Opening Bid :
Current Bid:
Reserve Amount:

Notice: You are the current high bidder on this lot, but the next highest bid is within one increment. That means that any additional bids on this lot will outbid you. To increase your chances of winning, enter your highest maximum bid.

You are the current high bidder on this lot with a secret maximum bid of %s.

You are the current high bidder on this lot.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Your secret maximum bid of %s has been outbid.

Your secret maximum bid of %s does not meet the reserve.

You have been outbid on this lot.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Your secret maximum bid does not meet the reserve.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Category: All Auction Archive Items > Proof Four Dollar Gold Pieces Switch to Old Search Feature

Previous Lot | Auction Home | Next Lot      Jump to Lot:
Lot: 2038
Auction: 1117   		1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, R.3, PR64 Cameo PCGS....
  • Track this lot. You are tracking this item ... updating ... (stop tracking)
  • Add to MyWantlist
 
 
 

BP - Buyer's Premium

A "Buyer's Premium" is charged in addition to the successful bid according to the rate defined in our terms and conditions.

Opening Bid

The opening bid is the minimum amount required to begin bidding, and is generally a percentage of the low estimate.

Bid Information

For your convenience, the bid information on this page automatically refreshes with the most up to date data so you don't have to refresh/reload this page.

Minimum Bid

Bid increments determine the lowest amount you may bid on a particular lot. Normally, bids must be at least one bidding increment over the current bid. However, podium, fax, phone and mail bidders submit bids at various times without knowing the current bid and must be on-increment or at a half increment (called a cut bid). Any podium, fax, phone, or mail bids that do not conform to a full or half increment will be rounded up or down to the nearest full or half increment. However, for Internet bids, these increments only apply to the current bid. Internet bids greater than one increment over the current bid can be any whole dollar amount. It is possible under several circumstances for winning bids to be between increments, sometimes only $1 above the previous increment.

Number of Bidders

This number represents the number of individual bidders prior to the close of Internet bidding on each lot. An individual who bids more than once is still counted only once. During the live session, only the winning bidder is included in this number, although detailed records are kept of all forms of bids.

Status

Reserve (If Any) Not Posted Yet:
Although many lots will not get reserves, this signifies that we have not yet posted any reserves to this entire auction. Reserves are usually posted approximately 3 days prior to the closing for Internet-only auctions, and approximately 7 days prior to the live session for Signature auctions.
Consignor Has Not Yet Submitted a Reserve:
Although the consignor's agreement allows a reserve on this lot, the deadline for submitting such a reserve has elapsed. If consignor submits a reserve post-deadline and the item fails to meet that reserve, we may charge the consignor a higher reserve fee.
No Reserve:
This lot is being sold without a reserve. (Note: By law, consignors may still bid under certain conditions, but they are responsible for paying the full Buyer's Premium and Seller's Commission if they do.)
Reserve Not Met:
A reserve has been posted on this lot, but no bids have met the reserve. The current bid has been set to the reserve amount, and the next bid will meet the reserve.
Reserve Met:
Reserves have been posted for this auction, and there is a reserve on this lot that has already been met.

What's This?

Our Auction Results Archives are not only the best resource for market research, but now you have the opportunity to acquire very rare items that may not be auctioned again for some time by making an anonymous offer that will make the owner sell. Items labeled "Buy Now" indicate that the owner has set a price that would make them sell.

Please note that the winner of this Heritage auction lot may or may not still own this item and may or may not be willing to sell. This service is free to the buyer, protects the identity of both parties, and allows offers and counter-offers. You will receive a response within 72 hours.


View Larger Image

Sold for: Not Sold

Not Sold

This indicates an item that did not sell at auction because it did not receive bids equal to or greater than the reserve (minimum bid) amount set by the consignor, or the opening bid.
Ended: Oct 23, 2008
  Printable Version of Prices Realized for this Auction
 
Buyer's Premium: 15% of the successful bid (minimum $9.00 per lot)
Description
Memorable 1879 Flowing Hair Stella, PR64 Cameo
Judd-1635, Pollock-1833


1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, R.3, PR64 Cameo PCGS. The late 1870s was an interesting time in the history of America's coinage, especially with regard to experimental issues. Dr. Wheeler H. Hubbell, a citizen and inventor, pitched his patented precious metal alloy to congress. Dubbed "goloid metric alloy," Hubbell's concoction was a mixture of 5.46% gold and 84.54% silver--equal in value, but in different quantities--alloyed with 10% copper. He subsequently proposed another similar alloy by the same name. This mixture of gold and silver is referred to as a sym-metallic alloy and was first suggested by Senator Hunt in 1851.
The intended purpose of the goloid metric alloy was to allow for a weight reduction of the U.S. silver dollar from 412.5 grains to 385.8 grains, while maintaining the same intrinsic value (Pollock, 1994). That was one of two motives for the new metal mixture. Don Taxay opined in 1976 that "sym-metallism was believed by its adherents to be the only way to settle the age-long rivalry between the two metals, one or the other of which was constantly disappearing from circulation." Both were valid justifications for the proposed use of the alloy in our nation's circulating coinage, yet in the end Congress rejected the idea due to the fact that the goloid pieces had an identical appearance to the standard silver coinage of the time, and the opportunity for deception was too great.
Concurrently, another new coinage idea was being considered by Congress. John A. Kasson, the U.S. envoy and minister to Austria, proposed a plan to ease the burden of conducting business between America and five prominent European nations: Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and The Netherlands. His idea was to become known as the stella, or four dollar gold piece. The proposed coin was to be congruent to the popular issues of the aforementioned countries, but fluctuating exchange rates rendered the plan infeasible. Nonetheless, patterns designed by Charles Barber were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in late 1879 and early 1880 for distribution to members of Congress and others with ties to the Federal Government. Researchers maintain different opinions regarding the total number of Flowing Hair four dollar patterns struck in gold (Judd-1635), but it would appear that the mintage of this variant was between 600 and 700 examples. The ninth edition of United States Pattern Coins by J. Hewitt Judd (2005) indicates a certified population of 482 coins. Since that time NGC and PCGS have certified a combined total of 518 specimens (9/08), some of which are undoubtedly crossover submissions or resubmissions of the same coin. Considering the number of known examples that are grossly impaired and therefore not included in the population data, the high figure of 700 pieces seems more reasonable than the traditionally accepted total of 425 patterns released by the Mint.
Many of the Flowing Hair stellas were distributed in sets with two other pattern coins--an 1879 goloid dollar (Judd-1617) and an 1879 goloid metric dollar (Judd-1626)--both struck on planchets composed of Hubbell's proposed alloys. The USPatterns.com website elucidates the three-coin sets:

