Liberty $10 Gold Coin
(1838 – 1907)
The $10 Liberty Gold Coin, also known as the Eagle, was minted from 1838 to 1907. Unlike smaller denomination coins, the $10 Liberty Gold Coin was not as widely circulated due to its higher face value, which made it more suitable for larger transactions. Despite its limited circulation, it has remained a popular coin among collectors due to its gold content, historical significance, and relatively low mintage in certain years.
These coins are made from 90% gold and 10% copper, and they are slightly larger than many other U.S. gold coins. Although most examples of the coin will show signs of wear, higher-quality specimens can fetch impressive prices on the market today.
The Value of the $10 Liberty Gold Coin
The value of a $10 Liberty Gold Coin is influenced by several factors:
Gold Content: The intrinsic value of the coin is closely tied to the current price of gold, making the value fluctuate based on market conditions.
Condition: Coins in better condition (especially higher-grade examples) command much higher prices. As with most collectible coins, well-preserved examples are more valuable.
Rarity: Coins minted in lower numbers, such as those with the Carson City (CC) mint mark, are significantly more valuable than more commonly found mints.
The general value range for $10 Liberty Gold Coins is between $400 and $600 for coins in semi-worn condition. Coins that are well-preserved, especially those with specific mint marks, can reach much higher values. For example, a Carson City mint coin like the 1882-C could easily be worth over $2,000, even in lower grades.
The Most Coveted $10 Liberty Gold Coins
Carson City (CC) Mint: Coins from the Carson City Mint are among the most sought after, due to the lower mintage numbers and their historical significance. For instance, an 1882-C Liberty coin could demand a premium of over $2,000, even for a less-than-ideal specimen.
Well-Preserved Examples: Like most coins, higher-grade $10 Liberty Gold Coins (e.g., MS-63 and higher) are worth far more than coins with heavy wear. As with most gold coins, a coin’s condition and quality are key drivers of its value.
Valuation Chart
Year | mint mark(s) | Mintage | Estimated Value Range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1838 | None | 7,200 | $3,000 – $13,500 | First year of issue; rare and highly sought after. |
1839 | None | 38,248 | $1,750 – $7,000 | Features both Large and Small Letters varieties. |
1840 | None | 47,338 | $850 – $1,600 | Common in lower grades; higher grades are scarce. |
1841 | None | 63,131 | $850 – $1,350 | Readily available in circulated grades. |
1841 | O | 2,500 | $4,050 – $17,600 | Low mintage; rare and valuable. |
1842 | None | 81,507 | $850 – $1,825 | Includes Large and Small Date varieties. |
1842 | O | 27,400 | $1,000 – $2,800 | Scarcer than Philadelphia issue. |
1843 | None | 75,462 | $850 – $1,800 | Common in circulated grades. |
1843 | O | 175,162 | $900 – $1,525 | High mintage; widely available. |
1844 | None | 6,361 | $1,400 – $5,100 | Low mintage; scarce in all grades. |
1844 | O | 118,700 | $900 – $1,875 | Common in circulated grades. |
1845 | None | 26,153 | $850 – $2,100 | Scarcer than surrounding years. |
1845 | O | 47,500 | $850 – $2,800 | Moderate mintage; collectible. |
1846 | None | 20,095 | $925 – $3,525 | Low mintage; sought after by collectors. |
1846 | O | 81,780 | $875 – $4,225 | Includes 6 over 5 variety; desirable. |
