$4 Gold Stella (1879 – 1880)

$4 Gold Stella (1879 - 1880)

$4 Gold Stella (1879 – 1880)

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About This Coin:
The Stella was a pattern coin produced to explore the possibility of joining the Latin Monetary Union (LMU); these patterns were produced in 1879 and 1880 at the urging of John A. Kasson, a former chairman of the United States House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. The Stella was meant to contain a quantity of precious metal similar to that of the standard LMU gold piece, the twenty-franc Napoleon minted in France, Switzerland, and other LMU countries. However, the composition and weight of the Stella was not a precise match to the LMU standard: the total weight was 7 grams (rather than 6.45 grams), the gold content was 6 grams of fine gold (rather than 5.81 grams), and the coins were only .857 fine (rather than .900).It was originally minted as a universal coin exchangeable with any currency around the world. Two varieties of the Stella were made: flowing hair, designed by Charles E. Barber, and coiled hair, designed by George T. Morgan. The flowing hair variety is the most commonly seen variety.The coin and the prospect of joining the Latin Monetary Union were rejected by Congress, but not before several hundred restrikes of the Barber flowing hair design had been produced and sold to Congressmen at the cost of production. These later became a source of scandal when it was noted that a number of them ended up as jewelry pieces adorning the necks of madams operating some of Washington’s most infamous bordellos.

Coin Attributes
Face Denomination: $4 U.S.
Gross Weight: 7 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Actual Gold Content: 0.2065 oz.
Composition: 91.76% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Designer: Charles E. Barber
Years Minted: 1879-1880
U.S. Mint Branches: N.A