The number of Proof 1859 quarter eagles is not known. This particular piece has the old reverse, but we note that Proofs are listed in the Guide Book as the new reverse. Probably few numismatists would want one of each—somehow the reverse designations have not caught on strongly for this era in quarter eagle history. No matter, the figure of 80 may have represented the number struck, but it definitely did not represent the quantity distributed, as today only a tiny fraction of that number can be accounted for. Most likely, no more than a couple dozen or so were sold, if indeed that many.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Kennywood Collection, where it sold for $75,900.