1908-D $10 Indian No Motto NGC MS61

Introduction

The 1908-D $10 Indian Head No Motto Eagle stands as one of the most distinctive and historically significant gold coins produced by the United States Mint. Struck during the inaugural year of the Indian Head eagle design, this issue reflects a dramatic departure from traditional coinage aesthetics. Certified NGC MS61, this example offers solid Mint State preservation and strong historical presence from the Denver Mint’s early gold output.

History

Introduced in 1907, the Indian Head Eagle was part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s effort to transform American coinage into true works of art. Designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the series introduced an incuse format, with devices recessed below the coin’s surface. In 1908, the Denver Mint joined production of the $10 Indian Head Eagle for the first time.
The No Motto variety was struck only in 1908, before the addition of In God We Trust later that year. As a result, 1908-D No Motto eagles represent a brief and important transitional moment in U.S. gold coinage. Many were heavily used or melted, making surviving Mint State examples increasingly scarce.

Design

The obverse features a bold portrait of a Native American wearing a feathered headdress, with Liberty incused above and thirteen stars along the border. The date appears at the bottom of the design. The recessed elements create a unique visual depth that sets this coin apart from earlier Liberty Head issues.
The reverse displays a standing eagle perched on a bundle of arrows, with an olive branch below, symbolizing national strength balanced by peace. The inscriptions United States of America, E Pluribus Unum, and Ten Dollars are incused into the surface, with the D mintmark clearly visible. In MS61 condition, the coin retains strong design definition and original luster, with light contact marks consistent with early Mint State examples of this type.