1908 50C, CAM PR65CAM Certification #21436850, PCGS #86555

Ron Guth

Sales of Proof Half Dollars declined again in 1908 to a new low of 545 pieces.  In fact, there hadn't been a mintage that low since 1877.  Thus, collectors of today will have a little bit more of a challenge to find an example of this date than some of the contemporary years, but fortunately, there is not much of a premium attached to this date.  However, the quality of this date is somewhat spotty, with most certified examples appearing in PR62 to PR63.  Once again, Cameo examples are very rare and Deep Cameo examples are nonexistent.  This may have been what killed collector enthsiasm for this date -- people remembered and longed-for the glorious, black-and-white, Deep Cameo Proofs of the early years and disdained those with a Brilliant finish (though that is pure sepculation).