1908-D Eagle Indian (1908-D $10 Indian) NGC MS64. This historic, near gem eagle is the no motto variety. The obverse is light yellow gold that darkens closer to the rim and the first half dozen feathers. The color is similar on the reverse, but the right field is slightly darker. The full luster on both the obverse and reverse is in keeping with a coin of this grade. There are a few trivial contact marks on the obverse field and one on Libertys cheek bone and lower hair, probably accounting for the choice rather than gem grade. Similarly, the reverse has a few minor marks in the left field and on the lower eagles wings.

Because President Theodore Roosevelt felt that our nations coinage was atrociously hideous, he asked renowned sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens to design replacements. For the eagle, Saint-Gaudens created an obverse with the inconsistent combination of a Caucasian Miss Liberty wearing an idealized, feathered war bonnet probably meant to Americanize the design at President Roosevelts request. Because of the war bonnet, the coin has become misleadingly known as an Indian Head. The device of the war bonnet may also have been used to hide any connection to Saint- Gaudens earlier sculpture of Liberty, which is part of the Sherman Monument, unveiled in 1903 at the entrance to Central Park in New York City.

The magnificent eagle reverse is reminiscent of Roman design. In his last letter to President Roosevelt, Saint-Gaudens expressed his preference of the standing eagle for this coin. He felt that the image of a flying eagle was more appropriate for the double eagle denomination. The eagle also lacks the motto In God we trust. President Roosevelt felt that placing Gods name on a coin was blasphemous. After all, coins are used for all kinds of venal purposes including gambling and prostitution, not to mention that they are also dropped and stepped on. However, Congress insisted in adding the motto to the coins reverse; later in 1908, a new variety bearing the motto was issued.

While Saint-Gaudens is credited for having executed the original design, he was ill and his strength was failing as the process was coming to its conclusion. It fell to Mint Engraver Charles Barber to modify the design and lower the relief so that the coins would strike easily and be stackable. Since Barber was opposed to high-relief coins to begin with, he was happy to do the modifications. Despite this change, the eagles of both 1907 and 1908 are usually weak in the centers of both the obverse and reverse. The present coin shows slight weakness on the obverse but is fully struck on the reverse.