Diagnostic Controls & Presets Augustus Saint-Gaudens $10 Masterpiece
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Collar Clearance Gap: Δg < 0.05 mm exceeded
Augustus Saint-Gaudens omitted a protective border rim. Under hydraulic coining pressure, gold flowed past the collar into the minute gap between die and collar, extruding a fragile knife-like fin ('wire rim').
Melted: 31,450 coins | Saved: ~50 specimens
To cure the wire rim defect, Barber created a rounded rolled rim. However, because commercial bankers protested that the coins could not be stacked and objected to the periods, Roosevelt ordered the entire mintage melted.
Edge Inscription: 46 Raised Stars (46 States in 1907)
Net pure gold content is 0.48375 troy ounces. The edge features 46 raised stars representing the 46 states of the Union following the admission of Oklahoma in 1907 (expanded to 48 stars in 1912).
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
Ex-Bob R. Simpson Collection. Stunning satin peach-gold mint bloom; flawless headdress feathers and full triangular reverse periods.
Ex-Eliasberg & Norweb. Magnificent specimen saved directly from the 1907 melting vat by Mint officials; razor-sharp central devices.
Tied for finest known Wire Rim variety; pristine knife-edge rim without handling bruises and glowing coppery-gold luster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there three different types of 1907 Indian Head $10 Gold Eagles?
In 1907, sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens redesigned the $10 eagle at President Theodore Roosevelt's request. Three versions were struck: (1) Wire Rim with Periods (500 struck, featuring a sharp knife-edge wire fin); (2) Rolled Rim with Periods (31,500 struck, featuring a rounded protective rim to enable stacking); (3) No Periods Regular Issue (247,715 struck, where periods were eliminated and rims flattened for mass production).
Why were 31,450 of the 31,500 Rolled Rim $10 coins melted?
When the Rolled Rim coins were delivered in October 1907, commercial bankers complained that they still did not stack properly in cash trays, and Chief Engraver Charles Barber complained about the periods around the legends. President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the entire mintage melted down into gold bars. Only about 50 specimens were saved for government officials and museum collections.
What is the difference between 'Wire Rim' and 'Rolled Rim'?
A 'Wire Rim' coin has no raised protective rim border; instead, striking pressure forced gold metal upward between the collar and die, creating a fragile razor-sharp rim flange. A 'Rolled Rim' coin has a thick, smooth, beveled outer rim designed to protect the design and allow coins to stack safely.
What do the triangular periods on the reverse signify?
On Saint-Gaudens' original design, triangular dots (periods) separated the words 'UNITED • STATES • OF • AMERICA' and 'TEN • DOLLARS' as well as flanking 'E • PLURIBUS • UNUM'. On regular business strikes starting in late 1907, these periods were completely removed.
How many stars are on the edge of a 1907 $10 Indian Head gold coin?
There are 46 raised stars on the edge, representing the 46 states in the Union at the time (Oklahoma had just been admitted in 1907). In 1912, after New Mexico and Arizona joined the Union, the edge was updated to 48 stars.
How can you detect an altered or counterfeit 1907 Rolled Rim?
Because authentic Rolled Rim coins sell for over $1 million, dishonest individuals attempt to lathe-turn or compress the rim of a common 1907 No Periods coin. The critical diagnostic is that authentic Rolled Rim coins MUST have triangular periods before and after the legends on the reverse. If a coin has a rolled rim but NO periods on the reverse, it is an altered fake.
What is the exact weight and purity of the 1907 Indian Head $10 Eagle?
The coin is struck in standard 90% gold and 10% copper. It weighs exactly 16.718 grams (258 grains), measures 27.0 millimeters in diameter, and contains 0.48375 troy ounces of pure gold.