1839/8 $10 Liberty Head Eagle, Type of 1838 PCGS AU58

This is a rare variety that has quite a unique appearance. Plus it has original attractive greenish-gold coloration. PCGS has graded only 8 of the 1839/8 $10 Eagle, Type of 1838, as AU58 with just 17 finer. Collectors Universe gives this rare variety a price of $25,000.00 in AU58.

Gold specialist David Akers writes that there “are different types with the head of Liberty dramatically different on each issue.…I have opted to call this first 1839 issue the "Type of '38" and the second 1839 issue, the "Type of '40"….The 1839 Type of '38 is rare in all grades…”

David Hall writes of this variety, “Interestingly, David Akers stepped out in 1980 and challenged tradition by declaring that the first $10 Liberty issues, 1838 and 1839 Type of '38, were actually two different types. Not only did the numismatic community adopt his position, we [PCGS] used his names for the two 1839 issues. Just shows what a visionary David was and how important his books on gold coins were (are).”

Please see photos below displaying the different types, as well as details of the rare 1839/8 overdate.

1839 $10 Eagle Type Comparison, courtesy of PCGS Coinfacts website.

Closeup of 1839/8 overdate, courtesy of PCGS Coinfacts website.