LIBERTY HEAD (NO
MOTTO ON REVERSE) TEN DOLLARS OR GOLD EAGLE (1838-1866)
Gobrecht’s
Coronet Eagle Liberty Head, No Motto
President Thomas Jefferson ordered mintage
of gold eagles stopped between 1805 and1837 because gold
coins were being melted for bullion. Coinage of this denomination
was resumed with Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty Head,
No Motto eagle. The size, weight, and fineness were reduced
so that the new coins were not intrinsically worth more
than their denominated value.
The Liberty Head, No Moto eagle shows Liberty
facing left in profile wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet
with her hair tied in the back in beads. Two long curls
hang down her neck, one in the back and the other on the
side. She is surrounded with thirteen six-pointed stars.
The date is below the truncation, which shows no drapery.
The motif is taken from a Benjamin West painting of Venus.
It was also used with modifications for the Large Cents
of 1839. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with outstretched
wing looking to the left. On its chest is the Union shield.
In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows. The
error in the previous issue, Scot’s eagle held the
arrows and the olive branches in the wrong talons, is corrected.
Interrupted by the tips of the eagle’s wings, UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the reverse, separated from
the denomination TEN D. by dots. Dentils are near the edge
on both sides of the coin, and the edge is reeded.
During the first two years of production, the First Head
had Large Letters with it. It continued in use until June
1839 and is sometimes called the “Head of 1838.”
Later in the year the head was redesigned, made smaller,
and the letters were smaller too. This one is sometimes
called the “New Portrait, Small Letters,” “Second
Head, Small Letters,” or “Head of 1840.”
Generally speaking Liberty Head, No Motto
eagle coins had low mintages. While a few years had large
mintages of more than 200,000, most were significantly less.
Some dates are difficult to obtain because their mintages
were limited or they were not saved. In 1840 and 1841 small
numerals were used. These were the same as for the cents
of that year. In 1842 both large and small numerals were
used. The same is true for the 1850 and 1854-O eagles. In
1844 Gobrecht died and Longacre became the Engraver. His
job consisted mainly of punching the dates and mintmarks
into the working dies. He supposedly made several blunders
including 1846-O, 6 over 5; 1849 over 1848; 1853, 3 over
2; and 1865-S, 865/inverted 186. In this last one, the three
numbers were entered upside down and then corrected. The
Hard Times, which saw high unemployment and starvation,
was one of the reasons for the limited mintages through
the mid 1840’s. Later double eagles, which were first
used in 1850, were preferred over eagles for large commercial
and international transactions.
In 1859 Engraver Longacre prepared a new
reverse that was used on Philadelphia coins until 1865.
On them the eagle’s claws are thinner and shorter.
This change is not seen on the branch mint coins because
they were using 1857-1858 dies.
The last date for the Liberty Head, No Motto
eagle was supposed to have been 1865. However in 1866, 8,500
S mint No Motto coins were issued because the new reverse
die had not arrived in San Francisco. Later that year when
more eagles were made, 11,500 With Motto 1866-S coins were
minted.
Low mintage first
year of Liberty Head designed by Christian Gobrecht; only
about 90 are known; 4 came from the Republic; usually
seen heavily circulated. The finest certified are 3 in
MS63. 3 proofs of this date are known.
Found with Large
and Small Letters (Head of 38 or Head of 40). Small Letters
variety is rarer with only about 55 known. Only 2 Small
Letters and 7 Large Letters came from the Republic. The
finest certified with Large Letters is a single MS66 example.
The finest certified with Small Letters is a single MS64
example. 3 proofs of this date are known; they are the
Type of 1838.
Usually found
in circulated condition. Most certified examples are XF40
to AU58. 11 came from the Republic. Only 8 have been certified
Mint State. The finest is a single MS62 example.
Usually found
in circulated condition. Most certified examples are XF40
to AU58. 20 came from the Republic; 1 came from the Central
America. Only 20 have been certified Mint State. The finest
is a single MS63 example.
First date of
denomination for the New Orleans Mint. Extremely low mintage.
Approximately 65 are known. Only 1 came from the Republic.
They are often seen with heavy bag marks. None have been
certified in Mint State. The finest certified are 2 in
AU58.
Found with Small
and Large Dates. The Small Date is rarer. Often seen with
prooflike surfaces. 4 Small Dates and 11 Large Dates came
from the Republic. The finest certified Small Date is
a single MS63 example. The finest certified Large Date
are 2 in MS65.
