he $4 Gold Stella – 1879–1880 Pattern Coin
The $4 Gold Stella stands among the most famous and coveted pattern coins in United States numismatics. Struck in 1879 and 1880, these experimental gold issues were never intended for regular circulation. The design was conceived at the recommendation of Hon. John A. Kasson, U.S. Minister to Austria, who proposed a four-dollar gold piece suitable for international exchange—its value designed to align closely with contemporary gold coinage of France, Germany, and other European nations.
Reflecting this vision of international trade compatibility, the obverse of the Stella bears its precise metallic composition in the metric system: 6G .3S .7C 7 GRAMS—representing a scientific alloy of gold, silver, and copperequivalent to four U.S. dollars.
Two distinct obverse designs were produced: the Flowing Hair type, created by Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, and the Coiled Hair type, designed by Assistant Engraver George T. Morgan, famed for the 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar. The reverse displays the namesake five-pointed star, or Stella, encircled by inscriptions and the Latin motto DEO EST GLORIA (“God is Glorious”) in place of IN GOD WE TRUST.
Although the Stella was intended as a prototype for international coinage, it remained an experimental issue distributed primarily to members of Congress. Estimated mintages are approximately 425 examples for the 1879 Flowing Hair, 10 for the 1879 Coiled Hair, 15 for the 1880 Flowing Hair, and 10 for the 1880 Coiled Hair—each an extraordinary rarity. Today, the $4 Gold Stella endures as one of the most iconic 19th-century pattern coins, admired for its artistry, technical precision, and historic significance within U.S. Mint gold coinage.
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