American Eagle Coins Can Honor Save The Eagles Day

January 10 is Save the Eagles Day, when we’re reminded that one of America’s national icons needs our help so they can continue soaring the skies for generations to come. This bird of prey boasts nearly 70 species known throughout the world and has been under attack for sometime – not necessarily by other beasts, but by humans.

In recent decades, extensive efforts have been made to help save the eagle and even resurrect native and endemic populations. The significance of the eagle goes beyond its vital role in nature. These birds are revered by cultures around the world, with some peoples regarding the eagle as a spiritual entity. In many nations, the eagle is a symbol of power and heraldry. That is certainly the case in the United States, where the bald eagle represents strength and freedom.

The Founding Fathers of the United States chose the bald eagle to symbolize the nation, hence the bird has appeared on U.S. coinage since its inception in official form in the 1790s. In fact, the Mint Act of 1792, which established both the United States Mint and the nation’s official coinage system, requires that an eagle appear on the reverse of all coins larger in denomination than 10 cents. The year 1795 saw the debut of a U.S. gold coin known as the eagle; all vintage gold fractions thereof as well as circulating gold coins larger than the $10 bear names relating to the eagle.

Fast-forward nearly two centuries, and we found ourselves in the mid-1980s. At the time, the U.S. Mint had just been authorized to launch a new bullion coin program destined to carry the American Eagle banner. The first coins to be released in the American Eagle program were the American Silver Eagle and American Gold Eagle, both of which took flight in the autumn of 1986 amid much fanfare. A little more than a decade later, the Gold Eagles and Silver Eagles were joined by the American Platinum Eagle in 1997. Twenty years later, the American Palladium Eagle became the fourth member of the American Eagle family in 2017.

One of the many wonderful things about the American Eagle program is how versatile the coins are. They are ideal for investors, beloved by collectors, and admired by the many who enjoy the majestic artistry of these pieces, which are widely hailed as the most popular bullion coins in the world. Their vast range in prices makes them palatable for just about any budget, ensuring that anyone who wants to celebrate Save the Eagles Day can buy one – or many – American Eagles to honor the holiday in their own numismatic way.