The American Bald Eagle, the National Emblem of the United States since 1782, suffered a dramatic decline in population in the mid-20th century due to fertility and egg shell weakness issues resulting from the use of the pesticide DDT, loss of habitat from human development and even hunting. The Bald Eagle was nearing extinction, with just over 400 nesting pairs remaining in the wild.
In 1973, the US Bald Eagle was placed on the Endangered Species List. Placement on the Federal list enabled the proper nation-wide protections to be put in place that allowed for the slow but steady recovery of the Bald Eagle population. The Bald Eagle was removed from the Endangered List and moved to the Threatened List in 1995; its continued recovery enabled the Bald Eagle to be removed from the Threatened List in August 2007. A ceremony marking the Bald Eagle's removal from the lists was held on June 25, 2008 in Washington, DC.
To help mark the occasion, companion bills were introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate in 2004 (108th Congress). William Lewis Jenkins (R-TN) introduced the House bill on behalf of himself and Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) and Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. (R-VA); in the Senate, Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced the bill for himself and Mary Loretta Landrieu (D-LA).
The bills called for up to 100,000 Gold Half Eagles, up to 500,000 Silver Dollars and up to 750,000 CuNi Clad Half Dollars. The Half Eagle was struck on a 0.900 fine gold planchet with a weight of 8.359 grams, the Silver dollar on a 0.900 fine silver planchet with a weight of 26.730 grams and the Clad Half Dollar on a planchet of 0.9167 copper and 0.0833 nickel with a weight of 11.340 grams.
The American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee (AEF) was the sponsor/beneficiary of the coins, and was to receive all surcharges (see below). The American Eagle Foundation "is dedicated to inspiring the global community to guard and protect the Bald Eagle and all birds of prey." (AEF web site,
https://www.eagles.org.)The House bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, the Financial Services Committee then further referred the bill to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. After nearly eight months on Committee inaction, Representative Steven Clare LaTourette (R-OH) requested the bill be discharged from the Committee on Financial Services and that it be immediately considered by the House. As there was no objection to the request, the bill was brought up for consideration. LaTourette then offered an amendment to the bill in the form of a substitution.
La Tourette's bill did not change the types of coins to be issued, the maximum quantities to be minted, the surcharges to be collected or the beneficiary of the surcharges. It did, however, change the provisions included in the original bill regarding how the surcharge funds were to be used by the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee. The original bill included the creation of an endowment to be called the American Eagle Fund and specific details as to how the Fund would be used "as a permanent source of support for the care, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery of the bald eagle and its habitat in the United States."
LaTourette's amended bill replaced the creation of the American Eagle Fund and its many detailed provisions with language that simply stated that the surcharges were to be used by the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee to "further its works."
The amended bill was considered by the House via Unanimous Consent and was passed without objection or discussion. The Senate also passed the amended bill via Unanimous Consent. The bill was enrolled and signed in each chamber, then sent to the President for final approval. US President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on December 23, 2004. A sort of Christmas present for the eagles!
The Half DollarThe Copper-Nickel Clad Half Dollar's obverse design depicts two baby eaglets in their nest along with an as-yet-unhatched Bald Eagle egg. A star separates "LIBERTY" from "2008" near the top rim; the single star is not used symbolically. The design was created by freelance artist
Susan Gamble; her design was modeled for coinage by US Mint Medallic Artist
Joseph Menna (in 2019, Menna was promoted to Chief Engraver).
(Note: The US Mint dropped the Sculptor-Engraver title about 15 years ago, transitioning to the "Medallic Artist" job title.)The primary design element of the reverse design is the Bald Eagle named
Challenger; the eagle was named in honor of the US space shuttle (STS-51-L) that exploded shortly after its launch in 1986. A US Flag that is presented behind
Challenger. The design is the work of US Mint, Artistic Infusion Program artist
Donna Weaver; US Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles L. Vickers created the sculpt of the design - Vickers was hired by the Mint under the previous job title.
Challenger was raised by humans after being rescued as an eaglet following a storm. It subsequently imprinted on its human caretakers to the extent that it was not able to be successfully released into the wild (two attempts were made).
2008 Bald Eagle CuNi Clad Commemorative Half Dollar
The Silver DollarThe Silver Dollar's obverse features an adult bald eagle gliding over a lake, likely in search of food. Eagles are generally found in wetlands that provide access to fish - a diet staple of the eagle. In the background is depicted a tree-lined coast with mountains behind them; the trees appear to be pine. Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer
Joel Iskowitz was the artist responsible for the design; US Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Evehart modeled the design.
