$10 Indian Head Eagle Coins (1907-1933)

About the $10 Indian Eagle

The $10 Indian Gold Eagle is a gold coin produced by the United States Mint from 1907 to 1933. It was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of the most famous American sculptors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The $10 Indian Gold Eagle features a beautiful and iconic design on both its obverse and reverse sides. The obverse features the head of Liberty wearing a Native American headdress, while the reverse features a bald eagle standing on a bundle of arrows and an olive branch.

The coin contains .48375 troy ounces of pure gold and has a face value of $10, although the value of the gold it contains is typically much higher than its face value. The coin was minted at various locations including Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
Today, the $10 Indian Gold Eagle is a highly sought-after collector's item, and its value is determined by factors such as its rarity, condition, and historical significance.

Design of the $10 Indian Eagle

The design of the $10 Indian Gold Eagle is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful and iconic designs in American coinage history. It was created by the renowned American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1907 at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt.

On the obverse of the coin, Saint-Gaudens depicted Lady Liberty wearing a full headdress made of feathers meant to symbolize America's Native American heritage. The word "LIBERTY" is inscribed at the top of the coin, with the year of minting below Lady Liberty's neck.

On the reverse, Saint-Gaudens depicted a majestic eagle standing on a bundle of arrows representing America's military strength and an olive branch representing peace. The eagle is surrounded by the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "TEN DOLLARS."

The design of the $10 Indian Gold Eagle was considered revolutionary when it was created, as it departed from the traditional appearances of American coins, which typically featured stiff and formal portraits of political leaders. Instead, Saint-Gaudens' design was inspired by classical Greek and Roman art and was intended to capture the spirit of America's freedom and democracy.

History of the $10 Indian Eagle

The $10 Indian Gold Eagle has a fascinating history that spans the early 20th century in the United States.
The coin was first minted in 1907 as part of an effort by President Theodore Roosevelt to revitalize American coinage. Roosevelt believed that American coins needed to be more varied and unimaginative, and he wanted to commission new designs that would be both beautiful and representative of American values and history.

To create the design for the $10 Indian Gold Eagle, Roosevelt turned to the renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who had previously made the design for the $20 Double Eagle gold coin. Saint-Gaudens' design for the $10 Indian Gold Eagle was revolutionary at the time. It departed from the traditional designs of American coins and incorporated elements of classical Greek and Roman art.

The coin was minted from 1907 to 1933, but production was halted during the Great Depression when the U.S. government began to recall gold coins from circulation. Many $10 Indian Gold Eagles were melted down during this period, contributing to their rarity and value today.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order banning the ownership of gold by American citizens, which made it illegal to own gold coins like the $10 Indian Gold Eagle. Many of the remaining coins were melted down, and only a few escaped destruction by being hidden or taken out of the country.

In the decades since the ban on gold ownership was lifted, the $10 Indian Gold Eagle has become a highly prized collector's item and is valued for its rarity, historical significance, and beautiful design. Today, these coins are considered one of the most iconic and sought-after coins in American numismatics.