Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- One (1) 4 dollar coin, pattern
- United States, 1879
- Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head with flowing hair. Stars between all letters around edge of coin.
- Obverse Text: 6 / G / .3 / S / .7 / C / 7 / G / R / A / M / S / 1879
- Reverse Image: Star in center.
- Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FOUR DOL. / E PLURIBUS UNUM / DEO EST GLORIA / ONE STELLA / 400 CENTS
- Description
- The four-dollar gold piece, or Stella, was the brainchild of the United States minister to Austria-Hungary, John A. Kasson. Kasson wanted an American gold coin that would trade on a par with a number of European counterparts, and the Stella seemed to be the answer.
- Patterns were struck in a variety of metals, with two depictions of Liberty. George T. Morgan was responsible for this version, a goddess with coiled hair. Charles E. Barber contributed the second idea, a Liberty with flowing hair.
- At the time, aluminum was popular as a pattern coinage metal. It was scarce, and it took a lovely impression from the dies. Experts call this piece a high Rarity-7, suggesting that four to six pieces exist.
- [reference no. Judd 1640]
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- Date made
- 1879
- Credit Line
- Harvey G. and Lawrence R. Stack
- Physical Description
- gilt aluminum (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 21.6 mm; 27/32 in
- Object Name
- coin
