DCHP-1 Online

twenty-cent piece Hist.

• a silver coin (valued at twenty cents) of which 750,000 only were minted in the Canadas, the series being discontinued in 1858.

  • Similar coins were issued in Newfoundland (1865-1912) and in New Brunswick (1862 and 1864).

  • 1865  The first witness [said] he had a 20c. piece in his hands, and he told me he could find a way to make such money.
  • 1916  The 20-cent piece is easily confused with the silver quarter of both Canada and the United States.
  • 1964  When the decimal system was adopted a twenty-cent piece was struck, as it was considered a convenient unit and a decimal of one hundred (the dollar). It was also equivalent to the shilling in Halifax currency. However, before any more were required, it was decided to follow the United States practice and use a twenty-five cent piece instead.