EARLIEST Spread-Wing EAGLES

In a previous thread, some had asked HOW EARLY WERE SPREAD-WING EAGLES were shown on a coin.

Please post your EARLIEST SPREAD-WING EAGLES

Shows that today's coins copy the designs from Ancient coins.


Sicily Akragas AE Trias 23mm 8.5g 287-241 BCE Beardless Zeus Hellanios 2 Eagles tearing at rabbit hare in talons HGC 2 159



Egypt Ptolemy II 285-274 BCE AE Obol 20mm 6.7g Alex III Eagle Tbolt Plain SV 601



Pontos Amisos AE21 8g 95-90 BCE Zeus - Eagle Tbolt SNG BM Black Sea 1221-5 - Eng Collection




RR Plaetorius Cest 67 BCE AR Den Helmtd Diety quiv cornuc S-C Eagle tbolt S 349 Cr 409-1



US CWT AE Cent CE 1863 Eagle - Carpeles Dry Goods Groceries Waterloo Wis Coin no 1



American Gold Eagle


Please post your EARLIEST SPREAD-WING EAGLES

 

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My earliest spread wing eagles are from the Roman era.


Roman Antioch. Nero AD 54-68. AR Tetradrachm.

Augustus AE As. Struck under Tiberius
Rome Mint. AD 34-37
Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER
Rev: Eagle standing facing on globe, head right; S-C across field.

 

Excellent examples! Loving that elephant hat wearing ATG
Here's my earliest from 420-406 BCE
Sicily, Akragas. Tetras
10.35 g), ca. 420-406 BC. AKPA, eagle right, head lowered to devour hare held in talons; in left field, crab right. Reverse Crab; below, three pellets above crayfish left. CNS 50; SNG ANS 1037; HGC 2, 140. Rare. Glossy dark chocolate brown patina.

 

Can't believe it but my earliest spread wing is Elagabalus.

Elagabalus, 218-222 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria
AR Tetradrachm, struck 218-220 A.D., 25mm 12.02 grams

Obverse: Laureate head of Elagabalus right
AVT K M A ANTONEINOC CEB

Reverse: Eagle standing left, wreath in beak, star between legs, delta epsilon in field
DH MARC EX UPATOC TO B

Reference: Prieur 249A; McAlee 760

 

It looks like this is my earliest coin with an eagle with spread wings.

Elymais
Phraates I | c. 150 CE
AE Drachm | 3.79 grams
Obv: Bearded bust facing, crescent moon with pellet right and anchor
Rev: Eagle facing left with four crescent moons around

​

And then I have these two Ptolemaic Egpytian AE Chalkon's that I haven't been able to pinpoint but I believe they are from Ptolemaios VI, c. 170-145 BCE.

8.67g | 20mm | 4mm thick

8.22g | 22mm wide | 3mm thick​

 

Messana


Sicily Mamertini 288-278 BCE AE Pentonkion Mars-Eagle Mercenary Samnites Messana

 

Here is my earliest and my newest eagles:

Earliest:
Sicily, Akragas
AE Tetras
Before 406 BC
Obverse: AK-PA, eagle right, tearing at hare
Reverse: Crab; three dots and shrimp left below.
(this coin deserves new pictures I think!)



Newest:
Trebonianus Gallus
AR tetradrachm
Antioch, Syria
251-253 AD
Obverse: AYTOK K Γ OYIB TΡEB ΓAΛΛOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, S beneath bust
Reverse: ΔHMAΡX EΞOYCIAC YΠATO B, eagle standing right, head and tail left, wings spread, wreath in its beak; Δ between legs, SC in ex
ex: @Valentinian

 

The most majestic eagle I have depicted on a coins is posted below . This eagle has the leg of a sacrificial animal in it's talons, most likely a hare's leg. It's amazing how many different cultures were in awe of the eagle. Living in upstate NY we frequently see these magnificent creatures when driving on country roads .


The most famous depiction of eagles can be seen on the Akragas Decadrachms & Tetradrachms, c. 412 BC. Alagandron posted a slightly later version of this design on a bronze coin of Akragas.

 

Of the Greek ones shown, this unidentified one seems the only one with what I would call the heraldic pose (breast facing, head to one side). It would be great to know what the engraver of the first US eagle design had seen when he adapted the type. I would suspect that might be a matter of record if he kept a diary. I do love the early Akragas design with side view eagles but it did not serve as the model coin.

