1880 Pattern Four-Dollar Stella. Coiled Hair. Judd-1661, Pollock-1861. Rarity-6. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-64 RB (PCGS). CAC.
Obv: The Coiled Hair design by George T. Morgan. Head of Liberty facing left, her hair braided and coiled at the back of her head. Liberty is wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. The inscription * 6 * G * .3 * S * .7 * C * 7 * G * R * A * M * S * encircles the border, the date 1880 below. Rev: Five-pointed star, or Stella, is inscribed with the denominations ONE STELLA and 400 CENTS. The Latin mottoes E PLURIBUS UNUM and DEO EST GLORIA are above and below the star, respectively. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is inscribed along the upper border, and another expression of the denomination FOUR DOL. is inscribed along the lower border. A refreshingly original specimen with no signs of handling and only faint carbon flecks scattered about. More direct angles call forth shimmering reflectivity in the fields that further enhance already memorable eye appeal. Although the four-dollar gold denomination was never accepted for regular issue production, the Mint prepared two different proposed designs, a flowing hair motif by Charles E. Barber and a coiled hair design by George T. Morgan. Both of these designs were used to strike specimens dated 1879 and 1880. The 1879 Flowing Hair in gold (Judd-1635) is by far the most frequently encountered in today's market, the Mint eventually striking upward of 700 coins in standard gold alloy (90% gold, 10% copper) to meet demand from Congressional leaders and other government officials seeking examples of this type. The other three gold types -- 1879 Coiled Hair, 1880 Flowing Hair and 1880 Coiled Hair -- are much, much rarer with only 12 to 18 pieces known for each of those types. Equally rare is this copper striking of George T. Morgan's 1880 Coiled Hair Stella. Only about 12 specimens of this type (attributed as Judd-1661) are known to exist, many of which have been gilt to simulate the gold strikings of the 1880 Coiled Hair Stella (Judd-1660). The present example has not been gilt and retains its original copper composition as struck. It is a rare and highly significant coin, made even more so by the fact that it is one of only two copper 1880 Coiled Hair Stellas certified by PCGS.
PCGS# 72046.
PCGS Population (non-gilt): just 2 in all grades and categories. CAC Population: 1 in all grades and categories.
Ex Stack's, via private treaty; Heritage's sale of the Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection, Part II, January 2009 FUN Signature Auction, lot 1939; Heritage's sale of the Bay State Collection, Part II, August 2009 Los Angeles Signature Auction, lot 1386; our Baltimore Auction of March 2011, lot 6060.