$10 Liberty
(Also known as the Coronet design)
1838-1907
Designer: Christian Gobrecht

Mintage:

Also refer to General Information on US Gold Coins.

After a 34-year absence, the ten-dollar gold piece or “eagle” made its reappearance in 1838.  Although created by the 1792 law which established the US Mint, the eagle fell victim to the mis-pricing of gold in relation to silver and was hoarded or melted in its early years, which led to its being discontinued on the orders of President Thomas Jefferson in late 1804.  The eagle reappeared in a new, smaller size “Coronet” or Liberty Head design by Christian Gobrecht.  The eagle wasn’t minted in large quantities throughout its life, as it was apparently too large a denomination for everyday commerce (compared to the half-eagle or $5 gold piece) and too small for bank reserves and international transactions (compared to the double-eagle or $20 gold piece).

Types: 1) Head of 1838: minted in 1838 and the first half of 1839.  2) No-motto: Coins minted 1839-1866.  Coins with a re-designed Liberty head and smaller letters on the reverse appeared in late-1839.  The reason for this re-design is unclear.  3) With-motto: Coins minted 1866-1907, which have the motto “In God We Trust” on the reverse.  On November 13, 1861, Rev. M. R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, PA, wrote to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase recommending the addition of a religious motto to US coins.  On March 3, 1865, legislation was enacted that required “the motto ‘In God we trust’ to be placed upon such coins…as shall admit of such legend thereon.”

Mints: Minted in Philadelphia (1838-1907), New Orleans (1841-1904), San Francisco (1854-1907), Carson City, NV, (1870-1893) and Denver (1906-1907).

Specifications: Size: 27 millimeters; Alloy: 90% gold, 10% copper; Weight: 16.718 grams (15.046 grams or 0.484 troy oz. of pure gold).

Back to U.S. Gold Page