The Better Eagle?

US coins have featured the beloved national symbol on many coins. So, which one is the best? Worst? I personally (preparing for a flogging) enjoy the eagle on the Native American Dollar (sorry, can't spell sacagewea with confidence). It's just not often that you see an eagle span like that one and the way it embraces the edging is such a great design in my oppinion. I also like the eagle on the Peace Dollar. Again, it's unique. One typically doesn't see an eagle in simple perch on a coin. Not only that, but the detail given to the plumage and the beak would make any ornithologist proud. In my opinion, which probably doesn't matter too much, I just get so tired of seeing the symbolic eagle spread. You know, the ones with the eagle being veiwed ventrally with the arrows, olive branch, or any other various items in the talons...Washington quarter (pre 1999), Morgan Dollar, selected Barbers, Kennedy Half....they are so boring in that they show the similar designs with little variance with respect to the eagle. I understand they all have significance historically, but still boring and overdone. However, the worse eagle design goes to the Ben Franklin Half...pathetic is the only just description. As always, opinions welcomed.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Ah! How did I forget the $20 double eagle...that one was good too!

 

I like the eagle on the reverse of the Eisenhower dollar. It has a strength that many other designs lack.

 

For classic/older gold I favor the $10 Gold Eagle (1907-1933) because it seems both proud and naturally styled.

For modern gold I favor the 1987 $5 gold US Constitution Bicentennial eagle because it is highly stylized and it's portrayed in a very powerful swooping motion.

For silver I favor the 1830s Gobrecht dollars in a tie with Liberty Walking halves because both are elegant, convey power and each uniquely stylize the natural characteristics of these birds.

 

I like the artistic eagles.



Although the one on the back of the I forget which commem it is but the back of the 50C Lincoln commem has an amazing eagle on it.

 

I think my favorite on a circulation coin is on the Flying Eagle Cent, but like the OP I really like the eagle on the reverse of the Sac Dollar.

 

For me, as far as accurately representing what an eagle looks like, I don't think it gets any finer than the Peace dollar. Many look like wool blankets wrapped around pigeon beaks, but the Peace details everything perfectly. But, as far as the one I like, my artist's eye is always drawn to the 1936 Connecticut Centennial coin with it's Art Deco eagle. I'm probably the only person that like that design (reverse only in this instance), but the uniqueness and style is artistically, though not naturally, pleasing.
Guy~

 

Of course, I'm a little bias being The Penny Lady and all, so my favorite eagle coin design is the Flying Eagle cent - I think it's absolutely beautiful with great detail in all its simplistic majesty!

 

I have no problems with any of the favorites mentioned.

And I have a definite candidate for worst eagle.
Look at the reverse of the 1936 Bridgeport, Connecticut, Centennial half dollar commemorative.
(I don't have one so check your Red Book.)
I know it was intentionally designed that way (Art Deco), but I find it plain ugly.

Oops, just noticed coleguy's post.

 

I don't collect the commemoratives, so I had to look it up. Sincere apologies, coleguy, but that eagle looks like it should be humanely put down.

 

Penny Lady, i`ll dispose of that 1857 for ya, what a wonderful coin ! A real beauty !

 

Always loved the Eagle on the Walking Liberty Half dollar , strength and beauty , and speaking of bad looking eagles is another commemerative the 1936 Bridgeport , it looks more like a rocket with eyes .
rzage

 

Sorry Kanga , when looking for the Bridgeport , I looked at the Connecticut Tercentenary eagle instead , Connecticut must of had something against eagles in the '30s .
rzage:whistle::headbang:

 

Walker Eagle and Flying Eagle (cent)....two of my fav's.....

 

Art Deco Rusty....period piece from the thirties....:smile

 

can someone post a photo of this apparently "controversial" art deco piece?

 

Hope this works....

 

Wow, I have to say that is pretty funky looking for an eagle. At first glance, it looks like some sort of whale. Hmmm, not one of my favorite Eagle designs.

 

The preference of what kind of eagle may reflect the era in which they were produced. There's always been a alternation between a naturalistic eagle and a heraldic (medal-like) eagle. It seems that right now, there is a preference for natural imagery, hence the beautiful flying eagle on the Sacagewea dollar. But when the Kennedy half was produced, it was a heraldic type eagle from the Presidential seal.

In the 19th century, the bust and seated liberty coinage had an eagle that sort of combined the two approaches... a naturalistic eagle with a shield on its chest. Some call it the "washboard" eagle. And Morgan's dollar again shows the tendency to combine naturalism with heraldry.

I like most of the eagles on our coins, either type. I think it's a good symbol.

I agree that eagle on the reverse of the walking liberty half.... that's a very strong image.

See, there's some good artistry on our coins after all.

I do have one nomination for worst eagle...... the Franklin half. I like the Franklin liberty bell, but the tiny eagle flexing its wings next to it is ridiculous. I know they were worried about the law, but geez....

 

lol! No apologies needed. Thats why I said I'm probably the only person who loves that design. The thing with period Art Deco is you either love it or hate it. As an artist, I love the art from that time. It took artistic liscense, which is something todays coins are lacking entirely.
Guy~