1907 Eagle Indian (1907 $10 Indian) NGC MS65. Satiny mint luster exudes from the surfaces of this delightful 1907 Eagle. It is the first year of the historic no motto variety. The few contact marks, which are actually too trivial to describe, probably keep the coin from grading a point or two higher. Unlike most 1907 eagles, the reverse of this coin is fully struck. The slight weakness in the center of the obverse is less than typical for the date. President Theodore Roosevelt felt that the contemporary coinage was atrociously hideous. His friend and renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens agreed. He had previously designed Roosevelts inaugural medal, and the president asked him to design replacements for the eagle and double eagle.

Saint-Gaudens came up with a nationalistic theme, Liberty wearing an Indian war bonnet. However, he used the inconsistent combination of a Caucasian Liberty and an idealized feathered war bonnet. The coin became known as the Indian Head gold eagle. The device of the war bonnet may also have been used to hide any connection to Saint-Gaudens earlier sculpture of Liberty, which is part of the Sherman Monument, unveiled in 1903 at the entrance to Central Park in New York City. Saint-Gaudens felt that a standing eagle was more appropriate for the ten dollar coin while the flying eagle was more suited to the twenty dollar denomination. The coins magnificent eagle reverse is similar to late Egyptian and Roman motifs. The coin lacks the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, in keeping with President Roosevelts feeling that it was blasphemous to place Gods name on a coin that might fall on the ground and be stepped on or used for sinful activities such as gambling and prostitution. However, Congress insisted in adding the motto to the coins reverse; later, in 1908, a new variety bearing the motto was issued.

Because Saint-Gaudens was ill and dying of cancer, Mint Engraver Charles Barber had to complete the coins. Since Barber was opposed to high-relief coins, he was happy to modify the dies to lower the relief thus allowing the coins to strike easily and be stackable.