Numismatic

1847-O $10 Liberty Gold Eagle S.S. Republic XF-45 NGC

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This 1847 gold ten-dollar piece, minted in New Orleans, carries a remarkable story of survival. It was recovered from the famous shipwreck of the SS Republic, a steamship that sank during a hurricane in 1865. Having rested at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for over a century, this coin has been certified in Extremely Fine 45 condition, preserving its historic details despite its time in the deep. The obverse features the classic Coronet style portrait of Lady Liberty, her hair bound by a band inscribed with the word "LIBERTY". Thirteen stars encircle her profile, representing the original colonies. The reverse depicts a bold heraldic eagle bearing a shield upon its chest, surrounded by the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the ten-dollar denomination. Because this coin was struck in 1847, it represents the original design period before the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added to the reverse in 1866. Struck from 0.900 fine gold, this historic coin contains 0.4838 troy ounces of precious metal. Out of a mintage of 571,500 pieces struck at the New Orleans Mint that year, very few survived the dual trials of circulation and shipwreck, making this a fascinating artifact of mid-nineteenth-century American coinage.