Numismatic

1847 $10 Liberty Gold Eagle AU

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In 1847, the Philadelphia Mint produced a classic ten dollar gold piece. Strikingly designed by Christian Gobrecht, this coin features a left-facing profile of Liberty on its obverse, her hair bound by a band clearly inscribed with her name. Thirteen stars encircle her, representing the original colonies that formed the nation. The reverse displays a proud heraldic eagle with a protective shield over its chest. The bird holds the traditional symbols of war and peace, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the abbreviated denomination TEN D. As is typical for Philadelphia issues of this era, no mint mark is present on the coin. Struck from 0.900 fine gold, this coin contains 0.4838 troy ounces of precious metal. Although the original mintage reached 862,258 pieces, the survival of these coins is remarkable, as a vast number of them were melted down in subsequent decades. Finding an example today in Almost Uncirculated condition offers a rare glimpse into the mid nineteenth century currency of the United States.