only six coins so graded at NGC, with a single piece finer (6/08). Radiant cartwheel luster flows from both sides, and silver-white surfaces are expectedly pristine, even under a loupe. The strike is, however, fairly blunt on some of the highpoints on each side--Liberty's head and stars 6-11 on the obverse, and the mintmark, lower claw, and Y CENTS on the reverse. A patch of horizontal roller marks appears between the eagle's wings and head. The surfaces elsewhere are well struck, unabraded, and problem-free.(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 23R7, PCGS# 5298, GSID# 5040)

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight: 5.00 grams
ASW: 0.14468oz
Mintage: 1,155,000

View Certification Details from NGC