The U.S. $10 gold piece (or 'eagle') was one of the first American gold coins produced, starting in 1795. The first design featured a bust of Liberty wearing a conical cap (sometimes referred to as a turban) and an eagle with a wreath above its head on the reverse. The wreath was later removed and the eagle was pictured with a heraldic shield on its chest. These first eagle coins were undervalued in relation to their worth in gold, however, so production was suspended in 1804.

In 1838, the gold eagle was reintroduced, this time featuring the Liberty head wearing a coronet with a realistically depicted eagle with a heraldic shield on the reverse. This design remained standard until 1907.

In 1907, sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens, at the request of President Roosevelt, created a new design, featuring the Liberty head with an Indian war bonnet and an eagle with closed wings on the reverse. Originally, 'In God We Trust' was omitted from these coins, but Congress quickly enacted a law that required it to be included. Eagles kept this design until production stopped in 1933.