The 1886 double eagle is one of the "magic dates" in the classic U.S. gold coin series. Only the Philadelphia Mint struck coins of this denomination that year, but its output was limited to just 106 Proofs and 1,000 circulation strikes. Survivors from both mintages are of nearly equal rarity in today's market, with a slight edge in availability going to circulation strikes thanks to the repatriation of a few examples from foreign bank hoards in recent decades. In the historic numismatic market, circulation strikes of this date were hardly ever seen, and most collections of earlier generations either featured a Proof or lacked an 1886 double eagle altogether. Proof estimates are less with just 25 to 30 Proofs believed extant, per John W. Dannreuther (2018).