1880 Proof Four Dollar Pattern - J-1662, Stella

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168,000 • PR65 • 09-29-2022 • Heritage Auctions

Description

An aluminum striking of the Coiled Hair Stella, representing the lightest-weight version of Morgan's celebrated four-dollar design. The unplated aluminum surface reveals the full detail of Morgan's engraving work without the masking effect of a gilt finish, including the fine texture of the braided coil, the smooth contours of Liberty's cheek and neck, and the precise metric specifications woven between the border stars. Aluminum was chosen as an alternative striking medium throughout the 1878-1880 pattern program for its novelty, its silvery appearance, and its extreme lightness — qualities that made aluminum patterns immediately distinguishable from their copper and precious-metal counterparts. The reverse star design, shared across all Stella varieties regardless of obverse type or composition, serves as a constant against which the varying treatments of Liberty's portrait can be compared. By 1880, the Stella program had effectively ended as a serious legislative proposal, but the enduring popularity of these patterns among collectors ensured their continued production in small numbers for the numismatic market.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8. Fewer than 5-8 specimens are believed known. Aluminum Coiled Hair Stella strikings from 1880 are extreme rarities.

Cross References

Judd J-1662, Pollock P-1862