Lot # 1778: 1895 $10 Liberty Head Gold Eagle Coin - NGC MS62

If you were walking around with this 1895 $10 Liberty Head gold coin in your pocket at the tail end of the 19th century, you would have been carrying the equivalent of a week's pay for the average worker of the day. At today's value, this antique gold piece represents a year's salary for an 1895 skilled tradesman. While more than a half-million $10 gold coins were struck in 1895, less than 3% of them have survived, so it's safe to say this date is on the scarce side. This pleasing example has earned an MS62 grade from NGC, indicating it is one of the 10,000 such coins believed to still be around in mint state condition. Vital statistics are: weight 16.7 grams; composition 90% gold and 10% copper; original mintage quantity 567,770; estimated survival population 13,750 pieces.

This coin is one of twelve NGC graded $10 Liberty Head gold coins in this auction. All twelve can be viewed in the Historical/Political/Pop Culture/Americana category.