1878-2018 Morgan's Eagle design Smithsonian Collection 1/2oz Gold NGC PR70UCAM w/box

This is an officially-authorized Smithsonian Gold Proof of a historic Gold Eagle Pattern coin that was produced by the U.S. Mint in 1878. It was struck in 2018 by the Smithsonian to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of the Morgan Dollar.

This half ounce .999 gold proof reveals how George T. Morgan’s then-new Liberty Head design would look on a legal-tender U.S. Gold Eagle coin. This privately struck issue was certified as PF70 Ultra Cameo by NGC. Plus, the mintage was limited to 1878—in honor of the year Morgan’s silver dollar made its debut on the numismatic scene.

George T. Morgan’s 1878 $10 pattern in gold, Judd-1581, is considered among the rarest issues in the entire series of U.S. pattern coins. Only two examples of Judd-1581 were produced in 1878 and one of those coins has been isolated in the collection of the Connecticut State Library for over a century. 

One of George T. Morgan’s original J-1581 Gold Pattern coins. Graded PCGS PR66 DCAM, it sold at auction for $810,000.00 on August 18, 2021 via Heritage Auction Galleries. Photos: Heritage Auction Galleries.

The obverse design elements of J-1581 are similar to those on the Morgan dollar, which was presented as a circulating issue beginning in 1878. The obverse features Morgan’s famous Liberty head, modeled after Anna Williams, however with a different Phrygian cap and no cereal wreath. E PLURIBUS is inscribed around the rim to the left, while UNUM is to the right, with the date below.

The reverse displays an eagle with upraised wings, holding an olive branch in the right talon and three arrows in the left. This is the exact same eagle that is found upon the Morgan dollar of 1878-1904 and 1921. IN GOD WE TRUST is inscribed in Gothic letters between the wings. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is around, with TEN DOL. below. The Smithsonian commemorative is slightly different. The date was changed to 1878-2018 and the word EAGLE replaces TEN DOL. Also, the Smithsonian sun logo is found next to the arrows in the lower right field of the reverse of this offering from AUCM.