1857 Proof

The 1857 proof gold dollar was struck in an estimated mintage of 50 to 80 coins. Proof gold production at the Philadelphia Mint followed a consistent process: specially prepared planchets were struck from polished dies using multiple impressions at reduced speed, producing mirrored fields and sharply defined devices. The 1857 proof shows the Type 3 design in pristine condition, with every element of Longacre's work rendered at its best.

Proof gold dollars from the late 1850s are scarce. Surviving examples typically show some degree of toning or handling, as storage and display methods in the nineteenth century were less sophisticated than modern numismatic practice. Fully brilliant proofs with original surfaces command the highest premiums, followed by coins with attractive natural toning.