This AR obol (11mm, 0.52g) of Cilicia (uncertain or Tarsos???) does not count because the bird is only 3/4 facing and does not have the reverted head. I only show it because it is 4th century and unlike what has been shown above.



Ryro did show but did not label this type from Apameia, Phrygia. The AE22 shows the eagle alighting on a maenander pattern and is flanked by the caps of the Dioscuri. Again, it is not close enough to the US type to claim copyright infringement.


Gordian III, Valerian, Aurelian and Carus got the head reverted part right on Alexandrian tetradrachms.


Still, the best I have seen are the Syrian tetradrachms of Caracalla through Trebonianus Gallus. These are common enough that I would expect any 18th century die cutter to have seen the type.
Caracalla, Antioch, head right


and Caracalla, head left from Akko Ptolemos


Other US coins used 3/4 eagles which date back much further but I believe the most likely coin that inspired the first US birds was a Roman Provincial.

 

Celtic Britian. Catuvellauni & Trinovantes, Epaticcus, AD 35-43. AR Unit (13mm, 1.20g, 9h). Obv: EPPATI; Head of Hercules right, wearing lion skin headdress; pellet in ring behind. Rev: Eagle standing facing, head left, on snake; pellet in ring above. Ref: Hobbs 2024; Van Arsdell 580-1; SCBC 356. Ex-CNG.

 

Thanks Doug and beautiful Phrygian! And sorry for my laziness. I was just showing off a couple others I had with the Sicilian being my oldest.
The very well patinated coin is:
Perseus

(179-168 BC).Bronze. Pella or Amphipolis.Vs: Head of Perseus with Phrygian helmet and Harpa over the shoulder right.Rs: B-A. Eagle on lightning bundles standing to the left, head turned right; In the field left monogram, in the section Sigma. 19 mm. 6.01 g.HGC 3, 1099. rare.

 

Interesting !

My earliest :


Syracuse Hiketas 288-279 BC
Head of Zeus hellanios right
ΣΙΡΑΚ ΟΣΙΩΝ. Eagle left, wings open, star and A in field
8.95 gr, 23 mm
Ref : Sear # 1212

Q

 

...here's Perseus with open wings...and keeping him company in this pic is Hereinnus Etruscus..(don't ask me why)

 

Very nice eagles everyone!!


Sicily, Akragas
AE Hemilitron, Circa 425-406 BC
Obverse: [AKP-AGANTIN]-ON, eagle, with head raised, standing left on tunny.
Reverse: Crab holding a serpent in its left claw, conch and cuttle fish below; six pellets around.
References: SNG ANS 1032; Calciati I pg. 176, 43; SNG Copenhagen 73
Size: 27mm, 20.9g


Sicily, Messana, The Mamertinoi
Circa 288-278 BC, AE Double Unit
Obverse: APEOΣ, Laureate head of Ares right; spear head behind.
Reverse: MAME-P-TINΩN, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt.
References: SNG ANS 401; Calciati I pg. 91, 2
Size: 22mm, 8.0g


Syracuse, Sicily
Hiketas II, Ruled 287-278 BC
AE Litra, Struck circa 283-279 BC
Obverse: ΔΙΟΣ ΕΛΛANIOY, youthful laureate head of Zeus Hellanios right.
Reverse: ΣΥΡΑΚ-ΟΣΙΩΝ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings spread, A to left.
References: CNS II, 168; HGC 2, 1449; SNG ANS 799
Size: 23mm, g


Syracuse, Sicily imitating Ptolemaic Issues of Ptolemy II Philadelphos in Alexandria
Minted under Hieron II, Ruled 270-215 BC
AE Litra, Uncertain mint in Sicily
Struck post-reform circa 264-263 BC
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right (Sicilian Portrait Style B).
Reverse: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings spread; oval shield to left, control mark A to lower right near eagle tail; all within sold circle border.
References: Svoronos 615; Wolf & Lorber, ‘Western Greek’ Style, Subgroup 3 (First Issue), H69 (A42/P56)
Size: 27mm, 18.3g


Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285-246 BC
AE Diobol, Alexandria mint, Series 2
Struck circa 285-261/0 BC
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus-Ammon right.
Reverse: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings spread; Σ above Galatian shield to left, A between legs.
References: Svoronos 560
Size: 29mm, 14.37g


