United States. The Society Of The Cincinnati Eagle Medal, A Rare Smaller L’enfant Eagle In Gold, 1784

The Society of the Cincinnati was first conceived by Major General Henry Knox and was formally established on May 13, 1783. The role of the Society was to preserve the liberties fought for during the American Revolution, maintain the French-American alliance formed throughout the course of the war, and provide charity to the Officers’ families. It is the oldest hereditary society in the United States and continues to function today.

United States. The Society of the Cincinnati Eagle Medal. The Smaller L’Enfant Eagle (1784). A beautifully crafted left facing eagle featuring exceptionally well worked wings, with a white enamelled body presenting delicate wishbone shaped feather detailing in the neck, the head is flat with a central red eye and slightly downcurved beak that is partially open, the tail features five marginally curved lines with wishbone details beneath the feet and on each side of the tail is a laurel branch with three green enamel leaves, the whole head is surrounded by a green and red enamelled wreath connecting with the base of the neck and shoulder of each wing, surmounted by a smaller integral wreath suspension loop, and oval shaped French double barrelled ring, the obverse centre presents a deep blue medallion with golden figures illustrating two senators presenting a sword to Cincinnatus standing on a green enamelled foreground, contained in a white surround with the hand painted motto OMNIA RELINQUIT SERVARE REMPUB (He abandoned everything to serve his country) beginning at 12 o’clock, the reverse centre medallion also in deep blue and green enamel with the Gold figure of Cincinnatus standing alone amongst a house and plow, in a white surround with the handpainted motto VIRT. PRAEM. SOCI. CIN. RUM. INST. A.D. 1783 (Reward of virtue, society of the Cincinnati, instituted 1783) beginning at 10 o’clock (specific to this type of eagle), the eagle measures 23.05mm (w) x 36.52mm (h – inclusive of integral wreath suspension, weighs 12.5 grams, enamel in reverse presents large chips in the surround damaging the inscription at 1 and 6 o’clock, very minor contact marks, an extremely rare eagle with exceptionally detailed wings, a signature of the Smaller L’Enfant type, that has withstood the test of time and is in near extremely fine condition,

Accompanied by a modern correct ribbon with slot brooch clasp.

The Smaller L’Enfant Eagle is identified in “The Insignia of The Society of the Cincinnati” by Minor Meyers, Jr on page 49.

Footnote: The American Revolution began in 1776 and persisted until 1873 despite the decisive victory over the English at Yorktown in 1781. The constant presence Americans and French Armies eventually resulted in the English signing of a peace treaty in September 1783.

Major General Henry Knox, General Washington’s Chief of Artillery, had the idea of creating a society long before the resolution of the war. However, it was only on April 15, 1783 that his notions for a fraternal patriotic organization were turned into a written proposal. The Society of the Cincinnati was established roughly one month later, with General George Washington serving as the first President General, until his death in 1799. Military personnel (those who served minimum three years or were dismissed) along with all continental officers were eligible to become members. Approximately 2400 officers joined the Society as original members made a contribution of one month's pay towards the organization and the officer’s families. The principles of the order were as follows: “1. An incessant attention to preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of human nature. 2. An unalterable determination to promote and cherish between the respective states the national honor. 3. To render permanent and cordial affection subsisting among the officers, to dictate brotherly kindness in all things and particularly extend to the most substantial acts of beneficence towards those officers and their families who unfortunately may be under the necessity of receiving it.”

The Insignia of the Society was designed by Major Pierre L’Enfant of the Continental Corps of Engineers. He decided that the medal should be no larger than a dollar, and should contain an eagle, as the bird is specific to the North American continent. The medal, generally known as the Eagle, was partially modelled after the French Order of Saint Louis and the Order of Military Merit. In October of 1783, L’Enfant was commissioned by the President General to sail to Paris and oversee the fabrication of the badges in 1784 by Duval and Francastel. The first group of forty-five were “made in a slight way” (measuring 31mm) costing $17 dollars each. For the other members, L’Enfant had a batch of 140 badges made to be sold to individual societies members, which were sold at $26 each. The Medals have since been manufactured by various American and French firms including Jeremiah Andrews, Tiffany & Co., Arthus Bertrand, and Bailey, Banks & Biddle. The latter was the official insignia maker in the 1960s. The Eagles were largely made by hand, resulting in as many as twenty varieties and patterns. However, they all contain allusions to the Patron Saint of the Roman Dictator Cincinnatus. In a translation of Livy’s History of Rome, it is told that Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, a citizen and farmer, was appointed Dictator when tidings from five horsemen threatened the city. He accepted the position and under his leadership all potential dangers were driven away. Cincinnatus then resigned from his position and returned to his fields and agrarian lifestyle. For these actions he is revered as the quintessential example of Roman simplicity and patriotism, and the Society aims to follow this precedent in all endeavours.

Criticism of the Society exists in the mid 1780s, when citizens argued that this society of officers, adorned by badges, were claiming they had a duty to protect the liberties that the people fought and gave lives for. The strife became so rampant the Society was nearly abolished, however that action would have insulted the French, who were allowed to wear the badge and considered it an official decoration from the United States. The society forged on, however membership numbers dropped to nearly 300 by the middle of the 19th century resulting in the dissolution of several state societies. By 1854, the rules of membership were altered, allowing the descendants of officers to join, regardless if the officer himself was an original member. This resulted in a flourish of members and an increase in interest. Although the Civil War delayed the vision to revive all societies, it offered a renewed sense of patriotism and encouraged the growth of the organization in both individual numbers and the re-establishment of previously lost societies.

As of 1938, the international headquarters is located at the Anderson House in Washington, D.C. Now in its’ third century, the Society promotes the public interest in the revolution through its library and museum collections, publications and other activities. The Eagle remains a rare and unique representation of the oldest hereditary society in the United States.