Draped Bust Eagles

Coin	Weight (g)	Composition	Gold Melt Value	Full Melt Value
Turban Head Heraldic Eagle (1797-1804 )	17.5	Gold 91.70%,Copper 5.81%, Silver 2.30%
Turban Head, Small Eagle (1795-1797 )	17.5	Gold 91.70%,Copper 5.81%, Silver 2.30%

The Draped Bust Eagle was among the first gold coins legislated for and authorized by the United States congress in 1792 however they were not struck until 1795.  The “Eagle” was a term for these ten dollar denominational coins which fit neatly into the decimal system which was chosen primarily as an indication of the new nations independence from England and secondly as a statement of separation from the Old World philosophy of rule by God appointed Nobility and the establishment of an entirely Democratically elected government which cherished the freedom of the individual’s right to worship God and affiliate themselves with religious matters as they chose all without restrictions and demands by the government.

In 1497 John Cabot Atlantic crossing brought him to the North American East coast where he struck his claim for England.  It would take about a hundred years for England to establish colonies and create New England.  However the French quickly began establishing colonies throughout the Gulf of Mexico including Louisiana.  The Spanish were busy throughout the Americas including the west coast territories which eventually became California, Arizona, and New Mexico.  All of these various activities led to a wide variety of coins being used throughout the thirteen colonies when they became the United States of America three hundred years after the English first made their claim.

Because of the predominance of the Spanish coins specifically the “eight reales” called the Spanish dollar, a United States dollar seemed to be order.  Both Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton lead the push for a decimal coinage.  Although the US silver dollar was the same weight and fineness as the Spanish dollar, the ten dollar US gold “eagle” coin was an international premier coinage for the new nation.

The Draped Bust “Turban Head” Eagle was designed by Robert Scot and first struck in the fall of 1795.  The bust of Liberty faces right and she wears a turban.  At the time two more states had joined the union and fifteen stars decorated this coin along the rim of the obverse interrupted by “LIBERTY” and the date which is at the base of the coin.  This obverse design was used through 1804.  The number of stars was reduced to thirteen for the original colonies because of the threat of cluttering as more states were being added.

From 1795 until the middle of 1997 the “small eagle” design was used on the reverse.  An eagle stands on a palm branch with wings spread and has a small laurel wreath in its beak.  “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” encircles with a gap at the bottom of the coin.  There is no denomination indicated.  In 1797 Robert Scot designed a new reverse because of complaints regarding the tin merger appearance of the small eagle.  Scot adapted the presidential seal and has the heraldic bald eagle with the national shield across its breast.  Its right talon clutches thirteen arrows and its left an olive branch.  From its beak flows a banner across the center of the coin with “E PLURIBUS UNUM”.  Above the eagle and between its wings is a field of thirteen stars, one for each original colony, and arcing above them is a band of clouds.  Again “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” encircles this design, and still no denomination indicated.

All of the Draped Bust “Turban Head” gold eagles have a reeded edge and are 33 millimeters in diameter, weigh 17.5 grams of 22 carat gold which is the same as 91.7% gold.  Unlike England’s Noble Gold which is also 22 carat gold with copper, the United States added silver to the copper, usually 3 parts silver to seven parts copper.  The minting of the eagles ended after 1804 and did not start up again 1838.

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