1905 Eagle (1905 $10) PCGS PF55. It is always interesting to conjecture how a rare proof coin becomes circulated. Perhaps it was spent during depression years. This 1905 Eagle coin has some mint luster hidden within the devices. There are a few light marks on Liberty’s face and the obverse and reverse fields. Wear is evident on the high points of both sides, in keeping with the grade. The strike, which is obvious on other than the highest points, is strong on both sides of the coin. The issue was designed by Christian Gobrecht and minted from 1839 to 1908.

It is similar to the Liberty Head or Coronet Large Cents of 1816 to 1857, which were modified by Gobrecht in 1837. In 1866 the design of the ten dollar gold piece was changed by adding the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to a banner above the eagle making this design the second type. It shows Liberty looking left, surrounded by thirteen stars with the date below. She wears a coronet and her hair is tied with beads in a bun as curls fall behind her head and below her ear. The reverse shows the heraldic eagle holding arrows and olive branch in its claws. On its breast is the union shield. UNITED STATE OF AMERICA surrounds the eagle with the denomination TEN D. below. A dot precedes and follows the denomination.

With a tiny mintage of just 86, this proof eagle is rare in all grades. In its population report PCGS shows a total population of 25.