Goloid Metric Dollar Patterns -"Counterfeiters' Delight"

A bill was introduced in Congress in 1877 to provide for a new dollar, half dollar, quarter-dollar, and ten-cent coinage to based on the metric system of weights and measures and that a new Goloid metal to be used as an alloy for legal tender issues. Goloid (a mixture containing 90 percent gold and silver, with each of the two metals in parts with equal intrinsic value, to which 10 percent copper was added to strengthen the alloy) was just patented by Dr. William Wheeler Hubbell on May 22, 1877 and it was felt that this composition would help eliminate the issues of competing market values between Gold and Silver.

Congress requested patterns to be specifically in proportion of 258 grains for Dollars proportioned down to the 10 Cent piece. In 1878 , 3 different sample dollars were prepared. From the onset, the mint disapproved of Goloid, while metal composition appeared very compatible with the minting process, the issue of counterfeits detection arose as it was very difficult to detect. In the absence of a bad looking counterfeit die, metallurgical testing would be the only way to distinguish counterfeits from real pieces. Apparently the demonstrations before the committee confirm the issue and the Goloid experiment ended.

1878 Patterns
(Click on Thumbnails to enlarge images)
The 1878 Goloid and Metric Dollar patterns used the same Barber bust of Liberty as was used on his pattern half dollars of 1877. Liberty on the head band and 7 stars left and 6 stars right of the bust . The 3 different reverses were sampled all spelling out the composition . 2 dies had 258 Grs and the composition broken down in Gold and Silver and Fineness but one had a ring of STARS (representing our 38 States at the time) while a second had a Laurel Wreath. Both of these had “ONE DOLLAR” at the bottom. The 3rd example had the composition in Metric i.e. 14.25 GRAMS (1-G, 16.1-S., 1.9-C.) with 100 CENTS and the word METRIC. These patterns were not just struck in Goloid but also samples in Silver and Copper.

By proportioning these pieces with a metric standard with the mixed composition would help facilitate with international commerce. Metric was the approach to make 25 Grams (the weight of 5 French Francs ) equal to one US Dollar.


1879 and 1880 Patterns

Goloid patterns were continued in 1879 and in 1880. 3 Piece pattern sets were prepared and distributed to Congress and included a Metric Dollar, a Goloid Dollar and the Stella 4$ piece. The Metric alloy contain a bit more silver, less gold but the same 10% copper compared to the Goloid metal but they believed the gold afforded the mint to reduce the weight compared to the Silver Dollar while maintaining the same value.

Beside William Barber, George Morgan produced 2 obverse patterns for 1879 & 80 that rival Morgan designs. The Coil Hair Liberty (Similar to the Famous Stella Pieces) and a version with Miss Liberty hair tied with a ribbon to form a bun. Barber used the same Coronet Liberty design as on the 1878 dollar patterns and a design similar to the 1877 50$ gold piece. Both of Barber designs are more similar to each other than the 2 Morgan obverses.

2 different reverse designs were developed. One specifically states “GOLOID METRIC Dollar” and “100 CENTS”. This is one of the few pieces that express the piece denomination 2 ways. The other reverse states only “ONE DOLLAR” Both reverse types bear the inscription “DEO EST GLORIA” - GOD IS GLORY which is of interest since “IN GOD WE TRUST” was already the accepted salutation on US coinage. Both reverse share the piece composition.