Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1838-1866
Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
Diameter: 27 mm
Weight: 16.72 grams (258.02 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 5,292,499

Production of Eagles, or $10 gold pieces resumed in 1838 after a 34-year hiatus. Selected for the design was Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty Head, which would follow on the half eagle in 1839 and the quarter eagle in 1840.

The first rendering of the design, which would appear on all 1838 and some 1839 issues was considerably different from those that followed, with Liberty’s head noticeably tilted forward, and her ear covered with a lock of hair. While most collectors do not consider this a distinct type, it is immediately obvious to any observer and by no means a “magnifying glass” variety. We suspect future researchers may at some point recognize this design as a distinct type.

In any event, later in 1839 a new head, now more upright in style was introduced, and continued in use until 1907. The reverse of the coin would witness the only change, when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added on a ribbon above the eagle following the Civil War, in 1866.

Collecting Liberty Head Eagles by date and mintmark runs into the same difficulties as the Liberty Half Eagle series – and that is the presence of several extremely tough dates. While the eagles do not have a coin quite as impossible as the 1854-S half eagle, the 1864-S will provide a challenge to even the wealthiest numismatists. A complete Mint State set is out of the question, as there are numerous issues unknown in that condition.