Ron Guth:
The mintage of the Proof 1880 Half Dollars was the largest of the denomination from its inception in 1794 to 1936. However, "large" is a relative term, as the mintage of the 1880 Half Dollars was a mere 1,355 Proofs. They are made even more popular thanks to the small mintage of only 8,400 circulation strikes. As such, the Proof 1880 Half Dollars are an affordable alternative to the more rare Mint State examples. Approximately one-fourth of all Proof 1880 Half Dollars show Cameo contrast but, as in previous years, Deep Cameos are extremely rare.