The Pyrgian Cap, Liberty Cap, or Freedom Cap has been a symbol of freedom since the days of the Roman Empire. It is oval-shaped and was designed to fit snugly on the head. When a tenured slave of a Roman owner was set free by earning his freedom through servitude or some heroic deed, a Pyrgian cap was symbolically placed on his or her head signaling to the world he or she was now a free person. Later it became a symbol of freedom by being placed on wooden poles by the French revolutionists. In the 18th century it was a symbol of freedom in the new world of the Americas. It held a place of hope on the Fugio Cents and on the 1776 Continental Dollar. It became a part of the new United States of America's coinage by being placed prominently (above and behind Liberty's head) on the obverse of the half cent pieces (1793 through 1797), one cent pieces (1793 through 1795), Quarter-eagle (2 1/2 dollars) gold pieces (1796 through 1807), half eagle ($5.00) gold pieces (1795 through 1807), and the eagle ($10.00) gold pieces (1795 through 1804). Mexico adopted the symbol by creating it's famous "cap and ray" coinage. In some instances, on some coins, they added the word "LIBERTAD" to the cap. There exists three varieties of this. Small, medium and large letters. Did you enjoy this bit of numidsmatic history? Clinker
Clinker,you will be please to know that one of the Bouquet Sou coins from Montreal has the symbol of a star & a liberty cap.This was issued in 1837,& it was intended to express sympathy for those who were involved in the 1837 Rebellion in Lower Canada. Aidan.
