1880 $4 Coiled Hair Four Dollar, Judd-1661, Pollock-1861, Low R.7, Gilt, PR64+ Cameo PCGS. CAC....

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1880 Coiled Hair Stella in Gilt Copper
Judd-1661, PR64+ Cameo
Rare in Any Metal

1880 $4 Coiled Hair Four Dollar, Judd-1661, Pollock-1861, Low R.7, Gilt, PR64+ Cameo PCGS. CAC. Ex: Simpson. The reverse and the obverse periphery are the same as Flowing Hair stellas as struck in the various metals, but the center obverse features the George T. Morgan Coiled Hair design. Liberty's hair is braided, and a hair band in front reads LIBERTY. The inscription (each character separated by stars) 6 G .3 S .7 C 7 G R A M S runs around the obverse rim. On the reverse a five-pointed star occupies the center, bearing the legend ONE STELLA / 400 CENTS. In an inner circle are E PLURIBUS UNUM and DEO EST GLORIA ("God is glory"), with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and FOUR DOL. around the outer rim. Struck in copper with a reeded edge, then gilt.

What was going on at the Mint in 1880, that the Flowing Hair and Coiled Hair stella versions were executed using two entirely different (and differently positioned) date logotypes, one much smaller than the other? There are also other minute positional differences in the legends encircling the obverse periphery: Note that here the 6 is much closer to star 1 than star 2, while on the 1880 Flowing Hair it is equally spaced. This is a fascinating anomaly with no ready answer. Like so much that occurred with all of the Mint chicanery and hijinks -- especially in the era of Mint Director-coin collector Dr. Henry Richard Linderman, especially in the realm of numismatic baubles and patterns -- there is no documentation now; there likely never was. The Guide Book says bluntly, "The 1880 coins were secretly made by Mint officials for sale to collectors."

As a type and in all metals, the 1880 Coiled Hair stella is by far the rarest of the four dates and designs overall, followed by the 1879 Coiled Hair and then the 1880 Flowing Hair. While perhaps 17 gold examples of the 1880 Flowing Hair are known, the confirmed population of the 1880 gold Coiled Hair is nine pieces, including one in the Smithsonian. About a dozen or so examples of the 1880 Coiled Hair survive of the copper specimens, including the gilt coins. This marvelous stella is another opportunity for advanced collectors to assemble a world-class cabinet of these important and prestigious patterns.

The surfaces here are more greenish-gold on the obverse and orange-gold on the reverse. The obverse is noticeably better contrasted, and on its own might merit a Cameo designation. Deeply mirrored fields display distinctive contrast against thickly frosted devices. The strike, full throughout both sides, accentuates Liberty's upswept hair and the looping coils of the hairbun. A tiny oblong patch of copper color on the reverse, between the T of STELLA and the C of CENT, provides a pedigree marker. This an immensely glamorous and important coin.
Ex: Grand Central Sale (New England Rare Coin Auctions, 11/1981), lot 1905; Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 1/1987), lot 548; Somerset Collection (Bowers and Merena, 5/1992), lot 1474; Donovan and Hudgens Collections (Bowers and Merena, 11/1993), lot 1412; Salisbury and Woods Collections (Bowers and Merena, 9/1994), lot 1020; Benson Collection, Part II (Goldberg Auctions, 2/2002), lot 1933; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5341.
Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part XI.

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 537345, Greysheet# 243904)

View all of [Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part XI ]

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