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Sale 21
Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction
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Description |
Realized |
Lot 1119 |
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1879 $4 Gold. Flowing hair. Proof 66 or better. From our sale of Part 1 from the Trompeter Sale where this coin was accurately described as follows:
Gem Brilliant Proof Flowing Hair. Judd 1635. Breen 6408. Splendid pristine Proof, no hairlines! With central striations slanting NS-SE as made (on strip from which these planchets were cut).
Identifiable by beginnings of planchet lamination from star to brow; tiny lintmark atop head below C; tiny "flake" (from foreign matter adhering to die at striking) above S about 10:00; small dark streak below M of UNUM, all these as made, no noticeable defect incurred after striking. Indeed, the entire coin is squarely in the Gem class, and must be seen to be fully appreciated. Its surfaces are almost blinding in their brilliance. Magnificent!
One of the 425 officially made in 1880. One of comparatively few undamaged survivors; several dozen were worn as jewelry by Washington DC madams; more than half of the rest were cleaned, mishandled, kept as pocket pieces, or otherwise impaired. Struck before the dies rusted…….
A classic American rarity that is always in great demand, even more so in this lofty state of preservation. This stunning gem could be well contested among type collectors, dealers and investors - here and abroad.
Estimated Value $165,000 - 185,000.
Ex: Ed Trompeter Sale, February 25, 1992, Lot 133.
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| Unsold |
Lot 1120 |
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1879 $4 Gold. Flowing hair. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo PQ. A classic design by George Morgan, founded in a proposal by Representative John Adam Kasson for an international coinage. Toned in gorgeous, orange-gold colors, with bright, reflective surfaces. Light surface striations typical of the 425+ Proofs struck after the 25 Originals (which supposedly show no striations). Strong cameo contrast, not deep, but certainly close. One of the most popular of all American coins, enough to make Stellas one of the few Patterns included among regular issue coins in most reference books (the GUIDEBOOK, a notable example). PCGS reports 9 at this level, with 6 higher in Cameo.
The Stellas are "international" not in their conformity to other world gold coins, but in the fact that they state their weight and the relative proportions of gold and silver on their face. Presumably, gold was more appreciated worldwide in 1879 than were U.S. Dollars, thus it was easier to determine the value of 6 grams of pure gold than it was to convert $4 based on some market or government-imposed rate. Regardless of intent, the Stella experiment failed and was abandoned. Ultimately, the Dollar became an international currency all on its own, not due to experiments such as this, but because of the strength and stability of U.S. markets. But, enough of economics, let's get back to this remarkable coin! (PCGS # 8057) .
Estimated Value $80,000 - 90,000.
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| Realized
$103,500 |
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