The reverse design presents the Great Seal of the United States, as it was from 1782-1841. The Seal presents a heraldic eagle with the US Shield on its breast. The eagle holds arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right - the combination symbolizes that the US desires peace but stands ready to defend itself. Held in the eagle's beak is a banner/ribbon upon which is inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM" - "Out of Many, One." Above the eagle is seen a sun burst within which is a constellation of 13 stars that represent the original 13 States of the Union. The design and sculpt were prepared by US Mint Sculptor-Engraver
Jim Licaretz.
Why the Seal from 1782-1841? It was in 1782 that the Bald Eagle was adopted as the National Bird and incorporated into the new nation's official Seal; it has been symbolic of the US ever since. Its use on the 2008 coin recalls the icon's beginning and helps illustrate the United States' important and long-term link with the Bald Eagle.
2008 Bald Eagle Silver Commemorative Dollar
The Gold Half EagleThe Gold Half Eagle's obverse design depicts a pair of young Bald Eagles perched on a branch in a natural setting; one eagle is fully at rest, the other has its wings outstretched. The design completes a "life cycle of the Bald Eagle" theme for the program's obverse designs: eaglets on the Half Dollar, young eagles on the Half Eagle and adult Bald Eagle on the Silver Dollar. US Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer
Susan Gamble created the coin's obverse design; it was sculpted by US Mint Sculptor-Engraver
Phebe Hemphill.
The reverse design depicts the current version of the Great Seal of the United States; it is based on a 1903 engraving. Combined with the Seal found on the Silver Dollar, it completes a "Then and Now" look at the Great Seal and the Bald Eagle it features. Though a number of details differ between the two Seals, the most obvious change involves the presentation of its stars. In the modern rendition of the Seal, the constellation of stars is presented in a tighter ring of clouds with de-emphasized rays vs. within a dominant radiating sun burst (as seen on the original 1782 Seal). Other easily-seen changes include the addition of multiple olives to the olive branch on the updated Seal - there are, symbolically, now 13 in total - and the new form of the eagle's outstretched wings. US Mint Sculptor-Engraver
Don Everhart handled the design and sculpt.
2008 Bald Eagle Commemorative Gold Half Eagle
The Coin DetailsThe Bald Eagle commemorative coins were placed on sale on January 15, 2008, with all product options available. The coins were taken off sale at the close of business (5:00pm Eastern) on December 12, 2008.
The three-coin Bald Eagle program coins were offered individually in Proof and Uncirculated versions. The Proof coins were also available in a three-coin Proof Set. In addition, a
Coin & Medal Set that included an Uncirculated 2008 Silver Dollar paired with a bronze example of the 2003 National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial medal that features a Bald Eagle design, and a
Young Collector's Set featuring an Uncirculated 2008 Half Dollar were also available.
The individual coins were offered at an Introductory Price for the first 30 days of sales, after which a Regular Price kicked in; the three-coin Proof Set,
Coin & Medal Set. and
Young Collector's Set did not offer a discounted, Introductory Price. Pricing was as follows:
Option Introductory $ Regular $
Proof $5 Gold Coin $294.95 $319.95
Uncirculated $5 Gold Coin $284.95 $309.95
Proof Silver Dollar $39.95 $43.95
Uncirculated Silver Dollar $35.95 $37.95
Proof Clad Half Dollar $9.95 $10.95
Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar $7.95 $8.95
Three-Coin Proof Set N/A $369.95
Young Collector's Set N/A $14.95
Coin and Medal Set N/A $44.95
* The Bald Eagle Silver Dollar (Proof) was also made available via the 2008 United States Mint American Legacy Collection; the Collection had an issue price of $100.00.The price of the Gold Half Eagle included a $35 surcharge; the Silver Dollar surcharge was $10 and the CuNi Clad Half Dollar surcharge was $3. As noted above, the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee was the beneficiary of the surcharges collected; a total of ~$7.76 million was distributed.
Option Units Sold
Gold Half Eagle: Proof 34,550
Gold Half Eagle: Uncirculated 15,009
Silver Dollar: Proof 248,188
Silver Dollar: Uncirculated 92,036
Silver Dollar: Proof - Bulk 500
Silver Dollar: Uncirculated - Bulk 250
CuNi Clad Half Dollar: Proof 195,358
CuNi Clad Half Dollar: Uncirculated 97,491
CuNi Clad Half Dollar: Proof - Bulk 500
CuNi Clad Half Dollar: Uncirculated - Bulk 250
3-Coin Proof Set 24,719
Young Collector's Set 22,439
Coin and Medal Set 26,918
2008 American Legacy Collection 21,194
Total Gold Half Eagles 74,278
- Proof+Unc+3-Coin Set
Total Silver Dollars 413,805
- Proof+Unc+3-Coin Set+Coin & Medal+Legacy
Total CuNi Clad Half Dollars 340.757
- Proof+Unc+3-Coin Set+Young Collector's
Total Sales (All Options) 828,840
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more on the Modern US Commemorative coin issues, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 10/28/2022 10:59 am
