J-1392 Proof Cameo Specimen

In 1875, U.S. Mint officials experimented with many designs for the new twenty-cent piece introduced that year. William Barber’s “Sailor Head” pattern piece received high marks for its aesthetic appeal. The coin’s nickname came from the collar around Ms. Liberty’s neck, which in some people’s minds, gave the appearance of a sailor’s uniform. Still other people thought Ms. Liberty resembled a young Queen Victoria from England. The reverse of the coin received many accolades for its symbolic heraldic shield, with the denomination 20 boldly displayed at its center.

For some reason, the mint department rejected this design and chose the more familiar Liberty Seated motif, with an eagle on the reverse that resembled the one on the Trade dollar.

The piece offered here is in a word, stunning. Its elegant turquoise, mauve and amber toning encircling the peripheries, enhances the raised central devices. The cameo effect is unmistakable. Raised die polish lines jet out in different diagonal directions on both sides. Scattered spots of beige toning speckle the surfaces. The fields are practically free from any detracting marks. This coin casts a hypnotic spell on everyone who views it.

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