1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella, 1879 $4.00 Stella, Flowing Hair, PF55+ Despite a very tiny rim file and two light, blended-in staple scratches, this gold Stella retains its beauty and desirability. For the issue, the coin is well struck with the usual flatness seen on the high parts of Libertys hair. The other areas of the piece are well struck with full details on the legends, the reverse devices, and the dentils. Muted mint luster remains in protected areas of both sides. The coin grades PF55+ because sufficient separation exists in the strands of Libertys hair and the details of the reverse star to warrant the grade. There are no additional distractions worthy of individual mention.

The 1879 and 1880 four dollar gold Stellas are listed number 18 in Garrett and Guths 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. The 1879 (J-1657) Stella, its name from the large five-pointed star on the reverse, was designed by Charles Barber. Called the Flowing Hair Type, it shows a profile of Liberty facing left with her hair loosely tied behind wearing a band inscribed LIBERTY. The words of the inscription 6 G .3 S .7 C 7 G R A M S are separated by stars and surround Liberty. The reverse shows a large five pointed star inscribed with ONE STELLA followed by 400 CENTS. Surrounding the star are the words DEO EST GLORIA and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are in an arc above the star, and words FOUR DOL. are below.

Charles E. Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. He became Chief Engraver after the death of his father, William. He served from 1879 to 1917. He is best known for his designs of the Barber dime, quarter, and half dollar. In addition he designed the Liberty Head nickel, several commemoratives, and the Flowing Hair Stella pattern. Barber was born in London in 1840. He came to the United States in 1852 with his family. His father became an engraver at the Mint in Philadelphia. Following Longacres death, William Barber became the Chief Engraver and made his son, Charles, his assistant. In 1879, Charles Barber became the Chief Engraver despite the fact the George T. Morgan may have been more qualified or at least more talented. William Barber, Charles father, had been an engraver in England. He worked for the Mint in Philadelphia and became Chief Engraver in 1869 after James Longacre died on New Years Day. In 1875 Charles married Martha Jones. They had a daughter, Edith. Martha died in 1898, and Charles remarried in 1902 to Caroline Gaston. After William Barbers death, George T. Morgan was also being considered to replace him. However, a few months later, Charles was named to the position. During the time that he was Chief Engraver, he was responsible for the 1883 Hawaiian coinage: the silver dime, eighth dollar, quarter, half dollar, and dollar. He also designed coins for Cuba and Venezuela. Later he designed the obverse of the Columbian half dollar and both dies for the Isabella quarter. Barber also was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollars, the Lewis and Clark Exposition gold dollar, the obverse of the Panama-Pacific Exposition half dollar, and the quarter eagle, along with George T. Morgan. Barber also designed the obverse of the McKinley Memorial dollar. When President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to redesign the coinage of the United States, he felt that he was in a private war with Charles Barber. Because Roosevelt felt that Barber was not an imaginative engraver, he enlisted the help of Augustus Saint-Gaudens and later Bela Lyon Pratt to remake Americas coinage. Barber was critical of the new designs and pointed out their impracticality. Eventually his view prevailed, and he reduced the relief of the Saint-Gaudens works.

In 1879 the first Stellas were minted. They were then restruck in 1880 with the 1879 date and the 1880 date. (Another Stella pattern coin with a different obverse called the Coiled Hair was designed by George T. Morgan. They were clandestine issues made for members of Congress.) In general more congressmen were able to obtain Stellas than were coin collectors. Newspapers of the time ran stories about Washington D.C. madams who had necklaces made from Stellas. Many pieces that are seen today have evidence of solder removal.

The original plan, devised by Representative John Adam Kasson, a Republican from Iowa, was to solve the problem of what precious metal to use for coinage that would be internationally acceptable. He wanted coinage that would be comparable to the British sovereign, the Italian 20 lire, and the Spanish 20 pesetas. Each of these coins was smaller than a half eagle and widely used in international trade. He devised the idea of the Stella, coins of metric gold that contained 10% silver and dollars of goloid that were silver and contained 4% gold.

All Stellas are rare in any condition. They were struck in gold, aluminum, copper, and white metal. The 1879 Flowing Hair is a pattern (J-1635) made from gold. In their population reports PCGS and NGC show 525[u2] certified in all grades, which also does not account for resubmissions and crossovers.