While most issues of proof gold are rare in the absolute sense, and may have mintages and survival rates that are comparable to the 1877, this is one issue that has received a measure of acclaim that is in line with its rarity. This is no doubt due to the extreme rarity of many of the business strikes from various denominations of this year, including the mintage for the quarter eagle which is only 1,652 pieces (including proofs). Only 20 proofs were originally struck with perhaps only 13-14 pieces believed extant today, many of which are unfortunately impaired in some way.