1858 Blundered I in Victoria Canada 20-cents Fine (F12) $

1858 Blundered I in Victoria Canada 20-cents Fine (F-12)

In 1858, the Province of Canada introduced a 20-cent coin as part of its first official decimal coinage, issued alongside denominations such as 1, 5, 10, and 50 cents. The choice of 20 cents was influenced by the desire to create a convenient intermediate value between the 10-cent and 50-cent coins, reflecting systems already used in parts of Europe and the Caribbean. At the time, Canada was transitioning away from the complicated mix of British sterling and Spanish-American coinage toward a decimal system more compatible with North American trade. However, the 20-cent piece proved unpopular because it was easily confused with the similarly sized 25-cent coin circulating from the United States. As a result, the denomination was quickly abandoned and replaced with the 25-cent coin in 1870, aligning Canada more closely with the widely used American quarter. From 1885 onwards, 20-cent coins were returned to the Royal Mint in London for melting and recoining as 25-cent pieces.

Obverse: Very young laureate head of Victoria facing left, with the legend around.
Reverse: Crowned denomination and date within a wreath of maple leaves.

Specifications:
Monarch: Victoria
Designer and Engraver: Leonard C. Wyon
Composition: 0.925 silver, 0.075 copper
Weight: 4.65 g
Diameter: 23.3 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑↓
Mint: The Royal Mint, London, United Kingdom
Mintage: 730,392