Why A Twenty Cent Piece in 1875?

The United States Twenty Cent Coin, often calledused a 5 cent token. The public tired of this smile,
a twenty cent piece, was a unit of currencyasked Uncle Sam to take the grin out of shopping.
equaling 1/5th of a United States dollar. TheHe did so by minting the twenty cent piece. As it
twenty cent coin had one of the shortestturned out, confusion with the quarter was
mintages and lowest circulations in US coin history,widespread. The public had an enormous dislike for
for both the series and the denomination. It wasthe new coin signaled an early end to the
minted from 1875-1878, but was only releaseddenomination. In a short time nickels became
for circulation in 1875 and 1876, with only a fewplentiful, and the twenty cent piece having served
hundred proofs released during the remaining twoits purpose was discontinued.On any given day
years (1877 and 1878). The twenty cent piecesfind 50 to 100 different 20 cent coins on eBay at
has the distinction of being one of the very fewgreat prices in many different conditions.Glyn
coins minted at the United States Carson CityFarber has published a catalog of all known Hickey
Mint branch in Carson City, Nevada.Why theBrother Cigar Store Tokens and co-authored a
twenty cent Piece? It was not a coin issued forbook about Louisiana Trade Tokens. In addition he
the benefit of coin collectors. But out west in thewrote several articles for The Token and Medal
1870s there was a shortage of nickels and oneSociety (TAMS) and The National Token
cents coins. If you bought a twenty cent articleCollectors Association (NTCA). Glyn has been a
and gave the dealer a quarter he received adevoted collector of Louisiana Trade Tokens,
pleasant smile instead of a nickel in change, theLouisiana collectibles and Lake Charles, LA
dealer retaining the nickel for lack of change orpostcards for almost 40 years.