1986 American Eagle Silver Dollar
All current American coins from the quarter to the dollar have an eagle in the design on the reverse side. In the past U.S. coins from the half-dime to the $20 gold have used an eagle design. This custom was established by law in the early history of the country because the American eagle is the national bird. It was President George Washington who decided that unlike other countries, our coins should not picture a king or president, but should show something symbolic of Liberty.
Over the years there have been numerous different styles of eagles displayed on United States coins. Some would say that those shown today are not particularly attractive, lifelike, or even accurately portrayed. They are a pretty good cross section of what has been used ever since the beginning of our coinage in 1793. Some were better, some were much worse. There was only one copper coin that ever showed the bird. It was the famous Flying Eagle cent that was minted in 1857 and 1858. That eagle was one of the most attractive and lifelike of any ever used on any coin.
Good or bad in its artistic merits, we are lucky that the eagle was chosen as the national bird and used as a symbol on all our money. Things could have been worse, like the turtle that was used in ancient Aegina on their coins, or the wolf that is seen on many Roman coins. As a matter of fact our founding fathers came mighty close to choosing the turkey as the nation’s bird. There was good reason: It is a native bird, it was a good source of food for the Pilgrim founders and it is not a vicious predator like the eagle.
Benjamin Franklin was the most outspoken proponent for selecting the turkey to represent the country. Had he won out over the eagle fans, we would be the only nation today using that bird as an emblem on its money. In selecting the eagle we join a choice group of countries spanning the ages from ancient Egypt right up to the present. All of them consider the eagle to be the king of birds and a symbol of power and majesty. For Americans it proclaims the might of our nation and freedom to soar to boundless heights.
Morgan Dollars Not Always Considered Beautiful
1878 Morgan Dollar
Behold the Morgan silver dollar. Many have said that it is one of the most beautiful designs used on any United States coins, but that sentiment is not shared by everyone, and it is a fact that early critics described the portrait of lady Liberty as “ugly” and even “obese.” Clearly, there are some marked differences in perception as to the quality of this design.
Few coin series have inspired as much admiration and demand as the dollar pieces designed by Mint Engraver George T. Morgan. The coins with his rendering of Liberty were minted from 1878 until 1921, and were made in five different mints.
The Morgan dollar may very well be the most famous of all coins, and one whose appeal stretches far beyond numismatic circles into the general public. It is revered for its timeless beauty, numerous varieties and for the economic disasters and fiascoes it has played a hand in for the past 100 years.
Before the Morgan dollars were made in 1878 the previous silver dollar had as its design a seated figure of Liberty which was not particularly beloved by the American public. Thus when the new design was introduced there was a great interest in comparing it to other coins of the time. To most observers, the Morgan head was a refreshing relief from the tired seated design.
Artist George Morgan came to the United States in 1876 from England. He was only 30 years old at the time, but he was already an accomplished engraver and came highly recommended when the Mint selected him to join the engraving staff in Philadelphia. His first assignment was to redesign all of the nation’s silver coins, a task that he undertook with great enthusiasm.