Why is a $20 gold piece NOT referred to as an 'eagle' and the $10 a "half eagle" ?
BigE2
Posts: 1,037 ✭
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BigE2
Posts: 1,037 ✭
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<< <i>The $10 coin came in the 1790's and was called an eagle, and the $20 coin was not minted until 1850. That is why. >>
What he said.
The Eagle came first and it did not make sense to rename it.
<< <i>I always thought $10 was a eagle. >>
I think that's what everyone said, but it's still early.
<< <i>
<< <i>I always thought $10 was a eagle. >>
I think that's what everyone said, but it's still early. >>
I think the title of this thread says ...and the $10 a Half eagle.
I know what he means but it just reads odd to me.
Maybe they never made a $50 gold coin because they couldnt think of a name for it. Double,double and a half eagle
The original base denomination was the Dollar or unit (as it reads on the edge of Flowing Hair and Bust dollars). The decimal derivatives were: dime (0.1) and eagle (10.0). When the $50s were being proposed, the next denomination in the sequence was to be “union” (100.0). Thus the base sequence of denominations in 1877 was planned as:
Dime = 0.10
Dollar = 1.0
Eagle =10.0
Union = 100.0
Intermediate denominations were adopted for convenience.
What is the technical term for the Pan-Pacific $50 gold commem? (Aside from "expensive")
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
The term for the $50 piece (although never used, to my knowledge) is the Half Union.
Mike
You could try quintuple eagle.
you got down to the $2 1/2 , you would have to call it a Crow............
Dan
Because the original mint act passed in 1792 stipulated the denominations to be struck. The largest denomination envisioned at that time was the $10 gold piece labeled as an "Eagle".
Here is section 9 of the act listing all of the denominations to be struck and their names:
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That there shall be from time to time struck and coined at the said mint, coins of gold, silver, and copper, of the following denominations, values and descriptions, viz. Eagles--each to be of the value of ten dollars or units, and to contain two hundred and forty-seven grains and four eighths of a grain of pure, or two hundred and seventy grains of standard gold. Half Eagles--each to be of the value of five dollars, and to contain one hundred and twenty-three grains and six eighths of a grain of pure, or one hundred and thirty-five grains of standard gold. Quarter Eagles--each to be of the value of two dollars and a half dollar, and to contain sixty-one grains and seven eighths of a grain of pure, or sixty-seven grains and four eighths of a grain of standard gold. Dollars or Units--each to be of the value of a Spanish milled dollar as the same is now current, and to contain three hundred and seventy-one grains and four sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or four hundred and sixteen grains of standard silver. Half Dollars--each to be of half the value of the dollar or unit, and to contain one hundred and eighty-five grains and ten sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or two hundred and eight grains of standard silver. Quarter Dollars--each to be of one fourth the value of the dollar or unit, and to contain ninety-two grains and thirteen sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or one hundred and four grains of standard silver. Dimes--each to be of the value of one tenth of a dollar or unit, and to contain thirty-seven grains and two sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or forty-one grains and three fifth parts of a grain of standard silver. Half Dimes--each to be of the value of one twentieth of a dollar, and to contain eighteen grains and nine sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or twenty grains and four fifth parts of a grain of standard silver. Cents--each to be of the value of the one hundredth part of a dollar, and to contain eleven penny-weights of copper. Half Cents--each to be of the value of half a cent, and to contain five penny-weights and half a penny-weight of copper.
When the $20 gold denomination was proposed, it made sense at the time to mearly label it as a "Double Eagle", as the value was twice that of the already firmly established $10 "Eagle". To try and re-label all of the denominations would have been ridiculous and cumbersome to accomplish as all of the previously minted coins that were in circulation were already known by their respective names in the public vernacular.
QN
Go to Early United States Coins - to order the New "Early United States Half Dollar Vol. 1 / 1794-1807" book or the 1st new Bust Quarter book!