1838 $10 (1838 Eagle) NGC AU50. This first design of a low mintage, two-year type eagle comes in an old NGC holder. Smoldering mint luster remains in protected areas on both sides of the coin. The strike is above average in that there is some detail in the centers of the stars, the shield, and the lower part of the eagle. Very slight wear is seen on the highest points of the design, and, for the grade, the surfaces are free of individual distractions worth of mention.

This eagle, designed by Christian Gobrecht, was the first ten dollar coin to appear in thirty-four years. In the new design Gobrecht pulled long strands of hair from Libertys temple to a beaded bun in the back of her head. He also changed the shape of the truncation. The next year the design was modified so the 1838 and the 1839, Type of 1838 are the only examples of this type. We see Liberty in profile facing left wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars with the date below the truncation. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle facing left holding arrows and olive branch it its talons. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs around it, interrupted by the wing tips, and the denomination TEN D. is below. The denomination is separated from the legend with dots.

Christian Gobrecht became the third Chief Engraver at the United States Mint. He was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1785. His father was a German immigrant, and his mother traced her ancestry to the early settlers of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Gobrecht married Mary Hewes in 1818. One of his early positions was as an engraver of clocks in Baltimore. Later he went to Philadelphia where he became a banknote engraver. He invented a machine that allowed one to convert a three-dimensional medal into an illustration. This was an excellent job and Gobrecht was understandably reluctant to work for the Mint for less money than he was making at the engraving firm. In order to persuade him to leave, Mint Director Robert Patterson prevailed upon Chief Engraver William Kneass, who had had a stroke, to take less in salary so more money would be available to hire Gobrecht on a permanent basis. In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to Kneass. After Kneass stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif which was used for all denominations of sliver coinage including the half dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and sliver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle.

Because of its low mintage of 7,200, all 1838 eagles are rare. Most are found in heavily circulated condition. In its population report, NGC shows 10 in AU50 with 21 better.