1879 AE $4 J-1639 Gilt Cu, CAM (Proof)

The $4 "Stella" patterns of 1879 and 1880 are among the most popular of the entire series. Collectors have long recognized the gold versions of these patterns with awe and reverence, to the point where they are now among the most expensive of all patterns. Collectors sometimes turn to the off-metal versions of the Stellas as less-costly alternatives. Judd 1639, struck in copper, is one such example. An advantage to these unusual patterns is that they generally lack the roller marks that appear on the gold versions. Thus, the off-metal versions are almost always better struck and have more details than the gold versions.

Many of the off-metal $4 Stellas were plated in gold at one time or another. This was done, either deliberately or unintentionally, to simulate the more expensive gold versions. It is possible that some of these were sold to unsuspecting collectors as the rare, gold version, though we have no specific knowledge of any such events.

The mintages of the off-metal Stellas is unknown, but it is decidedly low, and estimates range from 10-15 pieces. We've seen six demonstrably different examples (two unplated and four gold-plated). The finest example appears to be the PCGS PR66BN from the "Dallas" Bank and Simpson collections.