LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2007 Jan (FUN) Heritage Signature Coin #422  / 

3484

1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1832, R.3, PR

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:26,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 2.00 USD
1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1832, R.3, PR
<B>1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1832, R.3, PR55 PCGS.</B></I> Although a contemporary failure in its concept, the four dollar gold piece, or stella, has proven to be a hint with generations of gold collectors, being incorporated into the standard issues of United States gold coins decades ago. The 1879 Flowing Hair stella is a curious piece that was proposed by John Kasson as an international coin whose value would be roughly equivalent to that of an Austrian 8 florin.<BR> The flowing hair stellas were originally engraved by Charles Barber in 1879 after a design his father, William, had executed in the previous year. 415 pieces were struck as patterns (Judd-1635) and another 400 or so backdated restrikes were produced in 1880. These were widely distributed around Washington circles to popularize the proposed new denomination, but were soon forgotten when the international gold coin was rejected by Congress.<BR> The specimen offered here appears to have been carried as a pocket piece for a year or two (one has to wonder if perhaps by a Cabinet member or influential Senator), but displays pleasing reddish and steel-blue highlights over partially glassy surfaces. With the recent upsurge in prices for higher grade specimens (two PR64 examples each realized over $160,000 in our November 2006 Sale) so-called mishandled pieces such as this take on an even greater importance for the budget-minded collector.<BR><I>From The Twin Hollows Collection.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coin/Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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