1847 | None | 862,258 | $850 – $975 | High mintage; common in all grades. |
1847 | O | 571,500 | $875 – $1,025 | Widely available; affordable. |
1848 | None | 145,484 | $850 – $1,025 | Common in lower grades. |
1848 | O | 35,850 | $900 – $3,225 | Scarcer than Philadelphia issue. |
1849 | None | 653,618 | $850 – $925 | Common in circulated grades. |
1849 | O | 23,900 | $1,175 – $5,000 | Low mintage; collectible. |
1850 | None | 291,451 | $850 – $925 | Includes Large and Small Date varieties. |
1850 | O | 57,500 | $875 – $2,250 | Moderate mintage; collectible. |
1851 | None | 176,328 | $850 – $1,050 | Common in circulated grades. |
1851 | O | 263,000 | $900 – $1,500 | High mintage; widely available. |
1852 | None | 263,106 | $850 – $900 | Common in all grades. |
1852 | O | 18,000 | $1,100 – $3,750 | Low mintage; desirable. |
1853 | None | 201,253 | $850 – $900 | Includes 3 over 2 variety; collectible. |
1853 | O | 51,000 | $1,000 – $1,200 | Moderate mintage; collectible. |
1854 | None | 54,250 | $850 – $925 | Common in circulated grades. |
1854 | O | 52,500 | $1,000 – $1,800 | Includes Large and Small Date varieties. |
1854 | S | 123,826 | $900 – $1,300 | First year of San Francisco mint; collectible. |
1855 | None | 121,701 | $850 – $925 | Common in circulated grades. |
1855 | O | 18,000 | $1,100 – $5,000 | Low mintage; desirable. |
1855 | S | 9,000 | $1,425 – $5,050 | Low mintage; scarce in all grades. |
1856 | None | 60,490 | $850 – $925 | Common in circulated grades. |
1856 | O | 14,500 | $1,050 – $4,275 | Low mintage; collectible. |
1856 | S | 68,000 | $850 – $1,400 | Moderate mintage; widely available. |
1857 | None | 16,606 | $850 – $1,975 | Low mintage; desirable. |
1857 | O | 5,500 | $1,625 – $4,050 | Very low mintage; rare. |
1857 | S | 26,000 | $975 – $2,550 | Moderate mintage; collectible. |
1858 | None | 2,521 | $6,100 – $12,500 | Extremely low mintage; rare and valuable. |
1858 | O | 20,000 | $1,075 – $2,050 | Low mintage; collectible. |
1858 | S | 11,800 | $1,875 – $5,500 | Low mintage; desirable. |
1859 | O | 2,300 | $3,500 – $8,000 | Rare; low surviving population. |
1859 | S | 7,000 | $1,750 – $4,000 | Desirable early San Francisco strike. |
1860 | None | 15,085 | $1,200 – $2,500 | Steady collector demand. |
1860 | O | 11,100 | $1,800 – $3,800 | Scarcer Southern issue. |
1860 | S | 21,200 | $1,500 – $2,800 | Often seen well circulated. |
1861 | None | 113,164 | $1,100 – $1,900 | High mintage Civil War year. |
1861 | O | Unknown | Varies widely | Two types exist: U.S. and Confederate strikes. |
1861 | S | 21,100 | $1,400 – $2,600 | Popular Civil War era coin. |
1862 | None | 10,960 | $1,400 – $2,800 | Lower wartime mintage. |
1862 | S | 12,000 | $1,500 – $3,000 | Scarcer Western mint issue. |
1863 | None | 1,248 | $4,500 – $9,000 | Very low mintage; rare. |
1863 | S | 10,000 | $1,800 – $3,500 | Modest availability in low grades. |
1864 | None | 3,530 | $3,000 – $6,200 | Civil War rarity; popular among collectors. |
1864 | S | 2,500 | $3,750 – $7,500 | Rare; tough to locate. |
1865 | None | 3,980 | $2,800 – $5,500 | Low mintage Reconstruction-era coin. |
1865 | S | 4,000 | $3,250 – $6,800 | Highly collectible. |
1866 | None | 3,750 | $2,750 – $5,500 | First year with motto “IN GOD WE TRUST”. |
1866 | S | 8,500 | $2,200 – $4,200 | Scarce, historic transitional year. |
1867 | None | 3,990 | $2,650 – $5,200 | Rare in any condition. |
