$10 Indian Head Gold Coin MS-64 NGC

The $10 Indian Gold Eagle was the coin that broke the mold of American coinage. It’s quite unlike any American coin that went before it, so secure one for your collection today. President Theodore Roosevelt and sculptor Saint-Gaudens worked together to refresh and revitalize American coinage, for the President felt that American coins lacked beauty and artistic merit. Their inspiration for the project was the high relief coins of ancient Greece and other ancient civilizations. You can see this influence in the reverse design of the $10 Indian Gold Eagle, in which the stately eagle is redolent of the Ptolemaic Kingdom coinage. Rather than a thunderbolt, the bald eagle of the gold $10 coin stands on arrows and an olive sprig, symbolic of America as a peace-loving nation, but one able to defend itself. It’s not the first time that Saint-Gaudens work was influenced by the ancient world, for you can see it too in his 1905 inaugural medal which sports a very similar looking eagle.

Also on the reverse side is the phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM, taken from the great seal of the United States and meaning “Out of many, one.” The origins of this motto can also be found in the ancient world, for Greek Philosopher Heraclitus wrote, “The one is made up of all things, and all things issue from the one.” It’s a motto which was revised and reused for a number of purposes over the years, not least for the cover of a gentlemen’s magazine, where it may have come to the attention of Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, who recommended it for inclusion in the great seal in 1776. The motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” was not originally intended to be on the coin, but it was added in 1908 at the insistence of Congress. Beneath the standing bald eagle is the value of TEN DOLLARS.

The obverse design features a symbol that President Theodore Roosevelt was insistent should be included on the coin, an Indian headdress. It was a decision that was to face much ridicule for being historically inaccurate and fantastical, but isn’t this par for the course for artistic projects that break new ground? Also on the obverse design are 13 stars representing the original states of the Union, while the year of issue is shown below the Liberty portrait. In another departure from coin design, this Gold Eagle is completed with raised stars around the edge of the coin as opposed to reeding or lettering. These too were altered in 1912 when Arizona and New Mexico joined the United States when two additional stars were added. Your order will be fulfilled by a random year that has a mint state of 64, so it will be a piece of quality to treasure in your collection.

This stylish vintage coin has a weight of 16.7200g, a diameter of 27mm and is struck from 0.900 fine gold, composed of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper. First minted in 1907, these $10 Gold Eagles were produced annually until 1916, then intermittently until 1933, when their production was halted by Executive Order 1602. Today no one is quite sure how many of these precious coins exist; a $10 Indian Gold Eagle MS64 from a random year represents a piece of history and a robust investment. Collecting $10 Indian Gold Eagles can prove difficult to find, so grab this example from a random year to cradle in the palm of your hand.

Make it yours today.
Overview of the Common Date $10 Indian Gold Eagle MS64
? U.S. Mint
? Year of issue: random year
? Mint state of 64
? Metal: gold
? Fineness: 0.900
? 90% gold, 10% copper
? Weight: 16.7200g
? Designer: Augustus Saint-Gaudens