1880 Coiled Hair Stella

HBCC#:

6159

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

1662

Pollock#:

1862

Of all four-dollar gold Stellas, this 1880 Coiled Hair version is clearly the rarest. Just eight or nine examples survive in gold, along with a similar number of copper patterns, and just four or five of these in aluminum. This example carries the same pedigree as the other aluminum stellas in the Bass Collection, being acquired from the Garrett Collection auction of 1976. This outstanding Proof is one of the finest known among examples of this variety coined in aluminum.

Provenance:

From Stack's sale of a portion of the John Work Garrett Collection, March 1976, Lot 668d.

Obverse:

Head of Liberty to left with coiled hair, wearing coronet inscribed LIBERTY, legends around read *6*G*.3*S*.7*C*7*G*R*A*M*S* with date below.

Reverse:

A five-pointed star at center inscribed ONE / STELLA / 400 / CENTS, two circular legends around, closest contains motto DEO EST GLORIA below and E PLURIBUS UNUM above, outer legend reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and FOUR DOL. below.

Commentary: