Description
1840 $10 Liberty Head Eagle PCGS AU55
PCGS # 8581
Grading Service PCGS
Grade AU55
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year 1840
Designation NONE
Strike Business
Grade Add On NONE
1840 $10 Liberty Head Eagle PCGS AU55
1840 $10
SKU: 35093409
1840 $10 Liberty Head Eagle (No Motto) – PCGS AU55, Philadelphia Mint
A scarce early Liberty Head ten, this first-decade issue from Philadelphia is certified PCGS AU55, placing it well above what is typically encountered for the date. Most 1840 Eagles surface in mid-circulated grades; attractively original, strictly graded AU pieces are notably elusive, and true Mint State examples are virtually unknown. While the 1840 is more obtainable overall than the 1839 “Type of ’40,” it is actually tougher to find in high grade—making this AU55 an exceptional opportunity for both advanced specialists and discerning gold type collectors.
Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the No Motto Liberty Head Eagle (1838–1866) is a cornerstone of pre-Civil War U.S. gold. The obverse features Liberty in a coronet, while the reverse shows the heraldic eagle without the “In God We Trust” motto, a diagnostic of the early type. As an AU55, collectors can expect strong detail with only light friction on the high points and traces of original luster—exactly the combination in-demand for a premium type set or a focused Liberty Eagle date run.
Highlights
Date/Mint: 1840, Philadelphia (no mintmark)
Certification: PCGS AU55
Rarity in grade: AU examples are genuinely scarce; Uncirculated pieces are rarely seen
Population: PCGS reports 10 in AU55 with only 18 graded higher (at time of listing)
Type: Liberty Head (Coronet) Eagle, No Motto
Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper; 27 mm; 16.718 g; approx. 0.48375 troy oz actual gold weight
Edge: Reeded
Why this coin
Desirable early Liberty Eagle with superior eye appeal for the grade
Difficult date in high grade—ideal for collectors seeking scarcity beyond common type
Certified by PCGS for authenticity and market-accepted quality
Secure this historically significant, high-end circulated example today—premium early Eagles in true AU are in tight hands and seldom linger on the market.