In the 19th century, gold was money! The Coinage Act of 1792 established the gold eagle, a primary denomination unit in US gold coinage. One of the most beautiful pieces is the $10 Liberty gold eagle coin the US Mint produced from 1838 to 1907.
You can see two versions struck in this period, with and without the motto, affecting Liberty ten dollar gold coin values. Like a few other American coins, $10 Coronet gold eagles were made of gold after James Smithson’s British sovereigns were melted and re-struck.
$10 Coronet Gold Eagle History
The US Mint started the Liberty ten dollar gold coin ($10 Coronet gold eagle) production in 1838 and continued it until 1907. Engraver Christian Gobrecht created this unique design, and it changed only once, in 1866.
By that year, this gold piece was minted without the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Therefore, you can find two coin types nowadays:
- No motto Liberty ten dollar gold coin produced from 1838 to 1866
- With motto Liberty ten dollar gold coin minted from 1866 until 1907
Congress added this motto after the Civil War to help Americans come to terms with the horrible time they went through.
Liberty ten dollar gold coin |
|
Face value | $10 |
Compound | 90% gold (21.6 Karat) |
Coin weight | 0.53749 troy ounces (16.718 g) |
Gold weight | 0.48355 troy ounces (15.04 g) |
Coin diameter | 1.06299Â inches (27 mm) |
Coin thickness | 0.07874 inches (2 mm) |
Edge | Reeded |
Shape | Round |
The $10 Coronet gold eagle design includes a Liberty’s bust facing left on the obverse surrounded with thirteen stars. You can see the word LIBERTY on a coronet and the date along the bottom coin rim.
The gorgeous reverse contains a heraldic eagle with spread wings that keeps arrows and an olive branch in its claws.
The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and denomination are struck along the coin rim. After 1866, these coins featured the motto IN GOD WE TRUST above the eagle’s head.
Liberty ten dollar gold coin values by JM Bullion |
||
Date | Extra fine | Uncirculated |
1838 | $6,000 | $13,000 |
1839 | $3,700 | $6,500 |
1840 | $1,100 | $1,550 |
1841 | $1,000 | $1,250 |
1841 O | $13,500 | $20,000 |
1842 | $1,000 | $1,800 |
1842 O | $1,250 | $2,750 |
1843 | $1,000 | $1,750 |
1843 O | $1,000 | $1,800 |
1844 | $2,500 | $4,700 |
1844 O | $1,100 | $1,850 |
1845 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
1845 O | $1,100 | $2,750 |
1846 | $1,200 | $3,500 |
1846 O | $1,200 | $3,200 |
1847 | $1,000 | $1,100 |
1847 O | $1,100 | $1,150 |
1848 | $1,000 | $1,100 |
1848 O | $1,500 | $3,200 |
1849 | $1,000 | $1,100 |
1849 O | $2,200 | $5,000 |
1850 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
1850 O | $1,300 | $1,500 |
1851 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
1851 O | $1,100 | $1,600 |
1852 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
1852 O | $1,600 | $3,800 |
1853 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
1853 O | $1,100 | $1,250 |
1854 | $1,000 | $1,300 |
1854 O | $1,100 | $1,700 |
1855 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
1855 S | $2,200 | $5,000 |
1855 O | $1,800 | $5,000 |
1856 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
1856 S | $1,000 | $1,400 |
1856 O | $1,500 | $4,200 |
1857 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
1857 S | $1,200 | $2,500 |
1857 O | $2,500 | $4,000 |
1858 | $7,500 | $12,500 |
1858 S | $3,200 | $5,000 |
1858 O | $1,100 | $2,000 |
1859 | $1,000 | $1,300 |
1859 S | $7,500 | $20,000 |
1859 O | $10,000 | rare |
1860 | $1,100 | $1,700 |
1860 S | $5,500 | $13,000 |
1860 O | $1,500 | $2,500 |
1861 | $1,000 | $1,100 |
1861 S | $3,000 | $8,500 |
1862 | $1,250 | $2,000 |
1862 S | $3,000 | $5,000 |
1863 | $15,000 | rare |
1863 S | $12,500 | rare |
1864 | $7,000 | $10,000 |
1864 S | $60,000 | $90,000 |
1865 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
1865 S | $10,000 | $15,000 |
1866 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
1866 S | $3,200 | $7,200 |
1867 | $2,500 | $4,500 |
1867 S | $5,500 | $9,000 |
1868 | $1,000 | $1,700 |
1868 S | $2,200 | $4,000 |
1869 | $2,300 | $4,700 |
1869 S | $920 | $1,000 |
1870 | $1,200 | $2,500 |
1870 S | $2,200 | $5,500 |
1870 CC | rare | $75,000 |
1871 | $2,400 | $3,800 |
1871 S | $1,800 | $5,000 |
1871 CC | $7,800 | $15,000 |
1872 | $3,200 | $9,000 |
1872 S | $1,000 | $1,300 |
1872 CC | $12,000 | rare |
1873 | $15,000 | $20,000 |
1873 S | $2,200 | $4,200 |
1873 CC | $15,000 | $32,000 |
1874 | $880 | $900 |
1874 S | $2,500 | $5,000 |
1874 CC | $4,000 | $8,500 |
1875 | $185,000 | $225,000 |
1875 CC | $10,000 | $17,500 |
1876 | $9,500 | $17,000 |
1876 S | $1,000 | $1,000 |
1876 CC | $12,000 | $18,500 |
$10 Coronet Gold Eagle Type
In the time of minting, circulating $10 Liberty gold eagles were established at .900 gold purity. Since the gold price was $20.67 per troy ounce by law, the Liberty ten dollar gold coin value was exactly $10.
