Augustus Saint-Gaudens designed the magnificent $10 Indian gold piece to replace the $10 Liberty Double Eagle, which he also designed. However the Indian Eagle raised a few eyebrows when it was first introduced. The obverse featured Liberty dressed in a full Indian war bonnet with star-tipped feathers. Eventually the public adapted came to accept and admire this "new look."

A perched eagle rules the reverse under the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arched at the top. The phrase "E PLURIBUS UNUM" also appears. Originally President Theodore Roosevelt refused to allow the "In God We Trust" motto to be included, in fear that the coins might be used for immoral purposes, but Congress reinstated the motto in 1908. Forty-six raised stars appear on the edges of the Eagles minted from 1908-1911, with two more stars joining in 1912 to mark the two new states.