1874 $10 Liberty Head Eagle PCGS MS62

Here’s a rare coin from the Philadelphia Mint that the specialist or enthusiast in $10 Liberty head eagles should consider. Out of its original mintage of 53,160, only 543 have been certified and graded by PCGS. Please see below for an explanation of the rarity of the 1874 eagle.

PCGS has graded 24 in the desirable grade of MS62 with only 10 finer. Buy this piece from AUCM and you will have made a very smart numismatic decision. Why? Because when you purchase an MS62, you save about half the price that an MS63 piece will cost (if you could even find one). Collectors Universe prices this issue at $5,000 in MS62.

The second Philadelphia Mint, where this rare piece was struck. Photo: wikipedia.

The commencement of the Civil War in 1861 saw gold eagles and other coins disappear from circulation, as they were hoarded due to the uncertainty of the final result of the War.

Overall, the hoarding of gold coins lasted well in the 1870s (including 1874)—plus the $10 eagle had been replaced as the primary coin of international trade by the $20 double eagle. The total of gold eagles produced in any one given year was small. It was not until 1879 that the combined mintage of all branch mints exceeded half a million pieces. As discussed above, just 53,160 gold eagles were produced at the Philadelphia Mint in 1874.