1868

An original mintage of just 10,655 pieces places the 1868 eagle among the genuine sleeper rarities of the Type 2 With Motto series, despite a date that draws far less collector attention than its better-publicized contemporaries. Production sat near the bottom of the Reconstruction-era Philadelphia eagle output, and most pieces shipped overseas in international trade rather than circulating domestically. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST, added to the reverse beginning in 1866, appears on a curved scroll above the eagle, while Christian Gobrecht's coronet portrait remained essentially unchanged from the design introduced in 1838. Surfaces on survivors typically show the soft, satiny luster characteristic of Philadelphia gold of this period.

PCGS estimates roughly 75 to 150 examples survive across all grades, with the bulk concentrated between Fine and Extremely Fine. About Uncirculated coins are legitimately scarce, and Mint State pieces are major rarities, the date is exceptionally tough to locate above MS-61. Authentication starts with the standard 16.718-gram weight and 27 mm diameter; specific gravity should measure approximately 17.2 for the 90% gold alloy. Examiners should scrutinize the date numerals under magnification for evidence of an added or re-engraved digit, particularly the final 8, since the comparatively common 1888 eagle has historically been the source for fraudulent date alterations. Genuine 1868 eagles also display consistent die characteristics in the stars and motto scroll that struck-counterfeit detection benchmarks against. The companion proof issue, with a reported mintage of just 25 pieces, is a separate world entirely, a PR66 Cameo example crossed the Heritage Auctions block in January 2024 at $930,000.

For collectors building a date set of With Motto eagles, the 1868 is a date that rewards patience: months can pass between offerings of problem-free original-skin examples, and pieces with honest wear typically command meaningful premiums over generic-date type coins. The combination of low original mintage, heavy attrition through melting in the late nineteenth century, and limited modern market exposure keeps supply well below collector demand whenever a quality piece surfaces. For broader context on the design's evolution from the no-motto period through the subtype changes of the 1860s and the long final run that followed, see the Liberty Head Eagle series history.