Numismatic

1903-O $10 Liberty Gold Eagle AU

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In 1903, the New Orleans Mint struck a limited run of 112,771 ten-dollar gold coins. This particular issue, graded in Almost Uncirculated condition, represents a fascinating survivor from an era when precious metal coinage circulated freely in the United States. Over the decades, vast numbers of these gold pieces were melted down, making the remaining specimens highly intriguing to historical enthusiasts. The obverse features a left-facing profile of Liberty, her hair bound by a band inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle her image, representing the original colonies, with the year 1903 positioned at the base. This elegant portrait was created by Christian Gobrecht, whose work graced this coin series from 1838 all the way through 1907. On the reverse, a heraldic eagle stands with a shield across its chest, clutching an olive branch and arrows. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the eagle, while the denomination TEN D. is stamped below. The distinctive O mint mark of the New Orleans facility is visible on this side, indicating its southern origin. Each of these historic coins was struck with 0.4838 troy ounces of pure gold, out of a total composition of 90 percent purity.