1839 $10 Liberty Head Eagle, Type of 1840 PCGS AU50
SOLD
SKU
34643229
This example, the Type of 1840, features a new obverse, different from that found on 1838 and the earlier 1839 issues. The most striking difference between these two types is the tilt of Liberty's head. The Type of 1838 has star 6 located right above Liberty's coronet, while the Type of 1840 has the coronet pointing straight at star 6. The bust of Liberty is rounded on the 1838 Type, and more pointed on the Type offered. The Type of 1840 is much rarer, with about half the mintage of the previous issue. From its scant mintage of 12,447, only 38 have been graded by PCGS. Five are found in AU50, with just 9 finer (as of 2/2021). Breen writes that the 1839 Type of 1840 is "prohibitively rare [in] AU." The sophisticated numismatist with the means will want to count such a great rarity--and registry coin-- among his or her portfolio of treasures. Opportunities to possess such an example are as rare as hens' teeth, so don't dawdle!
We are proud to offer for your consideration one of the great rarities in U.S. gold coinage. Doug Winter writes of this specimen, "It is rare in all grades with an estimated 50-60 known from the original mintage of 12,447. This issue is usually seen in very low grades with VF20 to EF40 being typical." That being said, AUCM is giving you a truly rare opportunity to make this unique piece your own.
Gold expert David Akers tells us that it was in 1839 that the head of Liberty was modified, thus giving us the Type of 1840. That second issue of 1839 is the first in a long line of very underrated specimens. He writes, "In my opinion, the Liberty Head Eagle series contains the most underrated and unappreciated of all U.S. gold coins. Almost without exception Liberty Head Eagles prior to 1880 are very rare in AU....The 1839 Type of '40 is very rare in any condition and most known specimens are VF or EF."
Numismatic scholar Walter Breen writes, "the Secretary of the Treasury instructed Mint Director Robert Patterson to resume coinage of this denomination [$10 eagle] at once [in1838]. Acting engraver Christian Gobrecht prepared new dies. ... Gobrecht copied the head of Venus in Benjamin West's recent painting Omnia Vincit Amor (Love Conquers All) with slightly changed headdress but with the same triple beaded cord in her bun, and the same coronet (here inscribed LIBERTY)..."
| PCGS # | 8580 |
|---|---|
| Grading Service | PCGS |
| Year of Issue | 1839 |
| Grade | AU50 |
| Denom Type | Liberty Head $10 |
| Numeric Denomination | $10 |
| Mint Location | Philadelphia |
| Designation | NONE |
| Circ/UnCirc | Circulated |
| Strike Type | Business |
| Holder Variety | Type of 1840 |
| Grade Add On | NONE |
| Holder Type | N/A |
