1838 Liberty Head Eagle. Unc Details--Improperly Cleaned (NGC).Sharp to full striking detail and relatively pleasing medium gold color provide rather strong visual appeal for this more affordable example. The surfaces are curiously bright with wispy hairlines to explain the stated qualifier, although the persistent viewer will be able to appreciate traces of the original finish. In 1838, following a lapse since 1804, ten-dollar gold eagles were again struck, now of the Liberty Head design by Christian Gobrecht. The mintage was fairly modest with nearly all pieces entering circulation where they saw active duty, and there was absolutely no numismatic notice of them. By the time that demand did occur, mainly decades later in the 20th century, most available examples were in lower grades. The present coin is significant due to its Mint State preservation, as well as its status as the first year of production for the Liberty Head eagle.The 1838 is also representative of a two-year type. Liberty portrait is delicate on the 1838 and certain 1839 eagles, with the bust leaning decidedly left and much thinner in appearance than the familiar and somewhat stodgy Liberty head of late 1839 to 1907. For the 1838 to 1839 type, the tip of Libertys coronet is left of star 6 and the sharply sweeping point of her shoulder is right of star 13. On the later issues in this series, the portrait is stockier in appearance, more upright, and the coronet tip is right of star 6 with the more rounded point of the shoulder left of star 13. We have never seen an example of this date, regardless of condition, go begging for bids, and we expect the same situation for this piece.
