Just 20 examples were struck of the Proof 1878 quarter eagle, and some of these have disappeared with perhaps just a dozen or so examples currently known to today's collecting community. Of the known specimens, two are permanently housed in museum collections, one each in the American Numismatic Society and the National Coin Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Needless to say, those two specimens are essentially forever removed from bidding competition. Of the other 10 or so Proof examples of the date known, some show signs of mishandling or other impairments. Nearly since the day of issue, the 1878 quarter eagle in Proof format has been admired as a prime rarity, and only the most aggressive bidders over the ensuing 125 years have ever been able to acquire one for their collections.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Pevehouse/Davis Collections, where it sold for $14,950.