1898 Barber Quarter (25c)

1898 was a special year for proof coinage. Though only 735 proof sets were minted, for whatever reasons the folks in Philadelphia just did a spectacular job with their work. Many of the surviving coins show the deepest cameos and best contrast of any year prior to the modern era of proofs.

This 1898 Barber Quarter is no exception. It is simply, to use no other words, magnificent. Graded Proof 68 DCAM CAC, it's but a few mm-sized ticks away from absolute perfection. Its surfaces display stunning deep cameo contrast, with frosty devices sharply standing out against black mirrored fields. A hint of toning on the reverse tells a story of its collection life, likely having lived face-up in a storage tray that imparted just the slightest hint of color to the reverse. This is a testament to originality, quality, and perfection in coinage. A wonderful addition to any high-end collection.