1910 $10 Indian
What makes this run of dates a spectacular find in the realm of $10 Indians?
During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt decided America’s gold coinage was in dire need of an overhaul. $10 U.S. gold coinage has never been the same since!
Saint-Gaudens crafted this uniquely American coin design. While the $20 Double Eagle may be more famous, the $10 Indian was actually the artist’s favorite work.
And like its $20 Double Eagle cousin, the $10 Indian saw more limited mintage figures in its first ten years, and few have survived the 1933 confiscation, making many remaining issues a truly unique and valuable collector’s item.
Since the 18th century, the $10 Gold Eagle has been one of America’s most important coinage denominations. First struck in 1795, the $10 pieces were once the largest gold coins produced by the United States Mint and the highest denomination units of currency.
Despite its importance as a unit of exchange, the coin’s design remained essentially unchanged for nearly 70 years. Minor tweaks aside, the $10 Eagle went from 1838 -1907 without any modification.
This all changed in 1907, when Theodore Roosevelt wanted a more exotic design reminiscent of the strikingly beautiful coins of ancient Greece. He realized that to make his dream come to fruition, he would need to engage the services of a sculptor—not a staff engraver.
The history of the $10 Indian Gold Eagle actually begins in 1904. That year, Roosevelt asked Saint-Gaudens to propose new designs for the five most important denominations: the cent and the four gold coins ($2.50, $5, $10 and $20).
Roosevelt was actually most impressed by the prototype for the cent, but he felt it was somewhat plain. It featured an attractive, if not simple, portrait of Liberty. Roosevelt wanted a more unusual design and asked that an Indian headdress be added to Liberty’s head.
While aesthetically pleasing, the addition of the headdress might actually be culturally and historically incorrect. As critics would later note, a female Native American would almost never wear such a headdress—and a feather war bonnet seemed like an unusual item to wear for a symbol of Liberty. Nonetheless, Roosevelt and Saint-Gaudens were concerned with beauty above all and continued with this design.
Early in the coin’s design process, there was already a conflict between aesthetics vs historical accuracy. The next battle would be aesthetics vs ease of production.
While stunningly beautiful, Saint-Gaudens’ prototypes were a nightmare to strike. U.S. Mint staff grappled with the high relief and intricacy of the new design. In fact, the first 500 or so pieces had to be struck on a high-pressure medal press, rather than the everyday U.S. Mint machinery.
Coins from this first run can be identified by the presence of a sharp “wire” rim and trade for $50,000 to $300,000. We have one specimen of this variety available in today's offer.
The adjustments continued into 1907 and 1908. Afterwards, the Mint finally found a way to strike the coin in mass quantities. However, the general public noticed a glaring error: the omission of “In God We Trust” from the coin’s reverse. This motto had been a fixture on United States coins since the Civil War and citizens were unhappy to see this phrase removed. After receiving an avalanche of complaint letters, the U.S. Mint added the missing motto to the reverse.
Mintages and Rarity
Like the $20 Saint, the $10 Indian was produced from 1907 to 1933. From a rarity standpoint, the coin can be divided into two main categories: 1) the common 1926/1932 issues, and 2) all other dates. By a wide margin, the most frequently encountered dates are 1926 and 1932.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, there was significant demand for $10 Indians among domestic and international banks. Europeans in particular, liked holding the $10 Indian due to its moderate size (compared to the large $20 Double Eagle). The U.S. Mint responded with massive levels of production those two years.
All other dates, meanwhile, are substantially more difficult to locate. This is especially true in higher Uncirculated grades. Whereas loads of 1926 and 1932 $10 Indians were safely preserved in overseas bank vaults, the 1907-1916 issues were far less likely to be stashed away. Not only do they have much lower mintages, but they tended to enter circulation. When President, Franklin Roosevelt recalled United States gold coins in 1933, many of the circulating 1907-1916 dates were destroyed – while large quantities of 1926 and 1932 coins remained safe in international bank vaults.
When comparing the 1907-1916 dates to the 1926/1932 dates, the difference in rarity becomes stark at lofty grade levels. Yet, despite the difference in rarity between the common 1932 and the earlier dates, there is not a major difference in price. Why buy a common 1932 when the scarce earlier dates can be had for a slightly higher premium?
| Date | PCGS Population | Times Rarer than Common |
| 1932 | 13673 | |
| 1907 No Motto | 1734 | 7.89 |
| 1908 With Motto | 1573 | 8.69 |
| 1909 | 792 | 17.26 |
| 1910 | 1980 | 6.91 |
| 1910-D | 4074 | 3.36 |
| 1911 | 2918 | 4.69 |
| 1912 | 2336 | 5.85 |
| 1913 | 1934 | 7.07 |
| 1914 | 761 | 17.97 |
| 1914-D | 843 | 16.22 |
| 1915 | 1244 | 10.99 |
We found a superb group of early-date $10 Indians, all spectacular specimens in a variety of grades. What’s remarkable about this group is 7 different dates are represented, allowing our clients to potentially build a complete date run from 1907 through 1912. This group also contains several Denver issues, which are rarely seen in the $10 Indian series. And, finally, an extraordinarily well preserved 1911 issue that is graded MS68!
