1886 Eagle - 1886 $10 NGC MS63 CAC. This Type 2, Mint State 1886 Eagle has smoldering mint luster in protected areas of both sides of the coin and comes in an old, fat NGC holder. The coin is well struck with full details on the centers of the stars, Libertys hair, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. A few minor abrasion marks, more so on the reverse, probably keep this coin from a higher Mint State grade. The grade is confirmed with the CAC sticker, which indicates that the coin is a premium quality piece and fully deserves the grade assigned.

In 1804 President Thomas Jefferson stopped the mintage of eagles. Because its melt value exceeded its monetary value, there was excessive melting of theses coins. Over thirty years later, the standard weight and fineness for gold coins was changed. Eagles went from 270 grains to 258 and fineness from 91.67% to 90% gold. In 1838 Mint Director Patterson told Engraver Gobrecht to prepare new dies for the eagle. 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.

Both before and during the Civil War almost a dozen Protestant denominations pressured Congress to add references to God to the Constitution and other government documents. Reverend Mark Richards Watkinson was the first to write to Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase to request that Gods name be added to our coinage. His suggestion for a motto was God, Liberty, Law. Chase ordered Mint Director James Pollock to prepare a suitable motto. Pollocks suggestions included Our Trust Is In God, Our God And Our Country, and God Our Trust. Then Chase decided on In God We Trust to be added to most of the nations coinage. This motto was a subtle reminder that the North considered itself on the side of God with regard to the issue of slavery. A new law was required to allow the motto to be added since previous acts of Congress specified the mottos and devices that were permitted on coins. The new motto was placed on all coins that were deemed large enough to accommodate it.

In its population report, NGC shows 30 1886 eagles in MS63 condition with 5 better. As of September 2012, at CAC, the present coin is one of 3 that are the finest confirmed for the date.