1883 Liberty Head $10 Gold Eagle

1883 Liberty Head $10 gold eagles are considerably scarce, as some of that year’s issues were struck in small numbers and all 1883 eagles experienced widespread melting in later years. These beloved U.S. gold coins were designed by Christian Gobrecht, who served as the third chief engraver of the United States Mint. He helmed the production of several new coin designs during his tenure, most notably the Seated Liberty coinage, which spanned from the late 1830s to the early 1890s.

1883 $10 gold eagle coins contain 0.4806 ounces of gold, but they are certainly worth much as numismatic treasures than simply bullion coins. Here’s a look at the values and mintages of the 1883 Liberty Head gold eagle $10 coin:

• 1883, 208,740 minted; $1,474

• 1883-CC, 12,000; $2,564

• 1883-O, 800; $20,000

• 1883-S, 38,000; $1,539

• 1883 proof; $63,000

*Values are for coins grading Very Fine 20 unless otherwise stated.

The mintages listed above are much higher than the population surviving today, and therefore 1883 gold eagles are quite scarce. The 1883-O is especially scarce, followed by the 1883-CC. This is a typical situation for pre-1933 U.S. gold coinage, which was melted in large numbers, leaving many dates particularly difficult for coin collectors to track down. It’s recommended to buy slabbed pre-1933 U.S. gold coins instead of “raw” coins, though individuals who prefer to buy uncertified 1883 Liberty Head gold eagle coins should only acquire them from trusted coin dealers.