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

A rare and highly desirable early Liberty Head Eagle, this 1839/8 ten-dollar gold piece of the Type of 1838 is an especially important survivor in PCGS AU58, a near-Mint representative of one of the most challenging issues in the early Coronet Eagle series. The obverse features Christian Gobrecht’s youthful Liberty portrait facing left, her hair bound in a beaded coronet inscribed LIBERTY, with the date below. On this early subtype, the distinctive “Covered Ear” portrait style immediately separates it from the later 1839 issue long described as the “Small Letters” variety, though in reality the two are different design types rather than minor variants. The reverse presents a heraldic eagle with shield, clutching an olive branch and arrows, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination TEN D. The overdate feature, 1839/8, adds another layer of interest, linking the coin directly to the transitional nature of this formative moment in the series. Certified AU58 by PCGS, this example sits at the threshold of Mint State and should appeal strongly to collectors who appreciate originality and advanced grade preservation in early gold. The grade suggests only the slightest friction on the highest points, while substantial mint luster is typically retained across much of the surfaces. Eye appeal at this level is often a defining attribute, and examples of this issue so close to Mint State are seldom encountered. For the specialist, the importance of a strictly graded About Uncirculated representative cannot be overstated, particularly in a type that is most often seen in the VF to EF range. This Philadelphia issue occupies an essential place in Liberty Head Eagle history. As noted by David Akers and later specialists, the so-called “Large Letters” designation traditionally applied to this coin is misleading and fails to capture the dramatic portrait difference between the two 1839 ten-dollar types. The present piece belongs to the earlier Type of 1838, with Liberty’s ear covered by her hair, a short-lived design that is collected as a distinct type by advanced students of U.S. gold. Although the 1839 Type of 1838 is somewhat more available than the first-year 1838 issue, it remains rare in all grades and decidedly elusive in higher states of preservation. Its certified population underscores that status. PCGS reports a population of just 8 in AU58, with only 18 finer. That population is well below 100, confirming the issue’s scarcity in this grade tier and reinforcing its importance for registry-minded collectors and early gold specialists alike. Akers observed that strictly graded AU examples are very rare, while true Uncirculated pieces are extremely rare, making an AU58 specimen a particularly desirable acquisition. This is a coin that combines type significance, overdate intrigue, and condition rarity in a single offering. An impressive near-Mint example of a rare early Liberty Head Eagle type, this 1839/8 Type of 1838 is a premium coin for the advanced collector seeking quality, historical importance, and lasting numismatic appeal.