The proof 1879 Liberty Quarter Eagle has an original mintage of just 30 coins. As with all proof Liberty gold coinage from the 1870s, attrition was high, due primarily to the destruction of unsold examples in the Mint. Writing in the 2008 edition of the fabulous book Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins: 1795-1933, in fact, Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth estimate that only 15 or so specimens can be traced in numismatic circles.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the January 2011 Tampa Bay Rarities Auction, where it sold for $40,250.