Often seen with
prooflike surfaces and heavy bag marks. Most are found
in circulated condition. Only 4 have been certified Mint
State. The finest certified are 2 MS61 examples. 2 came
from the Central America; 20 from the Republic have been
certified by NGC. 5 proofs of this date are known.
Often seen well
struck with prooflike surfaces. Usually found in circulated
condition. 35 came from the Republic; 2 came from the
Central America. Only 14 have been certified Mint State,
the finest of which is a single MS64 example.
Approximately
65 of this low mintage date are known. None were found
on the Republic. Only 2 have been certified in Mint State.
The highest is a single MS63.
Available in XF
to AU grades. 32 came from the Republic; 2 came from the
Central America. Only 23 have been certified in Mint State.
The highest are 2 in MS63.
Usually found
in XF to AU grades. 2 came from the Republic. Only 4 have
been certified in Mint State. The highest are 2 in MS62.
4 proofs of this date are known.
Usually found
in XF to AU grades. 19 came from the Republic; 3 came
from the Central America. Only 15 have been certified
in Mint State. The highest is a single MS64 example. Varieties
include Repunched 84, repunched 45, and Large Date over
Small Date.
Although 6 were
found on the Republic, most are in XF or worse condition.
Only 6 have been certified Mint State, the finest of which
are 3 in MS62. 4 proofs of this date are known.
Usually found
in low circulated grades. Very rare in AU grades. Usually
with poor strikes and poor quality planchets. Only 3 have
been certified in Mint State, the highest of which is
a single MS64. 13 came from the Republic; 3 came from
the Central America. Also found with a 6 over 5 overdate.
Most common issue
of the series. 221 came from the Republic; 7 came from
the Central America. Usually bright yellow-gold with coppery
spots. Sometimes with prooflike surfaces. Rare above MS62.
The finest certified is a single MS64 example.
Highest mintage
for any New Orleans gold coin. Usually found in circulated
grades up to AU. 12 came from the Republic; 3 came from
the Central America. Rare above MS61. Finest certified
are 3 MS64 examples.
High mintage,
yet only 40 have been certified in Mint State. Most are
seen XF to AU. 39 came from the Republic, 1 came from
the Central America, all in circulated condition. The
finest certified is a single MS65 example.
Common in lower
grades, only 15 certified in Mint State. Most are poorly
struck, some have prooflike surfaces. 9 came from the
Republic; 2 came from the Central America. The finest
certified are 2 in MS66.
Available in circulated
grades and lower Mint State as well. 167 came from the
Republic; 6 came from the Central America. The finest
certified are 6 in MS64 condition.
Rare in all grades;
exceedingly rare in Mint State with only 3 certified.
The finest certified are 2 in MS61. 8 came from the Republic,
all in circulated condition.
Found with Small
and Large dates. The Small Date is rarer. 2 came from
the Central America. 72 came from the Republic, of which
7 were Small Dates. 35 Large dates have been certified
in Mint State. The finest is a single MS64. 11 Small Dates
have been certified in Mint State. The finest is a single
MS63.
Usually found
in circulated condition. 16 came from the Republic and
range in XF to AU grades; 2 came from the Central America.
Only 4 have been certified in Mint State, the finest of
which is a single MS65 example.
Available in circulated
condition, rare in Mint State with only 32 certified in
all MS grades. 33 circulated pieces came from the Republic.
The finest certified is a single MS64 example.
Easily found in
grades up to AU. Usually found weakly struck at the stars,
frequently with many bagmarks. 99 came from the Republic.
Only 25 have been certified in Mint State, the finest
are 3 in MS64 condition.
Obtainable in
XF to AU condition. Usually seen lustrous with orange-yellow
gold color. Rare above MS61. The finest certified is a
single MS66 example. 2 came from the Central America.
48 from the Republic have been certified by NGC.
Scarce in circulated
grades. Only 3 certified in Mint State, the finest of
which is a single MS61 example. 3 came from the Republic.
All coins have a tiny hollow ring in center of the reverse,
probably used by the engraver as a centering device.
Common in grades
up to AU. Rare above MS61. 47 from the Republic have been
certified by NGC; 1 came from the Central America. The
finest certified are 4 in MS64. Look for the rare 1853/2
overdate, 3 of which have been certified in Mint State.
Available in VF
to AU grades. Extremely rare in Mint State with only 7
examples certified in Mint State, all MS61s. 13 came from
the Republic, 1 of which was in Mint State; 1 came from
the Central America.
Most found in
XF to AU condition. Only 21 certified in Mint State. 22
came from the Republic; 1 came from the Central America.
Most show weak stars. The finest are 4 in MS64.
