1888 50C, CAM PR64CAM Certification #21808214, PCGS #86449

Ron Guth

Collector demand for Proof Half Dollars appears to have increased in 1888, though the mintage of 832 coins still falls short of the decade's record of 1,355 Proofs (of the1880 Half Dollars).  A simultaneous doubling of the output of 1888 circulation strikes relieved some of the demand from future collectors because it is now slightly easier to locate a nice example.  The most frequently-seen grades are PR63 and PR64.  Most Proof 1888 Half Dollars are non-Cameos.  Approximately one-fifth show some Cameo contrast and only a small handful are Deep Cameos