Newfoundland 1880 20 cents
The first specimen was lot 71226 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2020), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[1] noted, "CANADA. Newfoundland. 20 Cents, 1880. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS AU-50 Gold Shield. One of the more elusive dates in the series, this wholesome minor features gunmetal gray surfaces that have been gently handled and with an alluring burnished tone near the peripheries." This type was struck fairly steadily for Newfoundland 1865-1901, which preferred twenty cent pieces to the quarters used in Canada proper. It is rather low priced in circulated condition but rare in high grade. The smallness and poverty of the colony kept mintages low. This date is priced about double the common date (1872-H or 1899).
Recorded mintage: 20,000, a better date.
Specification: 4.71 g, 0.925 fine silver, .140 troy oz ASW, 23.2 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM-4.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Cross, W. K., The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 62nd Ed., Toronto: Charlton International, 2008.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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