Stella

Posted by Stephen Halkovic on May 31, 2012

Coin	Weight (g)	Composition	Gold Melt Value	Full Melt Value
Stella (1879-1880 )	7	Gold 86%, Copper 10%, Silver 4%

1879 $4 Stella flowing hair

The Stella four dollar gold coin is named after the large star on its reverse. There were about fifty trial pieces in all struck in 1879 and 1880. These Specimen strikes are of two Types. The “Flowing Hair” designed by Charles E. Barber, and the “Coiled Hair” designed by George T. Morgan. About fifteen of the “Flowing Hair” type and ten of the “Coiled Hair” type were struck each year. Restrikes of these were offered to members of Congress at the Mint’s cost of $6.50 each. The exact number of restrikes is not known. Most specialists believe around four hundred were made but some believe that as many as six hundred restrikes of the 1879 Flowing Hair type were minted. There are more Stella known, of both types and years, than the official numbers indicate. Some experts have concluded that a small number of restrikes might have been made of both types and years, because of similar touch-ups found on the coins known to be restricks. There are also Pattern strikes of both designs struck on copper and aluminum planchets.

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Stela Close to Spot Price

The Stella was designed in anticipation of the United States entry into Europe’s “Latin Monetary Union” (LMU) which had been discussed in Paris during 1867. Twelve of the twenty countries represented in Paris began minting coinage of the same size containing the same amount of gold. France, Switzerland, and Belgium each made 20 Francs gold coins. Denmark and Austria both minted 8 Florin coins. Greece made the 20 Drachmai. Romania struck the 20 Lei. Bulgaria minted the 20 Leva. Italy had their 20 Lira. Finland started producing 20 Markkaa. Spain decided on their 20 Pesetas. Then Russia created the 5 Rouble as the last of the twelve. All of these 12 gold coins are 21 millimeters in diameter and have a gold content of 0.1867 troy ounces.

1879 $4 Stella coiled hair obverse

Some other countries formed trade agreements and issued their own coins containing 0.2593 troy ounces of gold. Great Britain and Germany decided not to join the LMU. Ultimately all of these agreements dissolved with the onset of the Great War.

The United States minister to Austria, Honorable John A. Kasson, suggested that it may be advantageous for the US to join the LMU. Kasson had also been a chairman on the United States House Comillimetersittee on Coinage, Weight, and Measures. Kasson proposed a metric coin be made for foreign trade. The $3 gold coin was too light, and the half eagle was too heavy to serve as a LMU compatible coin. The four dollar gold Stella won over the political conflicts between silver and gold interests.

The Stella weighs 7.00 grams and is made with 6 grams (85.71%) of Gold (0.1929 troy ounces), 0.30 grams (4.29%) of silver, and 0.70 grams (10.00%) of copper. A Stella is 22 millimeters in diameter and 1.52 millimeters thick with a reeded edge.

1879 Stella flowing hair obverse

Barber and Morgan both followed the same general obverse design. Liberty’s head is in the center of the coin. She is wearing a coronet with “LIBERTY” on it. The difference is that Barber’s Liberty has Flowing Hair and Morgan’s Liberty has braided Coiled Hair. The date is directly underneath her neck line along the rim. The rest of the coin is encircled with: “*6*G*.3*S*.7*C*7*G*R*A*M*S*” along the rim.

1879 Stella reverse

The reverse has a large star in the center. The name “stella” is the Latin word for “star”. Stacked inside the star is: “ONE”, “STELLA”, “100”, “CENTS”. Above the star’s exterior in smaller letters arches “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Each word is separated by the star’s upper points. Then continuing underneath the star and separated by a dash and the lower points is “DEO EST GLORIA” in the same small letters. This is Latin for “To God is the Glory”. Along the base of the coin at the rim in larger letters is “FOUR DOL.”. Then continuing along the rim of the rest of the coin is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.

Congress eventually rejected the proposal that the United States join the LMU. A note on the lighter side of this coin’s place in history has to do with a scandal surrounding this coin. The members of Congress that had bought the restrikes of these coins found themselves in hot water when a number of ladies known for working in brothels started wearing the restrikes as necklaces.

Encyclopedia of U.S Gold Coins 1795 - 1933 2nd Ed.
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