1795 Eagle - 1797 Eagle - Capped Bust Gold Eagle Two Coin Set

The Capped Bust gold eagles were minted from 1795 to 1804. There are two types, the Small and Large or Heraldic Eagle reverse. Designed by Robert Scot, the common obverse shows a capped head of Liberty facing right. Her matronly face is seen in profile. Her hair puffs out from under her cap, and a large strand winds around it creating the look of a turban, hence the sobriquet “Turban Head.” Her hair is full above her forehead; it also falls to her shoulder and neck. LIBERTY is inscribed at the upper right with six-pointed stars to the right and left. The date is below the truncation.

The first reverse is the Small Eagle that was minted from 1795 to 1797. It shows a small, unrealistic eagle perched on a palm branch. The eagle’s wings are outstretched and its head is turned to the right. In its beak is a small wreath of laurel. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the design, interrupted by the wing tips. At the periphery, there are dentils on both sides of the coin, and the edge is reeded.

1795 Eagle - The illustrated coin is Small Eagle Reverse eagle of 1795. It has 13 Leaves under the eagle. It is identified as the BD-1 variety. The top of the 1 in the date is very close to the curl, and the tip of the 5 overlaps the drapery.

Star 11 is very close to the Y in LIBERTY, and two lumps are at the top left of the Y. The stars to the right are all very close to each other. On the reverse, a leaf virtually touches the U in UNITED. At first glance it actually appears to touch it. The coin has an R3+ rarity rating.

Approximate cost: F $32,500; VF $37,500; AU50 $65,000; MS60 $140,000

The second reverse, minted from 1797 to 1804, has the Large or Heraldic Eagle for its main device. In its right talon the eagle holds a bundle of arrows. In the left it holds an olive branch. A scroll across the right wing and neck of the eagle is inscribed with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Above the eagle’s head is a group of stars, which are below an arc of clouds. The whole is surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, which is interrupted by the wing tips. At the periphery, there are dentils on both sides of the coin, and the edge is reeded.

Scot’s Heraldic or Large Eagle has been the subject of some controversy because instead of following the pattern used on the Great Seal of the United States, Scot reversed the position of the olive branch and arrows. Held in the right or dexter claw, the arrows represent defiant militarism. Some have held that Scot simply made an error; however, others believe that the change was a deliberate warning to France and the other European powers to be mindful of the sovereignty of the United States. At the time there was a naval war with France known as the Franco-American or Quasi-War over shipping rights. There is no doubt that France would have been sensitive to a change in heraldry such as was done on the coinage of this time.

1797 Eagle - The second pictured coin is a Large Eagle Reverse eagle of 1797. It is identified as BD-4. It has a 16-star obverse arranged 10X6 combined with a Large Eagle reverse. The obverse is the same that was used for the BD-3 eagle. Both of these coins were struck after the 1798 overdates. The BD-4 obverse has shortened dentils and a cud at the date.

The reverse shows the eagle with a long, thick neck. The eagle’s breast area is also thick, and there is an unusual star pattern. Stars 9, 10, and 11 are in a line. Star 3 is in the same line as Stars 7 and 8. The arrowheads are past the center of the N in UNITED, and one is nearly to the end of the N. The coin has an R4+ rarity rating.

Approximate cost: F $12,500; VF $17,500; AU50 $35,000; MS60 $62,500

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