The Coiled Hair Stella is one of the most coveted and classic issues in American numismatics. Minted during only two years, in 1879 and 1880, there are just a handful known of each date and any appearance is an opportunity for the specialist. The obverse design is by George T. Morgan with a bust of Liberty facing left, her hair coiled in a complex braid wrapped in a coil at the top of her head. She wears a tiara inscribed LIBERTY in tiny letters. Around the obverse the legend reads * 6 * G * .3 * S * .7 * C * 7 * G * R * A * M* S* an abbreviation for 6 grams gold, .3 grams silver and .7 grams copper for a total of 7 grams. The date 1879 is below the bust. The reverse is the same seen paired with the Flowing Hair obverse, engraved and designed by Charles E. Barber. The central feature is a raised five pointed star, with a beaded inset border. Inscribed on the star is ONE / STELLA / 400 / CENTS. Around the star, in small letters, DEO EST GLORIA / E PLURIBUS UNUM. The outer legend reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with FOUR DOL. below.

Unlike its identically dated Flowing Hair counterpart, the 1879 Coiled Hair stella is very rare and seldom encountered in today's market. This type was prepared in only limited numbers, whereas several hundred examples of the 1879 Flowing Hair were struck in early 1880 for distribution to members of Congress and other government officials. Only 14 examples of the gold 1879 Coiled Hair stella (Judd-1638) are believed extant. The copper strikings (Judd-1639, as here) are equally as rare with Saul Teichman's census linked to the uspatterns.com website tracing only 11 or 12 distinct specimens. Of these, at least eight have been glit to simulate their gold counterparts; two are impounded in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution and Connecticut State Library.

The present specimen is not included in the Teichman census, the only two non-gilt examples therein the Simpson coin in PCGS Proof-66 BN and a PCGS Proof-65 BN that most recently appeared in Heritage's August 2025 Signature Auction. This Choice Proof specimen is richly toned with copper-blue outlining to the obverse periphery and devices that yields to lighter golden-brown within the field and atop the motifs. The reverse is more evenly toned in copper-russet with underlying rose, olive-gold and steel-blue iridescence. A few faint carbon spots on Liberty's cheek and in the field before the eye help to explain the Proof-64 numeric grade, but blend into the toning and are easily overlooked in most viewing situations. With a sharp strike and overall pleasant appearance, this coin would make an outstanding addition to an advanced type set of classic U.S. Mint gold denominations.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

All winning lots will be shipped domestically via FEDEX, United States Postal Service, or DHL. Please note: A delivery confirmation shipment will be required for all orders. Delivery methods depend on the value of the shipment (for insurance purposes). All orders sent via Priority or Express require a signature confirmation. Please refer to the chart below to see how your winning lots will be shipped. Once your order has shipped, we will send you an email containing the order tracking information.

Total Value of Shipment Shipping Method
$1-$299 First Class
$300-$24,999 Priority or 2-Day
$25,000-$199,999 Express or Overnight
$200,000+ Contact us for Special Arrangements
Chart applies to U.S. addresses only -- items shipped to international addresses from the United States will be delivered via Fed Ex and items shipped from our Hong Office will be delivered via EMS with the exception of countries that EMS service does not cover.

If you would like your order shipped domestically via FedEx, please contact our Client Services department at (800) 458-4646. Additional charges may apply.

• How much do you charge for shipping and handling?

Within the United States: All orders are shipped via USPS. All orders will have the following postage and insurance charges in addition to a $.50 handling charge per lot added to the purchase price:

Invoice Amount Postage & Insurance
Up to $299 $12.00
$300- $499 $17.00
$500- $999 $20.00
$1000- $2499 $24.00
$2500- $4999 $27.00
$5000- $9999 $30.00
$10000- $14999 $40.00
$15000- $19999 $45.00
$20000- $24999 $50.00
$25000- $49999 $75.00
$50000- $74999 $100.00
$75000- $99999 $125.00
$100000- $249999 $250.00
$250000+ $400.00


All international orders (including Canada and Mexico) shipped from the United States will be shipped via Fedex or UPS depending on the destination country. All orders will have an international insurance fee of 1/2% of the subtotal of the invoice (hammer price plus buyers fee), with a minimum insurance fee of $10 plus a $.50 handling charge per lot in addition to the postage below. For shipments from our Hong Kong office via EMS, please refer to the Hong Kong Auction section.

Invoice Amount Postage
Up to $2,500 $50.00
$2,501-$10,000 $60.00
$10,001-$100,000 $75.00
$100,001-$200,000 $125.00
$200,001+ $500 or Contact us for Special Arrangements


All orders shipped from the Hong Kong, China Office are shipped via EMS with the exception of countries that EMS service does not cover. All orders will have an international insurance fee of 1/2% of the subtotal of the invoice (hammer price plus buyers fee), with a minimum insurance fee of $10 plus a $.50 handling charge per lot in addition to the postage below. The following countries have EMS coverage: Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand. Our international shipping rates will apply to countries not covered by EMS. If you have special shipping requests from our Hong Kong, China Office, please contact [email protected].

Invoice Amount Postage
Up to $300 $35.00
$301-$1,000 $40.00
$1,001-$2,000 $45.00
$2,001-$3,000 $50.00
$3,001-$5,000 $55.00
$5,001-$10,000 $60.00
$10,001-$25,000 $70.00
$25,001-$50,000 $80.00
$50,001-$75,000 $90.00
$75,001-$100,000 $100.00
$100,000-$200,000 $125.00
$200,000+ $500.00 or Contact us for Special Arrangements

by Stack's Bowers Galleries
June 16, 2026 12:00 PM PDT
1550 Scenic Ave
Suite 150
Costa Mesa, CA, US 92626

Stack's Bowers Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 27% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $20
$100 $199 $20
$200 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $200
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 $999,999 $50,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000