As I have already mentioned, you can find two types of these goldies, including:
No motto $10 Liberty gold eagles
This variation was minted from 1838 to 1866 in low mintage. These coins were impractical for most Americans from the first day because of the economic depression in the 1830s and 1840s.
Mintage was decreased even more during the Civil War and rarely exceeded 10,000 coins a year. Since they are rare nowadays, you can expect them to be pricey, particularly in high grades.
With motto $10 Liberty gold eagles
Even though the With motto Liberty ten gold dollars’ mintage was relatively low, they are more available than the original variant on the current coin market. Consequently, they are more affordable, but specimens in gem conditions are scarce.
$10 Coronet gold eagle proofs
It is known that the US Mint produced a few $10 Coronet gold eagle proofs for VIPs, but only three exist nowadays. Some rumors claim that a fourth specimen exists, but there is no official confirmation.
Liberty ten dollar gold coin values by CoinStudy |
||||
Date | Very fine | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated |
1877 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1877 S | $910 | $1,010 | $2,465 | rare |
1877 CC | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1878 | $910 | $914 | $1,050 | $1,205 |
1878 S | $970 | $1,100 | $1,230 | rare |
1878 CC | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1879 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1879 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,205 |
1879 CC | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1879 O | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1880 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1880 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1880 CC | $1,085 | $1,235 | $3,725 | rare |
1880 O | $970 | $1,235 | $3,025 | rare |
1881 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1881 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1881 CC | $1,085 | $1,235 | $3,310 | $5,690 |
1881 O | $970 | $1,010 | $2,385 | rare |
1882 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1882 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1882 CC | $1,175 | $3,500 | $7,850 | rare |
1882 O | $970 | $1,010 | $1,365 | $6,725 |
1883 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1883 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,205 |
1883 CC | $1,085 | $2,110 | $5,095 | rare |
1883 O | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1884 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1884 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1884 CC | $1,175 | $2,450 | $4,510 | rare |
1885 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1885 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1886 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1886 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1887 | $910 | $915 | $940 | $1,000 |
1887 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1888 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1888 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1888 O | $910 | $915 | $940 | $1,075 |
1889 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $3,985 |
1889 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1890 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,075 |
1890 CC | $1,085 | $1,100 | $1,230 | $5,435 |
1891 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1891 CC | $1,085 | $1,100 | $1,230 | $2,430 |
1892 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1892 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1892 CC | $1,085 | $1,100 | $1,230 | $4,225 |
1892 O | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,075 |
1893 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1893 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,075 |
1893 CC | $1,085 | $1,235 | $5,345 | rare |
1893 O | $910 | $915 | $940 | $1,205 |
1894 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1894 S | $910 | $1,010 | $1,050 | $4,670 |
1894 O | $910 | $915 | $1,050 | $1,205 |
1895 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1895 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $2,880 |
1895 O | $910 | $915 | $940 | $1,075 |
1896 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1896 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,440 |
1897 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1897 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1897 O | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,075 |
1898 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1898 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1899 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1899 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1899 O | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,075 |
1900 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1900 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1901 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1901 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1901 O | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1902 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1902 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1903 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1903 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1903 O | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1904 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1904 O | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1905 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1905 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,075 |
1906 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1906 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1906 D | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1906 O | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1907 | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
1907 S | $910 | $915 | $920 | $1,000 |
1907 D | $910 | $915 | $920 | $945 |
$10 Coronet Gold Eagle Market Analysis
Despite the $10 face value, you can expect that Liberty ten dollar gold coin is worth a lot more on the current market. Even pieces in the worst condition have at least a gold melted value, but most are more pricey than that.
You should pay at least $500 for the specimen in the lowest possible grade. On the other hand, rare pieces in the mint state are costly. The most valuable are:
- 1864 S Liberty $10 gold coin is worth $60,000 in low grade and $90,000 in the mint state
- 1870 CC Liberty $10 gold coin is worth $75,000 in the mint state
- 1875 Liberty $10 gold coin is the most expensive, and a low-graded piece is worth $185,000. A specimen in the mint state costs an astonishing $225,000
It is practically impossible to predict Liberty ten dollar gold coin values in the future. However, its price is unlikely to decline, making this coin an excellent investment.
Summary
Liberty ten dollar gold coin exists in two variants, and both are rare on the current market and often expensive. Only serious collectors can afford to complete the set. However, it is hard to find some scarce specimens, particularly those minted in the first decades.