The first $10 gold eagle piece struck by the
United States was presented to President George Washington by Mint
Director Henry W. de Saussure in 1795.
The coin type presented to Washington was named by numismatists as the
Capped Bust (Small Eagle) Eagle.
The work of Engraver Robert Scot, the obverse featured Miss Liberty
wearing a style of cloth cap popular in
the day, facing right. The reverse displays an eagle with extended
wings, resting on an olive branch while holding a wreath high in its
beak.
Half Eagles ($5) of the identical design
circulated at the same time.
All early US gold coins are classic rarities of great value.
Sometime in the 1930’s, researchers documented a 9 Leaf variety of the
1795 Capped Bust Half Eagle. Most of the surviving 1795 Half Eagles
have 13 leaves. No one is sure why a few of them have only nine leaves.
Some scholars guess that the Mint was experimenting to get the most
aesthetic appearance (first 9 leaves, then 13, finally settling for 11
in 1796). Others surmise the die sinker simply got careless and lost
track of how many leaves were engraved.
Since then, the 1795 9 Leaves Capped Bust (Small Eagle) Eagle has
rightfully earned its reputation as one of the rarest, most desirable
coins in early United States gold.
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