The November 2012 Baltimore Auction - US and World Lots - Live and Internet Only Sessions

Pre-Bidding Ends: 11/15/2012 2:00:00 PM PST
Live Floor and Internet Bidding Begins: 11/15/2012 3:00:00 PM PST

Lot #3256. 1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella. Flowing Hair. Judd-1635, Pollock-1833. Rarity-3. Gold. Reeded Edge. Proof-62 (PCGS).

Pleasing 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella

Description: Rich and reflective with frosty devices and mirrored fields which exhibit a delicate blush of coppery-gold. The strike is sharp and all the devices are crisp, including a thin wire rim around portions of the obverse and reverse. Examination finds trivial signs of casual handling in the delicate mirror fields, but no heavy lines or scrapes are present. It seems that the original coinage for this variety amounted to 15 pieces from 1879-dated dies. It was desired to distribute examples to congressmen to familiarize them with this proposal for international coinage, and several hundred more were struck in 1880, followed by additional pieces for the numismatic trade. Today several hundred examples exist overall, most of which show some evidence of handling. 
Charles E. Barber designed the obverse and reverse dies following a request from Representative John Adam Kasson who thought that a gold coin based on the metric system and of the $4 value might facilitate international commerce. The weight of the new gold coin is boldly spelled out in abbreviated form on the obverse as "*6*G*.3*S*.7*C*7*G*R*A*M*S*" stating that this coin contains 6 grams of gold alloyed with .3 grams of silver and .7 grams of copper for a total of 7 grams. The reverse states on the central star feature "ONE / STELLA / 400 / CENTS" and FOUR DOL. at the base to further clarify its value. Such a denomination certainly did not fit well into the American coinage system and the idea of international use never materialized. However, Stellas became popular numismatically, and today they are in strong demand. 

Numismatic Reflections by Q. David Bowers
Over the years I and the company have had hundreds of offering of $4 Stellas, many of which represent coins sold at auction by us, cherished in collections, and then consigned to us when the collections are sold. They are always a delight to handle. When this coin crosses the block bids will surely come in from all directions.

PCGS# 8057.


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