1839/8 $10 Large Letters, Head of 1838, MS63 PCGS. CAC....

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1839/8 Liberty Eagle, MS63
CAC Approved, High-End Rarity
Coveted Type of 1838

1839/8 $10 Large Letters, Head of 1838, MS63 PCGS. CAC. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. David Akers wrote the first published work to differentiate the 1839/8 and 1839 Liberty eagles as different hub types, and the nomenclature he used in his Analysis of Auction Records is still in use today. Akers wrote:

"Historically, this issue has been called '1839 Large Letters' and the following issue, '1839 Small Letters'. This nomenclature is totally inadequate to describe the difference between the two issues and implies that they are merely two varieties of the same type. Actually, they are different types with the head of Liberty dramatically different on each issue. (Ironically, the sizes of the letters on the reverse are so close that one would be hard pressed to distinguish between the two on a side-by-side comparison!) For these reasons, I have opted to call this first 1839 issue the 'Type of '38' and the second 1839 issue, the 'Type of '40'. Hopefully, these appellations will prevail in the future."

Bass called this issue "Type I. Large Letters" in his notes on the present coin, having acquired it over a decade before Akers reference work was published. The Type of 1838 obverse shows Liberty's portrait positioned with a prominent forward tilt in relation to the date. Liberty's neck is slightly slimmer as well, and the bust truncation has a significantly more pronounced curve. On the portrait itself, the central hair locks are draped across Liberty's ear instead of tucked behind. This obverse type was replaced by October 1839, with the more familiar Liberty Head motif employed for the series through 1907.

Coinage of the Type of 1838 issue amounted to 25,801 pieces, although the vast majority of these coins were released into circulation. PCGS reports only 17 Mint State submissions, just three of which are numerically finer than this piece. Vibrant, satiny honey-gold mint luster complements a bold strike and luminous surfaces. A few light, scattered handling marks determine the grade, but the overall eye appeal is outstanding. Only one other piece in this grade is CAC endorsed, and just two finer pieces, placing this piece close to if not within the Condition Census. Population: 4 in 63, 3 finer. CAC: 2 in 63, 2 finer (8/22).
Ex: Purchased privately from Rowe And Brownlee (10/18/1966).
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part I.(Registry values: N10218)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 262E, PCGS# 8576, Greysheet# 9357)

Weight: 16.72 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS