Eagles a Reflection of United States History
From scrawny to dignified, the bald eagle continues to endure as a symbol of the nation’s majesty.
The eagle has long enjoyed a cherished spot on U.S. coinage – from scrawny to dignified, the bald eagle continues to endure as a symbol of the nation’s majesty. Ted Schwarz, in an article titled “The Eagle in American Coinage” in the March 1965 issue of Coins magazine, wrote:
“The eagle, symbol of power, action, swiftness and strength has, for many years, lent its picture to many pieces of American coinage. The eagle has, over its many years of appearance on American coins, reflected the troubles of the times during which it made its appearance ... Our country was a little, not-too-powerful nation in those early years, and the eagle that appeared on our coins tended to add to this picture of our nation. The bird made its appearance [on the 1794 coins] as a scrawny, not-too-strong, but ever-alert, ever-watching bird. The wings of the bird are outstretched, and the bird seems to be almost awakening to the dawn of a new day.
“By 1798, our picture of America, as well as the picture of the American eagle, had changed. Both the eagle and our country had developed, and both were sticking out their chests and asserting themselves in the world.
“The eagle now could be seen as a massive power standing behind the shield of liberty and peace, ready to defend the rights of free people anywhere. The eagle, after four short years, was on its way to manhood, and it was going to take the United States right along with it.
“1836 and the United States was on the move. Aside from the differences between the North and the South that still hadn’t erupted into war, the United States was acquiring land and power throughout the world. The eagle, too, was on the move. Depicted by Mr. Christian Gobrecht, the eagle took to the air in an effort to strengthen the position of its country. Still a little bit scrawny when compared to the eagles of today, the eagle of 1836 had power and courage that were equal to any challenge that it was necessary to face in the world.
“From 1840 to 1916, the eagle rested immobile behind a shield of peace. Although there was a great deal of strife in this country, the eagle had faith in our leaders and didn’t seem to interfere in the affairs of state.
“In 1916, the world situation became a little rougher than was pleasant for the United States, and so, under the guiding hand of Mr. Herman A. MacNeil, the eagle took to the air to see what could be done about the problem of a World War. A more mature eagle, it was, that took to the air in those days of trial and tribulation for the people of the United States.
“The eagle on the Standing Liberty Quarter took off to guide the people of the United States through the years of war, through a depression, and to relative recovery.
“In 1921, a different type of eagle made its appearance on the peace dollar. This eagle was designed by Mr. Anthony de Francisci and has never been equaled, as far as the author is concerned, for beauty and magnificence in an eagle designed for peacetime.
“The eagle rests on a rock facing the east, the area of the start of a new day. He is strong, brave, a symbol of encouragement for those people everywhere who are free from tyranny and oppression, and a symbol of hope for those who are under the domination of totalitarian rule.
“To encourage the free peoples everywhere, two more eagles have appeared on the American scene, one in 1916 on the reverse of the [Walking] Liberty Half Dollar, and the other on the reverse of the Washington Head Quarter. Both these eagles are standing with their wings unfurled, facing the dawn of a new day, and with their breasts bared as a shield against the wrath of the foes of those people, everywhere, who hold freedom and democracy above all other factors.
“The ideals and freedoms which we Americans hold so dear have been personified in our coinage throughout the years.”
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The pages of Coins magazine, in the 1960s, contained many ads for useful items for the collectors, such as floor safes, coin holders and important reference works. But there were a few oddballs.
One of my favorites in the oddball category was the “Universalis Numismatica Domestica” (known by its common name “Numismatic Bug” or “Coin Bug”). A full-page advertisement for the bug – available depicted on gold-plated, hand-painted tie tacks, lapel pins, as a plain emblem, or as a ladies’ charm – noted:
“The Numismatica Domestica was introduced into the United States in 1590 and is now found in all of the 50 states. It is one of the oldest known forms of universal insects and has changed very little through the centuries. This bug prefers to live in close contact with man, and there is no known escape once he has bitten. The germ transmitted by the insect is highly contagious and has been known to pleasantly infect entire families.
“Among the bug’s distinguishing characteristics are the distinctive markings embedded on its back, symbolic of its world travels. Its two pairs of wings allow it to fly swiftly and silently from one happy victim to another. His three pairs of legs permit him to crawl from table to table during numismatic gatherings, spreading his germ.
“Recent surveys show that the disease carried by the Numismatica Domestica is becoming widespread, and that those it has bitten are banded together comparing symptoms.”
The price was $2.98 each.
Another in this category could have been useful if you were being robbed. It was called Rebuff. The advertisement in the March 1965 Coins magazine, with a dramatic image of the product in action, explained:
“Rebuff is a revolutionary new human and animal repellent in a 1-oz. metal container no larger than a tube of lipstick. Rebuff releases a spray of liquid, effective up to 20 ft., onto the attacker causing a burning sensation rendering him harmless for 10 to 15 minutes. It is said to leave no aftereffects and no permanent damage. Rebuff fires up to 25 times without refills.”
It was priced at $1.98.
Oddball news items also found their place as fillers in the magazine. Some were numismatics-related, and others were not. One of my favorites in the February 1965 issue was the following from the “’Zat-So?” column by Charles V. Mathis:
“Have you ever doubted the adage, ‘It Pays to Advertise?’
“A western bank believes in turning such a financial annoyance as a bank robbery into good advertising copy.
“This bank had a window display with $54.50 in cash accompanying it as a realistic touch.
“A sign over it read: ‘This is the interest that $100 will bring in ten years if invested with us.’
“A thief, who evidently did not believe in waiting 10 years for the interest, smashed the window and took the money, whereupon the bank immediately put another sign in the window.
“This sign read: ‘If the culprit deposits the $54.50 immediately, his money in ten years will have earned $30.80 to begin life on when he gets out of the penitentiary.”
