$4 Gold 1879-1880 'Stella' - More Details

The "Stella" or $4 gold piece was created to satisfy two major problems of the day. One was the "rivalry" between gold and silver and the other the search for a an international trade coin. The Mint felt it acomplished their goal by the creation of this coin. It contained both gold and siver and shared the weight requirements for other international trade coins of the time. However the mint did not follow through and created only 450 pieces making the issue the rarest U.S. gold coin created. To own a "Stella" is the pinnacle in a collectors career!

There are two obverse versions, on the Flowing Hair designed by Carles Barber the other the Coiled Hair designed by George T Morgan. The 1879 Flowing Hair is the most common with an approximate mintage of 415, making the other three extremely rare. Most specimens are in proof 63 to 64 with only a handfull grading finer. This is the most sought after and storied coins in U.S. history. Everyone wishes they could own a "Stella", only a few have the resources to.