10337

1879 $4 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1832,

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:150,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1879 $4 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1832,
<B>1879<$4> $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1832, 1833, R.3, 6, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS.</B></I> This is a dazzling, wonderfully preserved Gem representative of Charles Barber's interesting design for the Four Dollar gold piece. Barber, of course, is credited with designing regular issues such as the Liberty Nickel and the Barber Dime, Quarter, and Half Dollar series. His name is also associated with the famous "Washlady" patterns and several commemorative issues.<BR> Both sides of this high quality specimen have a touch of milky patina over watery fields that still manage to stand out in bold contrast to the heavily frosted features. Characteristic roller marks are noted over the central devices on both sides, but the strike is sharp and all design elements are crisply detailed. A tiny planchet flake just above the tip of the right "arm" of the star should help to attribute this piece in the future.<BR> The 1879 Flowing Hair is the only generally available Stella, with production estimates that vary from about 425 to slightly over 700 pieces. The history of the Four Dollar gold piece, or "Stella," is rooted in the late 19th century desire to produce U.S. coinage that would be acceptable on the international market. The dual denomination $5-25 francs pattern coinage of 1868 (Judd-656 through 659) is one of the earliest expressions of this desire. It was followed by Dana Bickford's 1874 pattern Eagle (Judd-1373 through 1378) and, in 1879-1880, the Stellas. The Flowing Hair motif was struck in two alloys in 1879. Twenty five coins (Pollock-1832) were produced in the metric alloy of 85.71% gold, 4.29% silver, and 10.0% copper. The Mint delivered these pieces to Congress as part of three-piece pattern sets. Increased demand for representations of the new denomination resulted in the production of a further 400-600 coins (Pollock-1833) in the standard alloy of 90.0% gold and 10.0% copper. Population: 7 in 65 Deep Cameo, 3 finer (6/05).