Certified Cameo Percentage: 15%
Certified Deep Cameo Percentage: 0.4%

Given the low-mintage status of the year's circulation strike issue, the 1885 is one of the more eagerly sought Proofs of this type, especially among date collectors assembling high grade Liberty nickel sets. As a result of this demand, while nearly all Proof Liberty nickels are worth roughly the same amount, the 1885 (and 1886) are the only two to carry any significant price premium. Interestingly however, these two dates are among the highest-population certified Proof Liberty nickels illustrating that values are a function of both supply and demand, never just one.

The two most frequently encountered grades are PR-64 and 65, but PR-66’s and even 67’s should not present undue difficulty. Only PR-68’s will prove challenging. Cameos for this date can be found on approximately 11-12% of the certified pieces, but Deep/Ultra Cameos are scarce.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the March 2016 Baltimore Auction, where it realized $2,820.