20 Cents - Victoria Specimen Pattern

Canada's 20-cent denomination was a political miscalculation from the start. The unit was pushed through despite warnings that it would be confused with the American quarter in daily commerce — a concern that proved entirely correct. The denomination was abandoned after just four years of circulation, replaced by the 25-cent piece in 1875 to align with U.S. coinage and ease cross-border trade.

This 1871 specimen pattern predates the circulating issue and was struck at the Royal Mint in London for official approval purposes. The DC-50 and DC-51 references indicate two distinct specimen varieties, differing in die alignment or surface preparation.