Numismatic

1881-S $10 Liberty Gold Eagle AU

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Struck in the late nineteenth century, this ten-dollar gold piece represents a classic era of American coinage. Issued from the San Francisco Mint in 1881, the coin contains 0.4838 troy ounces of gold, composed of a 0.900 gold purity. It survives today in Almost Uncirculated condition, offering observers a remarkably clear look at a design that circulated throughout the United States from 1838 to 1907. The front of the coin features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band clearly displaying her name. Framing her profile are thirteen stars, representing the original colonies, with the year 1881 positioned at the bottom. On the reverse, a heraldic eagle stands with a protective shield over its chest. The eagle is surrounded by the inscriptions denoting the nation of origin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, alongside the face value, TEN D. While the San Francisco Mint produced 970,000 of these ten-dollar pieces in 1881, many gold coins of this era were melted down in subsequent decades. This makes surviving examples highly intriguing historical artifacts, showcasing the artistry of designer Christian Gobrecht, whose work defined this denomination for nearly seventy years.