
Eagle Art in US Coins
Eagle Art in US Coins:
Free Eagle in Flight
Photograph By Ruben Safir
Design by Thomas D. Rogers, Sr
Photo Editing: Ruben Safir 2008
Free
Eagle in Flight enhances the extraordinary reverse of the Sacagawea
Golden Dollar by lifting the eagle out of the limits of the coins
context to better represent the freedom and uplifting dimension of the
fight of an eagle. The presentation inspires viewers by focusing on the
flight feathers of our bird, adding depth to the design with the
judicious use of lighting to accent the feathers with reflective white
light while accenting dimension with the darken tail feathers. The
complete affect causes the image to nearly jump off the canvas into the
viewers personal space.
From the beginning of US coinage the American Bald Eagle had taken its
role as the national symbol and displayed both naturally and
symbolically. Symbolic Eagles started with early Silver Dollars. The
gamely representation of a proud, if not a bit perturbed bird with
almost a folks art presentation. In truth, this early eagle was
difficult to distinguish from a dove or seagul. But the representation
and variations remain on American coinage until about 1798 or perhaps
later when two different eagle designs came into use, one heraldic and
symbolic, and the other more naturalized but with a stronger use of
naturalist technique.
An example of the Heraldic version can be seen on this 1804 owned by the Smithsonian Institution
http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/1804_dollars/1804_dollar_class2_rev.jpg
With the Cap Bust the design the newer more natualized eagle remained in use with this serviceable basic design
The break through of Eagle design came with the rare Gobretch Type
sitting liberty dollars, who's design was lifted and used with only the
slightest modification on the Flying Eagle small cent.
Putting the eagle in flight gives the coin a more attractive look
although the design seemed to challenge the technology of pre-civil war
America and it wasn't again until the reverse of the Standing Liberty
Dollar, $20 gold eagle and then when the Golden Dollar was released that
the public then had a soaring eagle on a coin. It is worth mentioning
that in 2009 the reverse of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar will change so
it might be a long time before eagles soar on our coinage.
Photography done with a Sony Cybershoot Camera with a Carl Zeiss Lens.
Photo editing done with the GIMP
Write up and HTML marked up in Open Office - All of which is Free Software
Comments
Mal_ANA_YN
Level 5
A great representation of freedom and this country.
Kepi
Level 6
Great coins! Always like the eagle design.
Golfer
Level 5
Beautiful coin. I should of acquired a few. The eagle on coins is great. Always enjoy nice designs. Thanks for a well done blog.