1797
Eagle - 1804 Eagle - Capped
Bust Large 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 Large Eagle 1797 and 1804
Robert Scot designed the
Capped Bust eagle. It is also known as the Draped Bust eagle.
It was issued from 1795 to 1804; however, the Large Eagle
or Heraldic Eagle reverse began in 1797. It is similar to
the reverses of other denominations of the era that Scot
designed.
The obverse 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.
The
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.
The 1797 Large Eagle
reverse eagle is scarce in grades XF to AU. Only a
few available are in MS63. The finest certified is
a single MS64 example.
1797
Eagle - The pictured coin is a near
mint state 1797 eagle that has significant mint luster
remaining within the devices on both sides. The obverse
has an average strike, but the reverse has a strike
that is far above average. We see full details on
the upper part of the shield, the lower part of the
eagle’s neck, the eagle’s wings, about
half of the stars above the eagle, and the clouds.
The reverse also has full dentils. Light adjustment
marks are seen on the upper left side of the obverse.
Sufficient separation exists in the lines of Liberty
hair and gown to warrant the grade. For the grade,
the surfaces are clean and free of 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.
