1885 Liberty Head Half Eagle. JD-1, the only known dies. Rarity-6-. Proof-58 (PCGS). CAC. An exciting offering for the advanced gold collector, this is the first Proof 1885 half eagle that we have brought to auction in nearly a decade. It is lightly marked overall explaining the assigned grade, and probably represents an unsold specimen that was released into commerce by the Mint. Earlier generations of collectors are also known to have "spent" unwanted Proof Liberty Head gold, another possibility for this specimen. In any event it retains ample reflectivity in the fields which support satiny, fully impressed design elements. Pretty golden-orange color adds eye appeal. From a Proof mintage for the issue of 66 pieces, just 22 to 26 of which are believed extant in all grades (per John W. Dannreuther, <em>United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold</em>, 2018). From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.
