1859 $5, CAM (Proof)

Approximately a dozen Proof 1859 Half Eagles are known, suggesting that the reported mintage of 80 examples is far to high (it might be approrpiate for silver coins, but certainly not for the gold). Most of the known survivors are Cameo or Deep Cameo; it may be that no non-Cameos exist. Three of the known exmples are locked up in institutional collections, including those of the Smithsonian, the American Numismatic Society, and the Royal Mint (London) Collection. The record price for this issue was set in 2015 with the sale of the Eliasberg-Trompeter for $164,500.