1867 | S | 6,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 | Scarce issue with limited availability. |
1868 | None | 10,630 | $1,350 – $2,600 | Steady demand; decent availability. |
1868 | S | 16,000 | $1,500 – $2,800 | Commonly found circulated. |
1869 | None | 1,830 | $3,200 – $6,600 | Very low mintage; undervalued rarity. |
1869 | S | 6,000 | $1,700 – $3,400 | Desirable date among Western collectors. |
1870 | None | 3,990 | $2,200 – $4,500 | Scarce year. |
1870 | CC | 5,908 | $4,000 – $9,000 | First Carson City eagle; tough to find. |
1870 | S | 17,000 | $1,400 – $2,600 | More available in circulated grades. |
1871 | None | 1,790 | $3,600 – $7,200 | Rare low-mintage year. |
1871 | CC | 8,085 | $3,000 – $6,000 | Scarce Carson City issue. |
1871 | S | 16,500 | $1,400 – $2,400 | Better availability. |
1872 | None | 1,620 | $3,800 – $7,500 | Very scarce; popular with series collectors. |
1872 | CC | 6,600 | $2,800 – $5,500 | Increasing demand from Carson City collectors. |
1872 | S | 18,000 | $1,400 – $2,400 | Seen regularly in lower grades. |
1873 | None | 2,870 | $2,800 – $5,600 | Low mintage; scarce in high grades. |
1873 | CC | 4,543 | $3,600 – $7,200 | Popular among Carson City specialists. |
1873 | S | 27,000 | $1,250 – $2,100 | Higher mintage for this period. |
1874 | None | 2,560 | $2,400 – $4,800 | Underappreciated lower-mintage date. |
1874 | CC | 16,767 | $2,000 – $3,800 | Available but strong CC demand. |
1874 | S | 20,000 | $1,300 – $2,300 | Good type coin from the West. |
1875 | None | 2,095 | $3,100 – $6,200 | Scarce; rising demand. |
1875 | CC | 9,997 | $2,600 – $5,200 | Always in demand among CC collectors. |
1875 | S | 19,000 | $1,300 – $2,400 | Typically found well-worn. |
1876 | None | 3,200 | $2,500 – $5,200 | Bicentennial year issue; tough in higher grades. |
1876 | CC | 4,696 | $3,200 – $6,600 | Desirable low-mintage Carson City. |
1876 | S | 38,000 | $1,200 – $2,200 | Larger mintage; more affordable. |
1877 | None | 1,620 | $2,400 – $4,800 | Low mintage, hard to find in high grade. |
1877 | CC | 3,332 | $3,800 – $7,500 | Tough Carson City date, low survival rate. |
1877 | S | 17,000 | $1,200 – $2,200 | Commonly seen in lower grades. |
1878 | None | 1,800 | $2,200 – $4,400 | Low production Philadelphia issue. |
1878 | CC | 2,197 | $4,000 – $8,200 | Rare and sought-after Carson City eagle. |
1878 | S | 28,000 | $1,150 – $2,000 | More available; decent condition examples found. |
1879 | None | 1,500 | $2,500 – $5,000 | Very low mintage; scarce. |
1879 | CC | 1,762 | $5,000 – $9,500 | One of the key Carson City coins. |
1879 | S | 22,000 | $1,300 – $2,400 | Plentiful; often seen at shows. |
1880 | None | 5,000 | $1,800 – $3,400 | Underrated date with moderate demand. |
1880 | CC | 11,190 | $2,200 – $4,200 | Available but heavily worn examples common. |
1880 | S | 36,000 | $1,100 – $2,000 | Good date for type collectors. |
1881 | None | 3,200 | $2,000 – $3,800 | Low availability outside major auctions. |
1881 | CC | 24,015 | $2,000 – $4,000 | CC collectors highly pursue this date. |
1881 | S | 72,000 | $1,000 – $1,900 | Affordable and seen often. |
1882 | None | 3,200 | $2,100 – $4,100 | Not often found in high condition. |
1882 | CC | 82,817 | $1,250 – $2,500 | Larger CC mintage; prices more accessible. |
1882 | S | 25,700 | $1,100 – $2,000 | Seen often in coin shops. |
1883 | None | 3,200 | $1,800 – $3,600 | Collector interest increasing. |
1883 | CC | 12,000 | $1,700 – $3,400 | Harder to locate in MS condition. |
