PCGS No: 8566

Variety equivalents: Taraszka 31

Images courtesy of David Akers Numismatics, Inc

Significant examples:
NGC MS-63 (illustrated above).  Ex - David Akers Numismatic, Inc.'s sale of the John Jay Pittman collection, Part II, Lot 1909, sold for $82,500.00 - Superior Galleries' "The ANA 2001 National Money Show Auction", March 8-9, 2001, Lot 864, unsold

Recent appearances:
PCGS MS-62.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 584, "Crosslet 4", illustrated, sold for $39,100.00  Purchased from RARCOA, February 1, 1975

AU-55.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 4070, "Taraszka-31, Rarity-4", illustrated, sold for $11,500.00

Notes:
The Turban Head type was discontinued in 1804 and no more $10 Eagles were struck again until 1838 (with the unique exception of the 1804 Proofs that were struck in 1834 for inclusion in diplomatic presentation sets).  This date is very rare due to a low mintage and the deliberate destruction of many of the coins whenever their bullion value exceeded their face value in the early 1800s.  Circulation strikes came from a single pair of dies and they are distinguished from the Proofs in a variety of ways, but most noticeably by the fact that they have a Crosslet 4.  Taraszka lists a single Proof from the original dies (this coin is now in the Smithsonian Institute).  The extremely rare 1804 Proofs struck in 1834 have Plain 4's (see the illustration above).  

As of April 2005, PCGS had examined 29 examples of the Crosslet 4 variety, six of which earned a Mint State grade.  The finest of the Mint State examples was a single MS-63.

Die studies show that the reverse of the 1804 Crosslet 4 Eagles was later used to strike another 1803 variety!