1851-O $10 (1851-O Eagle) NGC AU55 CAC. This Southern branch mint 1851-O Eagle has an above average strike, which is unusual for this date and mint since the coins are usually weakly struck. On this piece the highest points of Libertys hair and the centers of some of the stars show details. On the reverse we see full details on the eagles neck, the lower left of the shield, and the lower left feathers of the eagle. There is sufficient separation in the lines of the coronet and the top of Libertys hair to warrant the grade, which is confirmed by CAC indicating that the coin is of premium quality and solid for the grade. Subdued mint luster is found within the devices on both sides.

Between 1805, when President Thomas Jefferson ordered mintage of gold eagles stopped, and 1837 no gold eagles were made. Coinage was of this denomination was resumed with Christian Gobrechts Liberty Head eagle. The size, weight, and fineness were reduced so that the coins were not intrinsically worth more than their denominated value.

The Liberty Head, No Motto shows Liberty facing left in profile wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet with her hair tied in the back in beads. Two long curls hang down her neck, one in the back and the other on the side. She is surrounded with thirteen six-pointed stars. The date is below the truncation, which shows no drapery. The motif is taken from a Benjamin West painting of Venus. It was also used with modifications for the Large Cents of 1839. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with outstretched wing looking to the left. On its chest is the Union shield. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows. The error in the previous issue, Scots eagle held the arrows and the olive branches in the wrong talons, is corrected. Except for the tips of the eagles wings UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the reverse, separated from the denomination TEN D. by dots. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin, and the edge is reeded.

In its population report, as of October 2011, CAC has confirmed 13 1851-O eagles in AU55 condition with 8 better.