1896 50C, DCAM PR68DCAM Certification #06612878, PCGS #96543

Ron Guth

Proof 1896 Half Dollars fit nicely into the series in terms of relative rarity, availabilty, and quality -- all of which are good.  What is different about this date, however, is the extreme rarity of Deep Cameo examples.  It was as if the Mint forgot how to make Deep Cameos just in this one year.  Brilliant Proofs and Cameo Proofs can be found with ease, but if you're working on a set of Deep Cameos, this date is a real stopper.