1839/8 $10.00 PCGS AU53 CAC
/Head of 1838, Large Letters reverse. There are two distinct types of eagles made in 1839. The first--and more available--is the Head of 1838 which has a mintage of 25,801. The second--and scarcer--is the Head of 1840 which has a mintage of 12,447. The 1839/8 Type of 1838 is reasonably scarce in all grades but it becomes very scarce in the mid to high AU grades and it is quite rare in Uncirculated. The present example has the luster and body of an AU55 to AU58 coin but it has been net graded as an AU53 due to some chatter in the fields. These marks are clearly visible but not overly detracting. The color of this coin is a nice natural light butter-gold hue and the strike is very sharp with the exception of the radial lines in the stars which, as on most 1839/8 eagles, are weakly impressed. The last auction trade for this variety in PCGS AU53 is Heritage 1/09: 5499 which brought $7,475. The current CAC census for this variety is just two in this grade and one approved higher. A great coin for the advanced collector of Liberty Head eagles.