1894 Liberty Head $10 Gold Eagle

1894 Liberty Head $10 gold eagles were made in large numbers, especially at the case of the Philadelphia mint, where more than 2.4 million gold eagles were struck alone. However, 1894 $10 gold eagles from any mint are now much scarcer. These classic U.S. gold coins were designed by Christian Gobrecht, who served as the third chief engraver of the United States Mint and designed several coins during his tenure at the U.S. Mint. Most notable among these Gobrecht-designed coins is Seated Liberty coinage, which was produced from the late 1830s to the early 1890s.

1894 $10 gold eagle coins contain 0.4806 ounces of gold, but they are worth much more than their bullion value alone to coin collectors. Here’s a rundown of the mintages and values of the 1894 Liberty Head gold eagles:

• 1894, 2,470,778 minted; $1,478

• 1894-O, 107,500; $1,542

• 1894-S, 25,000; $1,542

• 1894 proof; $46,000

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

The mintage figures above are much greater than the existing number of any given 1894 $10 gold coins today. This is quite the case with any pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, which were melted in huge numbers in later years. That’s one reason it’s recommended to buy certified specimens of 1894 $10 eagle gold coins and other old gold coins whenever possible, as many counterfeit U.S. gold coins have been manufactured. Buyers who would like to purchase “raw,” or unslabbed pre-1933 U.S. gold coins should seek a trusted coin dealer.