1860 marked the third year of commercial proof set offerings by the Philadelphia Mint, and that year saw 1,000 Seated Liberty half dollars produced. Demand fell short of the prediction, however, partially due to the swelling political and economic uncertainty of the time in the months prior to the onset of the Civil War. Most of the 1,000 proofs likely went unsold and were melted, as Walter Breen estimated only 525 examples were actually distributed. Bright fully-cameo surfaces beam with electric blue, violet, and sienna tones and radiate outstanding mint luster. No DCAM examples are known, making this exceptional piece one of the top five coins in existence. - Liberty Seated Half Dollar
