Anyone here ever own a Stella?

braddick · January 28, 2003 1:09AM

I don't read much about the $4. Gold. When I do, it's usually some closing price in a major auction.
Neither PCGS nor NGC had Stella Registries (!).
Anyone here own or ever own a Stella?

-I'd like to learn more about this mysterious series.

nwcs · January 28, 2003 1:10AM

No, never seen one either. I think they're too esoteric for all but the very very well off.

pontiacinf · January 28, 2003 1:13AM

held 2 (mintage of 10) but cant afford 75-85k+

braddick · January 28, 2003 1:24AM

I'm also curious if these ever circulated.
I've heard of impaired proofs, but have do not know what their status was when minted. Were they always intended to be Collector items or was there a purpose and reason for commerce?

Lakesammman · January 28, 2003 1:27AM

A friend at work has a circulated example. He's about 50 and received it as a tip on his newspaper route as a kid. He told the older woman it was too much but she insisted. I'll see if I can get him yo loan it to me for a picture. He says it's EF or so.

I was told once they were congressional fancy pieces and were spent with the madams of the DC area.....I don't think this woman was that old.

nwcs · January 28, 2003 1:30AM

There is also the chance for counterfeits.

tjkillian · January 28, 2003 1:32AM

Yes, I collect them by die state and die variety.

I did hold one once, when I was about 15.

Tom

keoj · January 28, 2003 2:12AM

tjkillian

Its funny that you collect by die state and variety, I collect them by mm. Perhaps we should join collections.

Quite an amazing coin, I've held one myself and its a beautiful design. Wasn't the purpose a first entry into the US metric system as well?

keoj

cointagious · January 28, 2003 2:13AM

<< <i> Anyone here ever own a Stella? >>

yes.

nwcs · January 28, 2003 2:14AM

<< <i>Wasn't the purpose a first entry into the US metric system as well? >>

That sort of already was in place with the 100 cents to a dollar system. But the 20 cent piece was another step that backfired in that direction.

Merc · January 28, 2003 2:23AM

I saw the flowing hair and coiled hair 1880 (PF67 DCAM) at the FUN show. The flowing hair one was my favorite. Benchmark Ventures had them for sale with a complete 1880 Gold Proof set. The asking price for the group was 2 million!

prooflike · January 28, 2003 2:40AM

I can confidently say "NO."

SethChandler · January 28, 2003 2:46AM

I looked at a COMPLETE set at The Dallas Bank sale in 2001, including all the patterns. About a total of ten stellas. Aluminum, copper, gold. I gotta tell you, the patterns were real UGLY, they looked like cheap tokens.....tokens that sold for about 25k to 50k each!

1907Quarter · January 28, 2003 2:46AM

At the Smithsonian last March I was within 3ft of them;type examples for ea. year. Next to the 1804 dollar, and the 1849 gold(unique) it was the most surreal experience, their design is so unusual.

BillJones · January 28, 2003 3:15AM

I've never owned one, but if have seen a number of them for sale over the years. A dealer with whom I do a fair amount of business had the last one that I saw. It was an impaired Proof and messed up enough that neither of the major services would slab it.

The funniest one I ever saw was offered by an auction company that was going around the country running sales. They had a stella as a come-on that they advertised in the paper. When you got to the sale they gave you copy of the Gray Sheet. The auction lots consisted of problem coins and raw slider Morgan dollars that they graded MS-63 or better, and probably protected in the auction at "bargain prices" that were at or below the Gray Sheet. They insisted on getting my home address, which I refused to give them. After I saw the lots I did not stay for the auction. I’m sure that the stella, which was an impaired Proof with big rim nick, got “bought in” for use at the next sale.

gmarguli · January 28, 2003 3:26AM

BillJones, I swear I've been to one of their auctions about 10+ years ago. I remember the Stella. It was in a big Capital plastic holder. I wish I could remember their company name. They held the auctions in hotels. Practically everything was Ch. BU or Gem BU. I can't recall ever seeing MSxx grades.

Every "so many" lots, they'd have zip lock bags of circulated Morgans that they'd auction off for 2x-3x what they were worth.

I think it was run by a father/son team.

