1797 Turban Head eagle with heraldic eagle reverse
The Turban Head eagle was a ten-dollar gold piece, or eagle, struck by the United States Mint from 1795 to 1804. The piece was designed by Robert Scot, and was the first in the eagle series, which continued until the Mint ceased striking gold coins for circulation in 1933. The common name is a misnomer; Liberty does not wear a turban but a cap, believed by some to be a pileus or Liberty cap: her hair twisting around the headgear makes it appear to be a turban. The number of stars on the obverse was initially intended to be equal to the number of states in the Union, but with the number at 16, that idea was abandoned in favor of using 13 stars in honor of the original states. The initial reverse, featuring an eagle with a wreath in its mouth, proved unpopular and was replaced by a heraldic eagle. Increases in the price of gold made it profitable for the coins to be melted down, and in 1804, President Thomas Jefferson ended coinage of eagles; the denomination was not struck again for circulation for more than 30 years. These Turban Head eagles are in the National Numismatic Collection at the National Museum of American History.
Thanks for being so nice to me when I was down and managing to find a compliment to pay me after I'd just made a whole host of mistakes. Harland1 (t/c) 14:33, 15 April 2008
The Hidden Page Barnstar
I award you one for finding Trekphiler's page for people who always think that "new message" bar is real. Aren't you glad you checked your mail? TREKphilerhit me ♠ 08:42, 14 July 2008
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thank you very much for you intervention and encouragemt in a contentious episode I had with a particularly malevolent user in June. This editor continued in his ways and has this week seen them lead him into an unpleasant corner; he has been indefinitely blocked for persistant warring with others and, for now, has vowed to leave Wikipedia. It is always encouraging to see collaboration and good manners prevail. Nick Lantana11 (talk) 21:14, 22 July 2008 (UTC)