Found with Small
or Large dates. 2 came from the Central America; 17 came
from the Republic, 12 of them Large Dates. Small Dates
are scarce. Only 2 have been certified in Mint State,
the finest a single MS61. 23 Large Dates have been certified
in Mint State, the finest are 2 in MS63 condition.
First eagle struck
at San Francisco. Usually available in XF to AU grades.
Only 10 have been certified in Mint State, the finest
are 2 in MS62 condition. 39 from the Republic have been
certified by NGC; 13 came from the Central America.
Available in XF
to AU grades. 44 came from the Republic, including 14
in lower MS grades; 2 came from the Central America. Rare
above MS61. The finest certified is a single MS65 example.
Low mintage issue
with approximately 70 known in all grades. None were found
on the Republic; 6 came from the Central America. None
have been certified in Mint State. The finest certified
are 3 in AU58.
Available in
XF to AU grades. Rare above MS61. The finest certified
are 3 in MS64. Usually found lustrous with a reddish-gold
color. 17 from the Republic have been certified by NGC.
Scarce in circulated
grades; rare in Mint State. First use of upright 5 on
eagle. 5 came from the Republic. Stars and Liberty’s
hair often weakly struck. Often with green-gold color.
Only 4 certified in Mint State all of which are MS60.
Available in XF
to AU grades. Rare in Mint State. Only 9 have been certified
in Mint State. The finest certified is a single MS63 example.
22 from the Republic have been certified by NGC; 28 came
from the Central America.
Usually seen in
VF to XF. Scarce in AU and rare in Mint State with only
7 certified in all MS grades. 9 came from the Republic.
The finest certified are 2 in MS62.
Rare in all grades;
only 7 certified in Mint State. The finest certified are
2 in MS64. 1 from the Republic has been certified MSPL61;
12 came from the Central America.
Very low mintage;
only about 60 are known in all grades; 5 have been certified
Mint State, the finest of which are 2 in MS64. Only 1
came from the Republic. 4 proofs of this date are known.
Scarce in all
grades; rare in Mint State with only 12 certified in MS
grades. The finest certified is a single MS63. 4 from
the Republic have been certified by NGC.
Usually found
in circulated condition below XF. 12 have been certified
Mint State, the finest of which is a single MS63. 7 from
the Republic have been certified by NGC. 8 proofs of this
date are known.
Scarce in all
grades; only 18 have been certified in Mint State, the
finest of which are 3 in MS64. 9 came from the Republic.
Approximately 10 proofs are known for this date.
Scarce in all
grades; most often seen in XF to AU grades; only 5 have
been certified in Mint State, the finest of which is a
single MS63 example. 2 from the Republic have been certified
by NGC.
Rare in all grades;
approximately 40 known; only 2 have been certified in
Mint State, the finer of which is an MS62 example. 3 from
the Republic have been certified by NGC.
One of the more
common dates of the type; rare above MS62; the finest
certified is a single MS66 example; 51 from the Republic
have been certified by NGC. Approximately 11 proofs of
this date are known.
Scarce in all
grades; rare in Mint State with 12 certified; the finest
certified is a single MS64 example. 9 from the Republic
have been certified by NGC. Approximately 14 proofs of
this date are known.
Rare in all grades;
approximately 40 are known; 3 have been certified Mint
State; 1 came from the Republic; the finest certified
are 2 MS63 examples. Approximately 15 proofs of this date
are known.
Very low mintage;
rare in all grades; approximately 50 are known; 2 came
from the Republic; 6 have been certified Mint State, the
finest of which is a single MS63 example. Approximately
18 proofs of this date are known.
Extremely low
mintage; approximately 25 are known; none have been certified
in Mint State; none were found on the Republic; the finest
certified is a single AU55 example.
Very low mintage;
approximately 65 are known; 1 came from the Republic;
2 have been certified Mint State; the finer is an MS63;
Approximately 14 proofs of this date are known.
Rare in all grades;
found either with normal or inverted date. Approximately
30 Normal Dates and 50 Inverted Dates are known. Only
1 Normal Date has been certified Mint State, an MS60,
and 2 Inverted Dates have been certified Mint State; the
finer is an MS64 example. No Normal Dates were found on
the Republic. 1 Inverted Date, an MS62 was found on the
Republic, and the finest certified MS64 was found on the
Brother Jonathan.
Rare in all grades;
approximately 50 are known; only 1 has been certified
Mint State, an MS60; none were found on the Republic,
the Central America, or the Brother Jonathan because all
sank before 1866.
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