The History Of $10 Gold Coin

Some people are fond of collecting the coins of different denominations, types and sizes. The $10 gold coin is one of the types of coins that have been in great demand for a long time for their top-quality and pleasant appearance.

The $10 gold coin is known by different names that comprise Eagle Capped Bust (1795-1804), Liberty Head Eagle (1838-1907), and Eagle Indian Head (1907-1933). The Eagle Capped Bust was first introduced in 1795 by the Robert Scot in Philadelphia (U.S). The weight of this coin was 17.50 grams and it had gold (.9167) and silver (.0833) composition. The diameter of this coin was 33mm.

The obverse of this 1795 issue had a Capped Bust Right and the small eagle on the reverse. During 1797, the reverse design changed into Heraldic Eagle (the Great Seal of the US) and continued through 1804.

In 1838, Christian Gobrecht introduced the Coronet picture of Liberty facing left on the obverse. After some time, some changes had taken place in that design, but it continued mostly unchanged through 1907.

The weight of Liberty Head Eagle (1838-1907) was 16.718 grams and it was prepared with the gold (.900) and silver (.100) composition. The diameter of this coin was 27mm.

The exceptional collaboration of a dynamic president (Theodore Roosevelt) and a great sculptor (Augustus Saint-Gaudens) produced a unique gold coin- Eagle Indian Head Liberty in 1907.

Roosevelt was not satisfied with the design of trite Inaugural medal produced by U.S Mint engravers George T. Morgan and Charles E. Barber in 1904. After being advised by his artistic friends, his propensity declined towards numismatic art and he took a decision of making a really innovative medal with the help of great American sculptor Gaudens. With the permission of Roosevelt, Augustus handed over the actual task to his German-born 34-year old associate (Adolph A. Weinman).

The obverse of the Inaugural medal (Saint Gaudens-Weinman) had a bust of the President Theodore Roosevelt, and a bold standing eagle was made on the reverse of that medal. After some time, due to some reasons, Roosevelt had forced Saint Gaudens to change the design. In early 1907, it was finally decided that the combination of the bust of Liberty-obverse and the standing eagle-reverse would appear on the $10 gold coin.

The first eagles were issued with no motto, In God We Trust. However, Theodore Roosevelt personally objected to the use of Deity's name on $10 gold coins. However, the motto was returned to the left of the eagle by an act of Congress in 1908. Coins of that final design were issued at Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver Mints. The left of the bundle of arrows on which the eagle rests had Mintmarks. That design continued through 1933.

The Eagle Indian Head that had a weight of 16.718 grams was prepared with the gold (.900) and copper (.100) composition and the diameter of that coin was 27mm.

So, this is the history behind $10 gold coins. So, the next time you decide to collect some valuable gold coins, do go for this one.