Among 20th century American gold coins, Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Indian Head $10 eagles are probably second in beauty only to his double eagles.

The Coronet gold $10 eagles, minted from 1838 to 1907, are from what is probably the most “forgotten” of all major series in American numismatics.

My comments on collecting gold coins this week focus on Augustus Goodyear Heaton and his Mint Marks, A Treatise on the Coinage of United States Branch Mints.

Coronet $5 gold half eagles, sometimes referred to as Liberty Head coins, were minted continuously from 1839 to 1908.

In 1905, Theodore Roosevelt commissioned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign the entire spectrum of coinage from the cent to the $20 double eagle.

Coronet gold $2.50 quarter eagles have only one design type — a longevity unequaled in any other American series.

This week I discuss gold $2.50 quarter eagles from 1834 to 1839 — the Classic Head series.

Whitman Publishing releases first edition of Bowers' book on Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, and Walking Liberty half dollars.

Following my columns on early American gold coins, this week I discuss gold dollars.

The gold coins minted from 1795 into early 1834 were worth more in melt value than the denominations they represented.