1879 Metric Dollar

HBCC#:

6152

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

1617

Pollock#:

1813

1879 was the year of the metric patterns, including the goloid dollars and stellas, or four-dollar gold coins. The concept of goloid alloy coinage had been introduced the previous year, with experiments continued this year. Obverse dies generally carried a head of Liberty wearing a coronet, while the reverse included the specific weight and fineness. These patterns were minted both in goloid composition as specified on the reverse, and also in standard 90% silver. These two alloys are virtually indistinguishable, except by means of elemental analysis.

Provenance:

Purchased from Stack's on June 26, 1970.

Obverse:

Head of Liberty to left, coronet in hair reads LIBERTY, 13 stars around, date below, E PLURIBUS UNUM above, closely resembling the obverse of the Half Union.

Reverse:

Beaded circle at center contains 895.8 S. / 4.2 – G. / 100 – C. / 25 GRAMS, large wreath of corn and cotton around, cartouche above contains motto DEO EST GLORIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above, ONE DOLLAR below.

Commentary: