1880 Proof Four Dollar Pattern - J-1659, Stella Coiled Hair, Gilt

Coin Details

Auction Record

$90,000 • PR64+ • 01-14-2024 • Heritage Auctions

Description

A gilt copper version of Morgan's Coiled Hair Stella for 1880, combining the most artistically acclaimed Stella obverse with a gold-plated surface that approximates the appearance of the gold original (J-1660). The gilding process applied a thin layer of gold over the copper planchet, transforming the base-metal striking into a convincing facsimile of the precious-metal version. Morgan's tightly coiled hair arrangement is often considered the superior artistic achievement of the two Stella obverses — where Barber's Flowing Hair design conveys classical grace, Morgan's Coiled Hair projects a sense of contained energy and modern sophistication. The gilt surface enhances the sculptural qualities of the coiled braid, catching light in ways that emphasize the three-dimensionality of Morgan's modeling. These gilt copper Coiled Hair Stellas are among the most coveted pattern coins in American numismatics, prized both for their extreme rarity and for their connection to one of the most storied design competitions in U.S. Mint history. The rivalry between Barber and Morgan over the Stella obverse foreshadowed their later competition over the dime, quarter, and half dollar designs of the 1890s.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8. Approximately 5-8 gilt copper Coiled Hair Stella specimens survive. Among the rarest and most valuable of all U.S. pattern coins in copper.

Cross References

Judd J-1659a, Pollock P-1859 (Gilt variant)