Pushkin · January 28, 2003 5:39AM

<< <i>I was told once they were congressional fancy pieces and were spent with the madams of the DC area.....I don't think this woman was that old >>

Probably still are, prices are very high in the DC area, "madams" rates have appreciated faster than real estate! Probably could find a few of them sitting around in some perfume drawers here.

The congressmen still circulate around, but I doubt if their pieces are so fancy anymore.

Nic · January 28, 2003 5:54AM

Yes, for three weeks! A PCGS 63 1879 FH. Glad I sold it....1989. K

mdwoods · January 28, 2003 7:54AM

Anyone here ever own a Stella?

No, but I think I might have dated her sister once!!

paigowjohnny · January 28, 2003 7:59AM

" STTTEEEEEELLLLLLLLAAAAAAAA !!!!!"

Sorry...I had to do it

I'm not a big gold bug...but I'd like to have one...

kranky · January 28, 2003 8:17AM

Stellas are just a very interesting coin. An odd denomination, and having the makeup of the alloy right on the coin. It would be a dream to have one someday, and I've only seen a single example at a show. I have this fantasy of someday making it to a big show and getting my picture taken with Laura while holding some super-rare coin. A Stella would work!

au58 · January 28, 2003 8:17AM

VERY SAD but TRUE.
My uncle had one. He was in failing health (hooked up to dialysis, etc.) and in the process of a divorce.
He asked me to sell it for him (he was going to pay his bills, especially if it meant his giving less to his wife). I said no way but he insisted I could handle it.
I took it to a show (either the Central States or Michigan State show) in Dearborn, Michigan in 1979 or 1980. WHAT A RUCKUS!!! All the big dealers were my new best friend!!!
I pretended to be stupid (wasn't hard), naive, and not real sure. After telling a few dealers that I would think about it, two dealers followed me out of the show. One convinced me to come to his room and talk business.
We agreed on a price, but payment was an issue. I had the name and phone number of my uncle's attorney, who was standing by for a call. They worked out the details.
When my uncle learned the selling price, he promised to buy me a new car and told me to find something I liked. I tried not to be greedy, and picked out a new Monte Carlo (I think it was $5600).
Four days later, and before the car was delivered, MY UNCLE DIED!! The attorney said that yes, my uncle had said that he wanted to do something nice for me, but claimed that my uncle did not tell him what he had planned!! As executor, the attorney was powerless.
My uncle had two sons and a daughter who got everything.

Conder101 · January 28, 2003 9:46PM

I have an ANACS certificate for one of them, I think its for an 1879 flowing hair.

oreville · January 28, 2003 10:49PM

No.

Owning one is a dream I have had since I was a kid.

Sure, not having one reminds me of the thrill I felt when the word Stella came up. I wasn't yet into girls at the wondrous age of 12!!

What a wondrous time, artistic wise at the US Mint. Willaim Barber followed by his less talented son Charles with Morgan as the "backroom guy." Unbelievable. Today??? A joke as we wallow in mediocrity.

NumisEd · January 28, 2003 11:00PM

The next best thing: In the hole in my Dansco album for "stella", I have taped in (4) $1 gold pieces.

dorkkarl · January 29, 2003 12:02AM

hey ed, your tagline makes no sense.

i'm not a grand master yet.

K S

richbeat · January 29, 2003 5:34PM

The story behind the creation of the stella is very interesting. COINage ran an article on them awhile back. The metal composition is referred to as "goloid."

Twowood · January 29, 2003 8:18PM

Just checked out the Redbook prices...Wow. I doubt we'll ever see a registry set. Twowood

originalisbest · January 30, 2003 2:49AM

Never have, don't think I will. Too much $$$.

However, I would LOVE to see Gallery Mint Museum make some!! Lots of opportunities not only to do them in gold, but recreate the patterns sruck in other metals.

DesertLizard · January 30, 2003 4:05AM

I have never owned any Stellas but I drink them all the time.

Here's one:

richbeat · January 30, 2003 5:25PM

For those curious for a look see, here are a few of the patterns, out of several types:

coiled hair in aluminum

flowing hair in gold

coiled hair in gold

coiled hair in copper

Anyone here ever own a Stella?

Comments

Leave a Comment