1903 Liberty Head $10 Gold Eagle

1903 Liberty Head $10 gold eagles were made in rather small numbers, with far fewer surviving now than were originally made. Over the years, many of these old gold coins have been melted down for their precious metal content, which is a situation that affects virtually all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. Thus, all classic U.S. gold coins are now considered quite scarce.

1903 $10 gold coins were designed by Christian Gobrecht, who served as the third chief engraver of the United States Mint. Gobrecht also designed many other coins during his tenure at the U.S. Mint, most notably Seated Liberty coinage, which was produced during the late 1830s through early 1890s. 1903 $10 gold eagle coins contain 0.4806 ounces of gold, but they are numismatic collectibles and worth much more than their bullion value alone.

Here’s a glance at the mintages and values of the 1903 Liberty Head gold eagles:

• 1903, 125,926 minted; $1,479

• 1903-O, 112,771; $1,543

• 1903-S, 538,000; $1,479

• 1903 proof; $43,500

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

1903 Liberty Head gold eagle coins are considerably scarce today, so it’s best to buy only certified specimens to avoid inadvertently buying counterfeit pieces. Those who would still prefer to buy “raw,” or unslabbed, 1903 $10 gold coins should seek the assistance of a professional, reputable coin dealer.