POPULAR CENTENNIAL YEAR PROOF 1876 HALF EAGLE IN PCGS/CAC PR64CAM

In anticipation of Centennial-related numismatic gifts, the mint increased their production of Proofs. This included the 1876 half eagle for which 45 were made. This doesn’t seem like that many until you realize that the two years before and after 1876, the mintages for all Proof half eagles stood at just 20. I believe that around half of these 1876 Proofs exist today.

This issue was better-handled than some of the earlier Proofs from this decade and as a result, it is less rare in Gem than are the 1872 and the 1873 Proofs offered for sale as part of this marvelous collection. The Stout Collection example has the appearance of a Gem, and close inspection shows just a few light lines in the fields.

Stack’s Bowers sold a non-CAC NGC PR64 for $55,200 as 2024 ANA: 3362. That coin—along with this one—represent the sole appearances of high-quality Proof 1876 half eagles during this decade.

PCGS has graded two in PR64 CAM with one finer. There are an additional three in PR64DCAM, and a single coin grading PR64+ DCAM.

This is likely the nicest Proof of this date you are likely to encounter.

CAC has approved just five Proofs in total. Three are designated as CAM with two in 64 and one in 65. The single highest graded is an example in CACG PR65DCAM.

Ex Stout Collection via DWN and earlier Heritage 2020 ANA: 4012, where I purchased it directly for $44,400; also sold as Goldberg 1/2014: 1795 at $38,775.

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