My Lady and Her Three Eagles: Silver Eagles and Walking Liberty Half Dollars
Private
Updated:
6/20/2026
Views: 744
Perhaps the prettiest obverse ever struck, but I also think the eagle on the Walking Liberty Half Dollar is the most magnificent of the large number of various eagles on the reverses of U.S. coins. The Lady's other two eagles are from the Type 1 Silver Eagle (left) and Type 2 Silver Eagle (right) both very nice reverses in their own right. I think Adolph Weinman would have been particularly proud of his obverse design being adapted to the Silver Eagle. This also suggests that perhaps the most overlooked aspect of numismatics is, that it is also ART! The esthetics of the eagles and Lady Liberty from this half dollar are unrivaled in numismatics, in my opinion. That's also a significant part of why I chose this set to complete, somehow, the Walking Liberty Half and Silver Eagle belong together.
I spent an inordinate amount of time looking for a photograph of the eagles on the reverses of the half dollar and silver eagles together, but alas, I had little luck in that endeavor. Therefore, my trusty I phone and I snapped several poses of these eagles, with and without Ms. Liberty. I decided to include the female obverse with the raptor reverses and this is the image to the left. I was pleased with the eagles, but I could have done a better job with Ms. Liberty (the story of my adult existence, if the lovely love of my life is to be believed!).
In most respects to choose the coin from which the set is built for the set's image is a bit of a cop-out. That meaning, it is too easy and reduces the numismatics to a one dimentional sort of thing. Not that I have a problem with that, everyone has their own incentives for getting in this game. It is the multiple dimensions of numismatics that is most attractive to me and I feel like something more should be the norm for these set accompanying images. In this case, the name of this set is what disinguishes it from other sets. The are two coins, one with two different reverses in this set. However the Walking Liberty Half Dollar is such an iconic coin, and the two sides so unrivaled, that it seems to me this was the top of the art, until the Silver Eagle appeared. The obverse of the Walker lived on, but the reverse's Eagle from the Walker gave way to the heraldic eagle, which was a step down from the Half Dollar's reverse, in my opinion. The Type 2 reverse's introduction in 2021 redeemed the artistic value of the Silver Eagle for me. Those who don't share my views concerning numismatics, I offer my apologies, but the exception makes the rule -- so my sociologist friends tell me.
Theodore Roosevelt made little secret of the fact that he thought our coinage was less than artful. There was a renaissance in American coinage, but more likely the result of the new Mint Director, Robert Woolley and his belief that the law required periodic redesigning of our coinage. The result was that in 1916 the Barber Half Dollar was replaced with the Walking Liberty, Barber Quarter with the Standing Liberty Quarter, and the Barber Dime with the Mercury Dime (incidently designed by Mr. Weinman too). Each had their debute in 1916. The Buffalo Nickel, three years earlier, and the Lincoln penny replaced the Indian Head in 1909.
The Mint did a gold tribute to the centennial of the release of Walking Liberty, Standing Liberty, and Mercury dime in 2016 by releasing gold versions of these three 1916 releases. I think that was fitting, and perhaps some corroboration for my admiration of these series as pieces of art, released during historic times, and designed and struck by some interesting characters.
As of this writing in early October 2025, this set was ranked at the top of the category, and has a 1917 d Walking Liberty half dollar awaiting approval because it was a PCGS graded coin, and that is the only empty slot in the set. I am hopeful in the next day or two this set will be completed (and it was).
I notice this set is labeled "Multi Denominational." The little village in which we resided in Germany had a single church, but there both Lutherans and Catholics who resided there. Stupid me had to ask why just one Church, and the Gast Haus proprietor quipped, "you Americans, you don't think we can be multi-denominational?" A couple weeks later he told me the Catholic Church in the village north of ours was older and grander, hence the little Lutheran place of worship was really just for the Lutherans, the northern village just had a couple who were Lutheran who came to our village's church.
Quite by accident I discovered an interesting little bibliography that has been useful at time in these endeavors: E. E. Clain-Stefanelli: "Numismatic Bibiliography" Battenberg Publishing (original in German) and Whitman Publishing published in New Zealand in English, 1985
I started this registry set on May 2, 2024.
Read more...
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The NGC Registry is not endorsed by or associated with PCGS or CAC. PCGS is a registered trademark of Collectors Universe, Inc. CAC is a trademark of Certified Acceptance Corporation.
Add Coin
Join NGC for free to add coins, track your collection and participate in the NGC Registry. Learn more >
Join NGC
Already a member? Sign In
The NGC Registry is not endorsed by or associated with PCGS or CAC. PCGS is a registered trademark of Collectors Universe, Inc. CAC is a trademark of Certified Acceptance Corporation.
There is never any charge to contact us. To reach a customer service representative, call, text or WhatsApp (+1) 855-472-3310 or use this form.
