Business-strike issues of the twenty-cent pieces were only produced for two years, 1875 and 1876. The denomination continued for two years after business strike production halted, through 1878, with Proof-only issues struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

The U.S. Mint used Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty Seated design for the obverse on twenty-cent pieces, although there are pattern examples known. The reverse of this denomination features a standing eagle, similar in design to the one used on the U.S. Trade dollar. The eagle lacks the scrollwork found on examples of Liberty Seated quarters, half dollars, and dollars.

The most famous and the rarest twenty-cent piece is the one issued at the Carson City Mint in 1876.