Reference price
$200,000 – $500,000
Mintage: 17
Diameter: 22 mm
Thickness: 1.52 mm
Weight: 7 grams
Designer: Charles E Barber
Metal Composition: 85% Gold – 15% Silver and Copper
The 1880 Stella $4 Gold Coin has two major variations. The more common type features flowing hair in the liberty portrait on the obverse, as illustrated above, whereas the rarer variety showcases coiled hair.
These Four Dollar gold coins are extremely rare since they were only minted in 1879 and 1880, with the 1880 version being particularly uncommon. The official name of the coin is “Stella,” which denotes the four-dollar denomination. The US Mint planned that this coin would be universally exchangeable with any other currency in the world. Initially, it was conceived as a pattern to evaluate the potential of joining the Latin Monetary Union during that era. However, Congress abolished the notion of joining the international group, and a few hundred coins produced were sold to congressmen.
The reverse of the coin highlights a five-pointed star with the words “ONE STELLA” and “400 CENTS”, encompassing our national motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Moreover, “DEO EST GLORIA”, which means “To God is the glory,” is inscribed below the star. Finally, “FOUR DOL.” appears at the bottom of the reverse side. The obverse of the coin features the liberty head portrait. A series of letters and numbers with stars between them surrounds the edge: “★6★G★.3★S★.7★C★7★G★R★A★M★S★,” signifying the metal composition of the coin in grams – 6G (6.0 grams of gold), .3S (0.3 grams of silver), and .7C (0.7 grams of copper).
