1846-O $10 (1846-O Eagle) NGC AU55. Unlike many branch mint pre-Civil War coins, this 1846-O Eagle is sharply struck on both sides. On the obverse, the high points of Libertys hair and the star centers are full. On the reverse, the eagles neck, its lower feathers and the shield are all full and strong. The coin is graded AU55 but has the sharpness characteristics of an AU58 piece. Muted luster is seen within the devices on both sides of the coin.

Christian Gobrecht designed the coin using the coronet motif. It shows a profile of Liberty facing left. Her hair is tied in the back with beads as two curls flow down her neck. On the coronet the word LIBERTY is inscribed. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars and the date, which is below the truncation. At the periphery are dentils on both sides of the coin. The reverse of the shows a heraldic eagle with wings outstretched looking to the left. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the eagle, interrupted by the wing tips. The denomination written as 2 D. is below, separated from the inscription by dots. The O mintmark is between the eagle and the denomination.

Christian Gobrecht was the third Chief Engraver at Mint in Philadelphia. He was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1785. His father, a German immigrant was a reverend. His mother, Elizabeth Sands was a descendent of the early settlers of Plymouth Colony. In 1818 Gobrecht married Mary Hewes. After an apprenticeship, he became an engraver of clockworks in Baltimore. Later, in Philadelphia, he joined a banknote engraving firm where he had an excellent job. He invented a machine that enabled one to convert a three-dimensional medal into an illustration. Understandably, Gobrecht was reluctant to join the Mint staff. In order to persuade him to leave the engraving firm, Mint Director Patterson convinced Chief Engraver William Kneass, incapacitated by a stroke, to give up a significant part of his salary so more money would be available to hire the new employee. Gobrechts first work for the United States Mint was in 1826 when he made dies as an assistant to Kneass. When Kneass was unable to continue working Gobrecht did all the die and pattern making. He was Chief Engraver from 1840 until his death in 1844. Famous for his Liberty Seated dollar obverse, which was used for all denominations of silver coinage, he was responsible for also designing the Liberty Head motif that was first used on the gold eagle, and then on the half cent, the cent, and the gold quarter and half eagles.

The 1846-O eagle had an original mintage of 81,780. In its population report, NGC shows 12 at AU55 with 6 better. PCGS has 8 with 4 better. These numbers do not account for crossovers or resubmissions. When collectors and investors begin to look for choice, scarce coins in the series, this piece will attract attention and interest.