1795
Eagle - 1804 Eagle - Capped
Bust 1795 and 1804 Eagle Two Coin Set
The
numismatic adventure can be enriched by acquiring groups of
coins in meaningful combinations. Sets of coins can run from
two pieces to many. In the areas of rare date and early silver
and gold coins we have established certain sets of special
interest. They include the first and last of an issue, type
sets, design sets, year sets, and those that are joined by
historical events such as the Civil War. The coins of each
set are specially selected for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up of
pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare coins
selecting only the finest quality pieces for your collection.
A Set of First and
Last Eagles, Capped Bust 1795 and 1804
The Capped Bust to Right
eagle was designed by Robert Scot. It is also known as the
Draped Bust eagle. It was used from 1795 to 1804 with two
different reverses. The first design type reverse shows
a small, scrawny eagle perched on a palm frond holding a
laurel wreath in its beak. It was used from 1795 to 1797.
Later in 1797 a new reverse design was introduced. It shows
a Heraldic Eagle similar to other silver and gold coins
of the era.
The obverse design shows
a profile of Liberty facing right. Below her is the date
which is off center to the left. Between the date and the
word LIBERTY on the left side of the coin are ten stars.
Another five stars follow LIBERTY down to the bust. Liberty
wears a large, soft cap. Her hair flows down and also shows
on her forehead. The design was probably taken from a Roman
engraving of a Greek goddess. Liberty’s cap was certainly
not a Phrygian or liberty cap. The liberty cap, emblematic
of freedom, was worn by freed slaves and freed gladiators
in Roman times. It was a close fitting cap used to cover
a shorn head, which was one of the ways slaves were identified.
Because of the way Liberty’s hair strands wrap around
it, the oversized cap has been called a turban, and the
design has been called the Turban Head because of it.
Scot’s Small Eagle
reverse shows a skinny, unrealistic eagle standing on a
palm branch. Its outstretched wings interrupt the legend,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Its head faces right. In its beak
it holds a small laurel wreath. This motif, designed in
1795, was used on contemporary gold half eagles as well.
The palm branch is said to be an oblique reference to Mint
Director DeSaussure, who came from Charleston, South Carolina.
The Type 2 reverse uses
the Heraldic Eagle. However, Scot mixed up the positions
of the arrows and olive branch. The arrows held in the wrong
claw signify defiant militarism. Either Scot made an error
copying the image of the Great Seal, or he deliberately
changed the symbolism in keeping with very warlike stance.
Considering that the United States at this time was engaged
in a naval war with France (the undeclared Franco-American
War of 1798 to 1800, which took place on the East coast
of North America and the Caribbean and resulted in the end
of French privateer attacks on U.S. shipping), the latter
is probably more likely. The French would be especially
sensitive to a message within the heraldry, and the young
United States was brash in that they had just defeated the
super power, England in gaining independence. In the field
above the eagle are thirteen stars and above them, an arc
of clouds. A banner from wing to wing has the motto E PLURIBUS
UNUM.
1795
Eagle - The 1795 eagle has two major
varieties, 13 Leaves Below the Eagle and 9 Leaves
Below the Eagle. The former is more common of the
two; however, both are rare and eagerly sought by
collectors and investors. This Mint State, first-year-of-issue
1795, 13 Leaves eagle shimmers with bright mint luster.
The strike is above average with the
stars on the left side of the coin showing good detail.
Most of Liberty’s hair strands are complete,
and the feathers on the eagle’s breast are strong.
The surfaces are original and clean for the grade
with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions.
1804
Eagle - The 1804 Crosslet 4 eagle
is a true contemporary version of the coin. The Plain
4 variety was made 30 years later for inclusion in
presentation sets for diplomats. With a mintage of
only 3,757, the 1804 eagle is rare in all grades.
Here’s one of the key dates
to the early eagle series and a monumental rarity
with a 13 Star Reverse. The quality of the particular
piece we presently offer is far superior to the majority
of other coins offered of this issue. Semi-prooflike
fields are visible on both sides. Faint adjustment
marks (Mint-made) are seen on the reverse, but are
not overly distracting from the overall eye-appeal.
Both sides are completely original
and feature various shades of yellow mingled with
orange and red tones. It appears that this piece is
an early die-state of the obverse, which was not used
on any other issues. The strike is generally sharp
and appears to be much better than usually seen.