1883 | S | 38,000 | $1,000 – $1,900 | Still affordable. |
1884 | None | 4,680 | $1,600 – $3,000 | Lower production year. |
1884 | S | 63,500 | $1,000 – $1,800 | Good availability for entry-level collectors. |
1885 | None | 3,580 | $1,800 – $3,500 | Low production adds to demand. |
1885 | S | 65,000 | $1,000 – $1,850 | Common in circulated grades. |
1886 | None | 1,000 | $3,600 – $7,000 | Extremely low mintage; rare date. |
1886 | S | 55,000 | $1,000 – $1,750 | Relatively accessible. |
1887 | None | 1,000 | $3,400 – $6,600 | Rare, especially in high grade. |
1887 | S | 64,000 | $1,000 – $1,850 | Popular with collectors. |
1888 | None | 18,000 | $1,300 – $2,500 | More common than earlier 1880s dates. |
1888 | S | 81,000 | $950 – $1,700 | Affordable option in the series. |
1889 | None | 4,440 | $1,600 – $3,000 | Slightly tougher date. |
1889 | S | 66,000 | $950 – $1,800 | Often found in coin shows and online sales. |
1890 | None | 57,000 | $950 – $1,700 | Readily available. |
1890 | S | 81,000 | $900 – $1,600 | Common date; good for type sets. |
1891 | None | 91,208 | $900 – $1,500 | Strong collector interest. |
1891 | S | 87,000 | $900 – $1,500 | One of the more obtainable issues. |
1892 | None | 91,199 | $900 – $1,500 | Good entry point for collectors. |
1892 | S | 92,000 | $850 – $1,500 | Plentiful on the market. |
1893 | None | 53,900 | $950 – $1,600 | Mid-level availability. |
1893 | S | 160,000 | $850 – $1,450 | Seen regularly in trade. |
1894 | None | 75,000 | $850 – $1,400 | Decent supply on the market. |
1894 | S | 82,000 | $850 – $1,400 | Affordable date for collectors. |
1895 | None | 58,875 | $900 – $1,500 | Solid choice in mid-grade. |
1895 | S | 60,000 | $850 – $1,450 | Typically found in circulated condition. |
1896 | None | 41,000 | $950 – $1,600 | Slightly scarcer than mid-1890s dates. |
1896 | S | 60,000 | $850 – $1,450 | Seen frequently at shows. |
1897 | None | 42,000 | $900 – $1,500 | Reasonably available. |
1897 | S | 54,000 | $850 – $1,450 | Good for first-time buyers. |
1898 | None | 32,000 | $900 – $1,600 | Lower mintage boosts demand. |
1898 | S | 74,000 | $850 – $1,400 | Popular entry-level coin. |
1899 | None | 37,047 | $950 – $1,700 | Seen regularly in coin shops. |
1899 | S | 84,000 | $850 – $1,400 | Plenty available in VF-XF grades. |
1900 | None | 171,935 | $850 – $1,300 | High mintage; often seen in the market. |
1901 | None | 111,430 | $850 – $1,300 | Common and widely available. |
1901 | S | 103,000 | $850 – $1,300 | Low premium entry-level option. |
1902 | None | 82,500 | $850 – $1,300 | Affordable and easy to obtain. |
1902 | S | 193,100 | $850 – $1,300 | One of the most common of the series. |
1903 | None | 125,920 | $850 – $1,300 | Regularly offered in trade. |
1904 | None | 190,925 | $850 – $1,300 | High mintage keeps values modest. |
1905 | None | 351,175 | $850 – $1,300 | Often seen in lower condition. |
1906 | None | 74,250 | $850 – $1,300 | Good for affordable collection. |
1906 | D | 320,000 | $850 – $1,300 | First Denver mint eagle; historic appeal. |
1907 | None | 1,218,370 | $850 – $1,300 | Final year of Liberty design; popular with type collectors. |
Historical Context Year-by-Year
1838: The $10 Liberty Gold Coin was first minted as part of the redesign of U.S. gold coinage. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the obverse features a Liberty head and the reverse shows a large eagle. Its debut introduced a larger gold coin to the marketplace.