"Charles Barber created 2 dollar and 1 Stella designs as part of this testing. 15 sets were made for the Congressional Committee on Coinage presumably using the goloid alloys. These were apparently popular with congressman and another 400 sets were ordered which are believed to be of 'standard' silver and gold. These sets were available to the congressmen at $6.10. Unsold sets were later offered to the collecting world for $15."

Contemporary accounts place the value of the sets higher than the $15 suggested by USPatterns.com. Our research brings to light a small entry in the July 1880 edition of Mason's Numismatic Visitor: "Stella and Goloid Patterns. These nondescript coins, or pattern pieces are now held at forty dollars, for the set of three." We find no record of how the three-pattern sets were packaged, assuming that they were in the first place. Perhaps the sets were systematically broken apart by the non-numismatist recipients over the ensuing years, with many being cleaned "to make them nice and shiny" along the way.
Fortunately, the current offering has remained in proper custodianship over the past 128 years and is essentially as minted. This orange-gold stella also appears to be a relatively early strike based on the existence of mirrored fields which contrast nicely with the frosty devices on both sides. Planchet striations--common to nearly every extant Judd-1635--are observed on Liberty's portrait and a small abrasion is noted above the star adjacent to the tip of her headband, thus serving as a pedigree marker for the sake of posterity. A memorable Flowing Hair stella, without deliberation, and one of the highlights of this sale.(Registry values: P1) (#88057)

Auction Name: 2008 October Dallas, TX Signature US Coin Auction #1117
Description: Heritage Numismatic Auctions offers U.S. and World coins, medals, and tokens in our Signature Auctions & Final Session Sales, held in conjunction with some of the largest numismatic conventions. These sales feature award-winning cataloging and photography. Call or e-mail one of our Consignment Directors to learn about selling through Heritage.
Auction Type: Signature: !! Heritage Live: After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)

This lot is in:  Signature Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live) (lots 1-3154)
Internet bidding ends at 10:00PM CT the night before the floor session for this lot. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.

Item Activity: 10 Internet/mail bidders, 785 page views



Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions
Lot Date Grade Service Realized
Auction 1127, Lot 1414 Sunday, July 12, 2009 64 PCGS $155,250.00
Auction 1114, Lot 1932 Sunday, August 3, 2008 64 PCGS $195,500.00
Auction 1121, Lot 4030 Sunday, January 11, 2009 64 NGC $149,500.00
Auction 428, Lot 2689 Thursday, October 26, 2006 64 NGC $178,250.00
View prices realized from this item in other grades (you must be signed in)
PLEASE NOTE: All prices realized reflect the final hammer price PLUS the buyer's premium in auctions that charge a buyer's premium. Each item has a notation at the top of the listing indicating whether that lot included a buyer's premium. Example: A item that sells with a final hammer price of $100 and a 15% buyer's premium will display with a price realized of $115. All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. Please use this guide carefully and inform us of any inaccuracies.

Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Price Guide
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Population Guide
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Find Auction Prices for Comparable Items
Heritage Auction Archives

Prices realized from past auction lots.
Great valuation tool!

Photographs

Sign-in or Join (free & quick) to see the full image

Previous Lot | Auction Home | Next Lot      Jump to Lot:
Go to Top


Add Item to MyWantList™
Description Grading Service Low Grade High Grade  

Please Wait

Loading.......

Heritage delivers Value - $694,500,693 sold at auction and in private treaty sales over the past 12 months.

Our 265,587 Coin bidder-members and 480,027 Heritage bidder-members overall (from 164 countries) enjoy all these free benefits:

  1. Bid on-line
  2. Free Collector newsletter
  3. Want List with instant e-mail notifications
  4. Auction Archives (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
  5. Hall of Fame
  6. Reduced auction
    commissions when
    you resell your
    winnings 

Members Sign In

Free Newsletter and Announcements!

Quality Consignments Wanted

Consign to the 2010 June Long Beach, CA Signature World Coin Auction.

We expect to have one of our Consignment Directors visiting your area soon. Please call to arrange an appointment.

E-mail Jim Jelinski or call
1-800-872-6467 x1257

Video Video: Why Consign?

View traffic of HA.com vs. other auctions on Compete.com

In The News

sss
Cross Promotion

Don't miss out!
Get e-mail notifications in all of your areas of interest.