 1888 Gem Brilliant Proof. The '188' shows clear signs of doubling to the left and just beneath the date, with the undertype of the first digit being both the sharpest and most distant from its primary numeral. Cameo devices float in glass-like mirrored fields. The obverse displays a shade of medium golden toning that is accented by lavender and royal-blue iridescence at the upper and right periphery. The reverse is toned a similar shade of peripheral gold with hints of iridescence at the rims. Breen lists a Proof mintage for this issue of 800 pieces, whereas other sources give a mintage figure of 832 (possibly including some coins intended as assay pieces). This variety is unlisted in VAM, and is listed as extremely rare by Breen.
Breen indicates that there are two known Proof die pairs of this date; one being the die pair offered here, and the other being a far more common pairing that displays a normal date.
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