1839: The coin saw relatively higher mintage this year, but it was still a rare item in circulation, primarily used for large transactions. Many of the coins from this era are now heavily worn, making higher-quality examples highly desirable.
1840: Production increased slightly, and the $10 Liberty started to gain more recognition, but continued to be relatively rare in everyday commerce due to its face value being so high compared to other coinage at the time.
1841: The $10 Liberty Coin continues to be a popular item for collectors, but it was still not seen often in general circulation due to its high face value. As the economy evolved, it became clear that gold coins like the Eagle were largely used for larger exchanges.
1842-1844: The $10 Liberty continued to be produced in steady quantities but was not used in everyday trade. These coins started appearing more frequently in private and banking transactions.
1845-1851: During these years, the $10 Liberty coin’s mintage fluctuated. The value of gold was relatively stable, and the coin started gaining more traction with collectors, though still not as much as smaller gold denominations.
1852-1855: These years saw slightly higher production due to the demand for gold coins, especially as the economy expanded during the gold rush era. The $10 Liberty coin continued to be a symbol of wealth and was primarily held by the wealthy or used for large transactions.
1856: A steady production year for the $10 Liberty Gold Coin. These coins started being seen more as collector’s items in addition to circulating currency, but they remained rare.
1857-1861: With the outbreak of the Civil War, the economy became unstable, and the value of gold fluctuated. The $10 Liberty coin became less common in everyday use, though it remained valuable as an asset for banks and collectors.
1862-1865: During the Civil War, many gold coins were hoarded, and the $10 Liberty coin became a more coveted item for numismatists due to its scarcity. Mintage numbers dropped during this period as other forms of currency (such as paper money) became more common.
1866-1871: The mintage increased slightly after the war as the economy recovered, but the $10 Liberty coin remained a rare item in circulation. By now, gold coins were primarily used for saving and larger financial transactions.
1872-1877: These years mark a period of consistent production for the $10 Liberty coin. However, as the U.S. economy stabilized, the coin continued to be relatively rare in circulation. Coins from these years are now considered highly collectible.
1878-1881: The $10 Liberty continued to be produced but was used less and less in everyday transactions. It became more of a numismatic item as collectors began to take more interest in gold coins. These coins were primarily sought after for their gold content and historical significance.
1882-1884: Mintage remained steady but relatively low. By now, the $10 Liberty coin was often hoarded and was a popular item among wealthy collectors. The 1882 coin, in particular, became highly sought after by collectors.
1885-1889: These years saw the beginning of a sharp increase in demand from collectors for well-preserved $10 Liberty coins. The Carson City mint in particular started to produce some of the most valuable examples of the coin series.
1890-1907: The production of the $10 Liberty Gold Coin gradually slowed until it was discontinued in favor of the $10 Indian Gold Coin in 1907. The coins from the 1890s and early 1900s are particularly rare and valuable, as fewer were made during these years.
Final Thoughts
The $10 Liberty Gold Coin is a highly sought-after item, and its rarity and historical significance, combined with its gold content, make it an enduring favorite among collectors. Coins minted at the Carson City Mint (CC) and those in excellent condition command a premium, and many of the older coins are particularly valuable today.
