US Stella 4 Dollar Gold Piece (Fakes are possible) 1879 and 1880

Stella is the Latin word for star and these gold coins get their name from the large star on the reverse. They are pattern coins -- trial coins that never made circulation. Two different patterns were used. Our picture of a genuine coin (upper left) shows Miss Liberty with flowing hair. There is also a version with coiled hair piled on top of her head.

All genuine stellas are extremely valuable. They have sold in numismatic auctions for hundreds of thousands of US dollars. If you think you have a genuine stella, you must treat it with extreme care and have it authenticated, graded, and encapsulated by PCGS, NGC, ICG, or ANACS. You have a very valuable piece!

Over 99 percent of stellas you see today are fakes. They are either illegal counterfeits or legal reproductions with the word COPY affixed. Illegal counterfeits should be surrendered to US authorities. Legal reproductions sell on eBay for $5 to $10.
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