1879-S Eagle - 1879-S $10 PCGS MS61. This sharp looking, Western branch mint, Mint State, Type 2 eagle has bright mint luster in protected areas of both sides. The coin shows no wear, but there are several, very small abrasion marks that keep it from a higher Uncirculated grade. The piece is well struck with full details on the centers of the stars, the highest points of Libertys hair, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. The surfaces have a slight rose-gold toning on the obverse with more showing on the reverse, which adds to its eye-appeal.

The Liberty Head eagle, designed by Christian Gobrecht, 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 being interrupted by 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.

The Type 2 Liberty Head Eagle, Motto Added was created when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to a banner designed by James B. Longacre above the eagle in 1866. The change was made in response to pressure organized by the Reverend M.R. Watkinson. The motto remained until 1907, when President Theodore Roosevelt told Augustus Saint-Gaudens to omit it on the newly designed eagle.

The 1879-S eagle is moderately scarce. Most are found in the AU range. In its population report, PCGS shows 35 in MS61 with 26 better.