U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Liberty Head eagle
Liberty Head eagles: the 1838 return and the reverse motto
The denomination returns after more than thirty years without regular eagle coinage.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
A new ten-dollar portrait
The Liberty Head eagle begins in 1838, with portrait revisions in 1839. IN GOD WE TRUST is added in 1866. Record date, mint, portrait subtype, motto, and reverse value. A no-motto example cannot use a with-motto comparison without identifying the difference.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Head $10 ↗
Surface quality across decades
Inspect coronet, hair, cheek, eagle breast, wings, fields, and rim. Late plentiful dates can provide a different type-coin context from early scarce mint-state issues. Color and brightness do not authenticate the coin or prove original surfaces. Describe cleaning, contact, and repairs individually.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Head $10 ↗
Use the exact date and mint
A recognized mintmark is only a candidate until it agrees with the issue and die evidence. Verify valuable claims, then compare the same subtype and condition. A low original production total is not a dated census, and one high-grade auction result cannot establish the value of a circulated example.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Head $10 ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.
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