After a 34-year absence, the ten-dollar gold piece or "eagle" made its reappearance in 1838. Although created by the 1792 law which established the US Mint, the eagle fell victim to the mis-pricing of gold in relation to silver and was hoarded or melted in its early years, which led to its being discontinued on the orders of President Thomas Jefferson in late 1804. The eagle reappeared in a new, smaller size "Coronet" or Liberty Head design by Christian Gobrecht. The eagle wasn't minted in large quantities throughout its life, as it was apparently too large a denomination for everyday commerce (compared to the half-eagle or $5 gold piece) and too small for bank reserves and international transactions (compared to the double-eagle or $20 gold piece).
