1878 Half Eagle Patterns

About This Coin

The 1878 Half Eagle Patterns is a United States Gold Half Eagle from the Metric & Stella Patterns (1874-1879) series. The obverse features experimental designs including the famous Stella ($4 gold piece) featuring Liberty with flowing hair or coiled hair, while the reverse displays a five-pointed star containing the denomination FOUR DOL.. Designed by Charles E. Barber (Flowing Hair) / George T. Morgan (Coiled Hair). The Metric and Stella Patterns (1874-1879) explored creating coins compatible with the international metric gold standard. The $4 Stella was designed to be worth exactly 10 French francs, facilitating international trade. Both Flowing Hair (Barber) and Coiled Hair (Morgan) versions were created. The 1879-1880 Stella patterns are among the most famous and valuable U.S. patterns. The Coiled Hair versions are extremely rare. These coins represent America's closest brush with adopting metric-based coinage.