1878 Proof

1878 is another proof-only year. No circulation strikes were produced, continuing the pattern from 1877. Approximately 2,350 proofs were struck, one of the highest proof mintages in the entire series. The high figure reflected the absence of any circulation alternative for collectors wanting an 1878 three-cent nickel. In February, Congress passed the Bland-Allison Act over President Hayes's veto, requiring the Treasury to purchase between $2 million and $4 million in silver bullion each month and coin it into silver dollars. The act brought the silver dollar back after a five-year absence but did nothing to restore the silver trime that the three-cent nickel had originally been created to replace.

As a proof-only date, the 1878 is a mandatory acquisition for collectors assembling a complete year set. The relatively higher mintage keeps prices more moderate than some other proof-only years, making 1878 one of the more accessible late-series three-cent nickel proofs.