Today's Spotlight Offer
The $10 Indian Gold Eagle, like its famous $20 Double Eagle counterpart, is a gorgeous creation of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The coin has long been celebrated for its beauty and stunningly attractive design. We’ve long admired the coin’s historical background, and it has also emerged as a superb value. For a limited time, we are able to offer a small, exclusive selection of $10 Indian Head Eagles. These coins are dated from 1907-1914 in varying grades.
Each coin we offer here has been independently inspected and certified by the uncompromising standards of Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) or Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) to be in About Uncirculated (AU55) or Mint State (MS61 through MS68) condition. Each coin comes in a protective slab.
- 1908-D $10 No Motto Indian in MS64 for $13,999. The “D” mintmark designates that it was minted in Denver. In any Mint State grade, the 1908-D no Motto is very difficult to locate. Most known examples grade MS60-MS63 and examples in MS64 condition are almost never seen. All in all, this is a very underrated issue, especially in gem condition where it is virtually unobtainable.
- 1909-S $10 Indian in MS61 for $2,999. The “S” mintmark designates that it was minted in San Francisco. Just for 450 exist in grades of MS60 or higher from an original mintage of 292,350.
- 1910 $10 Indian in MS65 for $7,999. With just 400 surviving from this year of issue in a grade of MS65 or higher, this specimen is significantly rarer than even an MS64, but priced moderately given the jump in rarity.
- 1910-S $10 Indian in MS61 for $2,299. The “S” mintmark designates that it was minted in San Francisco. Despite its high mintage, the 1910-S is a very rare coin in all Mint State grades.
- 1911 $10 Indian in MS64 for $2,599. The 1911 Indian Head $10 makes a great type coin, as most are well struck, with minimal marks.
- 1911-D $10 Indian in AU55 for $5,099. The “D” mintmark designates that it was minted in Denver. As the lowest mintage issue, the 1911-D eagle is not only one of the rarest issues of the $10 series, it is one of the major rarities, both population-wise and condition-wise, of all 20th-century United States gold coins as well. The 1911-D cannot be easily located in any Mint State grade, not even MS60, making only circulated condition coins even possible to obtain for most collectors.
- 1912-S $10 Indian in MS62 for $4,499. The “S” mintmark designates that it was minted in San Francisco. Just 700 of a total mintage of 300,000 have survived in grades of MS60 or higher, growing exceedingly rare above MS65. Considering this, a grade of MS62 is relatively rare.
- 1912-S $10 Indian in MS63 for $7,199. The “S” mintmark designates that it was minted in San Francisco. According to numismatist David Akers, "high grade" for the 1912-S starts at MS63 as this was the most poorly struck issues of the series and gem condition is nearly nonexistent.
- 1912-S $10 Indian in MS64 for $8,599. The “S” mintmark designates that it was minted in San Francisco. The 1912-S is a very difficult issue to obtain in a truly high grade. Only 65 are known to exist in MS64 condition, and less than 17 exist in a higher grade.
- 1914-D $10 Indian in MS64 for $4,399. The “D” mintmark designates that it was minted in Denver. Virtually all known examples of this issue grade MS-63 or less, and true gems are almost never available.
If any particular issue has caught your attention, additional photos and details are available upon request. Please call us today at 1-800-831-0007 or email us.
Uniquely Rare Issues
These are two truly rare and unique specimens are available for especially discerning collectors!
1907 $10 Wire Edge Indian in MS63 for $64,999. Technically, the 1907 Wire Edge is a pattern, not a regular issue, but it has always been considered an integral part of the series. True gems are very rare since there is no rim on these coins and the unprotected surfaces were prone to wear. Only 500 were ever minted, making this an exceptional rarity, and just 49 of those exist in this grade.
1907 $10 Wire Edge Indian in MS63 for $64,999. Technically, the 1907 Wire Edge is a pattern, not a regular issue, but it has always been considered an integral part of the series. True gems are very rare since there is no rim on these coins and the unprotected surfaces were prone to wear. Only 500 were ever minted, making this an exceptional rarity, and just 49 of those exist in this grade.
1911 $10 Indian in MS68 for $132,000. This glorious Gem Mint State 1911 Eagle tied for the Finest Known 1911 Indian Eagle with at most two others as the finest seen of this date. It is one of only a few issues of any date in the entire series that exists so fine in any quantity. In order to grade MS68, this issue must be considered to be almost completely free of any imperfections, well struck, and unabraded. A specimen in this pristine condition is truly exceptional!
Call 800-831-0007 or email today to add any of these early-date $10 Indians to your portfolio. This is a hand-selected collection of special coins within the series. The $10 Indian is a worthwhile coin to own—and these "hidden gem" early dates are clearly the best way to own $10 Indians.
*Prices subject to change based on market fluctuation and product availability. Prices reflected are for cash, check, or bank wire. Free shipping, handling, and insurance is included. Offer expires Friday, March 7, 2025 or while supplies last.