Euboia, Chalkis
AR Drachm, Circa 290-273/1 BC
Obverse: Head of the nymph Chalkis right, wearing earring and necklace.
Reverse: Eagle flying right grappling with serpent in talons, caduceus below; XAΛ before.
References: Picard Em. 30; BCD Euboia 178-80; SNG Copenhagen 438
Size: 17mm, 3.46g


Divus Augustus, Ruled, 27 BC-14 AD
AE As, Struck by Tiberius 34-37 AD, Rome
Obverse: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER: Head of Augustus, radiate, left.
Reverse: Eagle standing, front, on globe, with open wings, head turned right, S-C across fields.
References: RIC I 82
Size: 27mm, 10.7g


Elagabalus, Ruled 218-222 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Syria Antioch Mint
Obverse: AYT K M A ANTWNEINOC CEB, laureate head right, three dots at top of laurel, with slight drapery over far shoulder.
Reverse: ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠATOC TOB, eagle standing facing with wings spread, head left, with wreath in beak; star between legs; Δ-Є across fields.
References: McAlee 758, Prieur 250
Size: 27mm, 11.7g

 

My earliest:

Roman Republic, Q. Cassius Longinus, AR Denarius, 55 BCE [Crawford] or 53 BCE [Harlan], Rome Mint. Obv. Young male head of Genius Populi Romani [Crawford & RCV] or Bonus Eventus [RSC & RRM II] right, with flowing hair, scepter behind, border of dots / Rev. Eagle, with wings spread, standing right on thunderbolt, lituus [curved augural staff used in reading auspices] to left and capis [jug used in same rituals] to right, border of dots; Q • CASSIVS in exergue. Crawford 428/3, RSC I Cassia 7 (ill.), Sydenham 916, Sear RCV I 391 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 23 at pp. 180-187, BMCRR Rome 3868. 19 mm., 3.77 g., 6 h.



Another one from a few hundred years later:

Philip II, billon Tetradrachm, 248-249 AD, Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, AYTOK K M IOΥΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB / Rev. Eagle standing facing, head right, wings spread, holding wreath in its beak, ΔHMAΡX EΞ OYCIAC YΠATO Δ [4th consulship]; ANTIOXIA / S C in two lines below eagle. Prieur 474 [Michel and Karin Prieur, Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms (London, 2000)]; BMC 20 Syria 560 [Warwick Wroth, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 20, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Syria (London, 1899) at p. 218]; McAlee 1042 [Richard McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch (2007)]; RPC VIII No. 29020 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/29020). 27.15 mm., 14.00 g. Ex. CNG Electronic Auction 466, April 22, 2020, part of Lot 728.

 

Are you sure that the first eagles on U.S. coins were directly inspired by Roman coinage, rather than indirectly? I know little or nothing about the subject, but a brief amount of time poking around suggests that those early U.S. eagles were modeled on the Great Seal of the United States, which in turn was based on the heraldic eagle of Europe, dating back to the Middle Ages (and appearing on a lot of European coinage*); the heraldic eagle in turn was ultimately derived from the Roman eagle. That kind of indirect derivation seems to me like a more likely explanation. Then again, what do I know?

* See, for example, the eagle on this Prussian Reichsthaler of 1790:

 

Sorry folks, I haven’t been around. Had to drive 3 hrs to pick up a boat, and 3 hrs back. I am now in a bar having supper, and imbibing on barley pop. I may go Conehead, and consume mass quantities. So, forgive my slurry words, and I may have to look at the posts tomorrow with a little more clear head.

thank you everyone for posting and commenting on some great Eagles!

 

AUGUSTUS AS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD

BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 273-275 (27mm, 10.71 gm)
RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 462

Obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate head facing left
Inscription: DIVVS AV _____ GVSTVS PATER

Reverse depiction: Eagle with wings spread standing on Globe
Inscription: IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT - S C (above, left and right)

 

Modern Ancients (Yeah, that CE Empire stuff)


RI Volusian 251-253 CE AR Tet Antioch mint Eagle - son of Treb Gallus



RI Nero AR Tetradrachm 54-68 CE Eagle

 

To add weight to your theory is this pierreale of Ferderick II/III de Aragon, King of Sicily, 1296 - 1337, one of the few medieval coins in my collection. The crowned Prussian eagle most likely derived from crowned eagle coinage of the medieval era.