The Double Dime - 20 Cent Pattern Type Set

The short lived 20 Cent pieces authorized by the Act of March 3, 1875, may have been given a fighting chance for survival if one of the attractive patterns were adopted. While there were several dimensions to its demise, one significant factor was the 1875 20 Cent piece design and size were very close to the quarter dollar in circulation and the population complaint immediately as it was easily confused during trade with the quarter dollar piece.

In this Pattern collection, I am attempting to collect a sample of each of the 9 die combinations, independent of the metals, for the 1874 & 1875 20 Cent patterns.

The1874 patterns (the year prior to the actual 20 Cent pieces were put into circulation) a motif used was attributed to J.A. Baily’s design prepared in 1873 for a trade dollar. Two reverse designs were combine with this obverse.

Immediately after congress authorized the 20 Cent piece several trial pieces dated 1875 were submitted for consideration but were not selected by the director. He defaulted back to the Seated Liberty Design as it match the other denominations in production.


The Liberty Head design by William Barber was one Pattern submitted and it was highly praised at the time and for the Numismatist call this design the “Sailor Head” (J1392-J1395). Barber used this design on several other patterns of the year and beyond..


Another interesting obverse was the “Seated Liberty by the Seashore” with Miss Liberty sitting on a globe. Q. David Bowers pointed out an abnormally with the design as the Steamboat with Sails (not uncommon in the time period) is seen from the seashore having the smoke from the stack being blown back in one direction while the sail are being blown in the opposite direction.


Another interesting design feature for several patterns was the reverse with the dual notation to express the denomination. “1/5 OF A DOLLAR” within an open wreath and “TWENTY CENTS” below the wreath. This may have been an attempt to address the problem of mistaken identify with the Quarter Dollar but it would be of interest as to what percent of the population would understand how to calculate 1/5 of a dollar since it was not a common ratio in our currency. Maybe the repeat of the “TWENTY CENTS “ was for the avoidance of doubt as to the worth of the coin? This reverse was pair with 2 different obverses and my set holds a J-1407 example.