Catalog
20 Cents - Victoria Specimen Pattern
| Issuer | Province of Canada |
|---|---|
| Year | 1858 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 20 Cents (0.20 CAD) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central denomination 20 CENTS and date 1858 are displayed in three lines within an ornate wreath of maple leaves and branches, a distinctly Canadian motif. A royal crown surmounts the wreath at the top, while a tied bow of maple sprigs forms the lower closure. The design elements are crisply struck with strong relief against a deeply mirrored field, consistent with the specimen nature of this pattern issue. A toothed denticular border frames the entire reverse composition. |
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| Additional information |
The Province of Canada's 1858 coinage represented the first domestically authorized decimal issue for British North America, breaking from the Halifax currency system that had governed the colonies for generations. The 20-cent denomination was a peculiarly Canadian invention — an awkward unit that fit neither British sterling nor American decimal conventions, and it was quietly abandoned when Confederation brought the Dominion's coinage in line with a 25-cent standard in 1870.
This specimen pattern was struck at the Royal Mint in London as a presentation piece during the design approval process. Very few survive outside institutional collections.