One of the more eagerly sought Proofs in the later Liberty Head quarter eagle series, the 1885 is associated by date with a low mintage circulation strike issue (just 800 pieces produced). With high grade examples of the latter issue very elusive and rarely offered in today's market, extant Proofs are under tremendous pressure from collectors. Not that the Proofs are common - far from it. With many examples melted as unsold and others lost over the years, John W. Dannreuther (2018) accounts for only 35 to 40 Proofs surviving in all grades.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Winter 2022 Showcase Auction, where it sold for $66,000.