1799 Eagle

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The $10 eagle was the largest gold coin struck for circulation in the U.S. Mint’s earliest days. It was produced for only a decade before experiencing a lengthy hiatus. Its initial design featured a relatively modest eagle, and in 1797 the reverse was upgraded to the heraldic eagle from the Great Seal of the United States.

Due to its limited mintage and keen collector interest, early eagles in About Uncirculated or higher grades generally command a price in the tens of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, this creates an incentive for counterfeiters. 

Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) recently received a purported example of a 1799 eagle of the “Large Obverse Stars” variety. This coin contains numerous red flags, including a loss of detail.

Some of Liberty’s curls fade into her face, indicating a weak strike or poorly rendered details on the counterfeiter’s die, which is evident on the highest points of the coin. Some of the letters appear a bit bloated—compare the lower stroke of the E in LIBERTY to a genuine example. Many of the denticles are toothy, and some even disconnect from the rim of the coin.

On the reverse, note the thinness of the eagle’s left leg as well as the loss of detail in the feathers around the bird’s head in comparison to a genuine example. The horizontal lines on the shield—a challenging part of the design for a counterfeiter—exhibit gaps. Additional clues that this is a counterfeit include its pimply surfaces, flat stars, and unexpected depressions, such as between the I and B in LIBERTY.

As a masterpiece of early innovation from the U.S. Mint, a genuine 1799 eagle can be the centerpiece of a U.S. coin collection. If you are unsure whether your coin is as good as gold, remember that NGC backs its determinations of authenticity and grade with the NGC Guarantee.

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A version of this article appears in the September 2026 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).