1880 Flowing Hair, Judd-1657, Pollock-1857, R.6, PR66 ...

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Seldom Offered 1880 Flowing Hair Stella Rarity, PR66 Cameo PCGS

1880 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1657, Pollock-1857, R.6, PR66 Cameo PCGS. In 1879, John A. Kasson, the United States' minister to Austria, proposed a Four Dollar gold coin, or Stella, whose metallic content would be stated in the metric system--the standard used in Europe. According to Kasson's proposal, this new coin would approximate, among other denominations, the Spanish 20 Peseta, Dutch 8 Florin, Austrian 8 Florin, Italian 20 Lire, and France's 20 Franc piece. Kasson's proposal was based on the desire to make international travel easier for Americans--a not unheard of idea that resulted in several earlier U.S. patterns. Congress became interested enough in Kasson's suggestion that it ordered the Mint to produce pattern Stellas in anticipation of regular issue coinage. Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber prepared an obverse design that depicted a portrait of Liberty facing left with long, flowing hair. The date appeared at the bottom and the inscription 6 G .3 S .7 C 7 G R A M S around the central portrait. With stars in between each character, this inscription advertised the coins' weight as 7 grams and gave the proportionate composition of gold, silver, and copper. The reverse depicted ONE STELLA 400 CENTS superimposed atop a five pointed star with the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, DEO EST GLORIA (God is glorious), and FOUR DOL. in the surrounding field. Using these dies, the Philadelphia Mint struck approximately 15 examples in the specified alloy in December 1879. Early the following year, a further 400 or so pieces followed, also dated 1879.
An unknown, although undoubtedly limited number of 1880-dated Flowing Hair Stellas were also produced, of which perhaps 18-25 examples (per Breen, 1988) are extant. Much rarer than their 1879-dated counterparts, the 1880 Flowing Hair is always seen with rollermarks (as struck, and due to improper die spacing) over the central highpoints. The present examples displays these features on the obverse and, to a lesser extent, on the reverse. With the exception of the hair curls over Liberty's ear, the devices are sharply defined, and the orange-gold surfaces sparkle with reflective fields at virtually all angles. A little light, mottled, hazy iridescence is noted, and a planchet void (as struck) in the obverse field at the base of the first 7 around the periphery should help establish the pedigree of this important specimen. We last offered a Gem quality 1880 Flowing Hair Stella as lot 5837 in our February 1995 Long Beach Signature Sale. The present example is finer from the standpoint of technical quality, and we anticipate significant bidder interest both before and during the auction.
All 1880 Flowing Hair Stellas display repunching on the date that is most readily evident within the lower loop of the second 8 and inside the 0. Breen suggests that the underdigits may be vestiges of a 79 from an 1879-dated obverse, but we are unable to confirm or overturn this theory by examining this particular piece.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 28AZ, PCGS# 8057, Greysheet# 8779)

Weight: 7.00 grams

Metal: 86% Gold, 4% Silver, 10% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS