Lot 163
Society of the Cincinnati - The Andrews-Berrien Eagle. Gold eagle designed by Jeremiah Andrews, c. 1788-91, 40 x 30 mm. It is No. 11 in the Minor Myers' book, The Insignia of The Society of the Cincinnati and is likely to be one of the eagles advertised and sold in Savannah, Georgia by Andrews, who was a Philadelphia jeweler. On the obverse, the head is left, with a distinctive beak and eye. The head, claws, and tail are white. The tail seems quilted rather than divided into distinct feathers. Unlike the typical Andrews eagle which shows three senators handing a sword to Cincinnatus, this eagle has larger figures and only one senator. The motto is in small black letter on white: OMNIA RELINQUIT SERVAR REMPUBLICAN. On the reverse is a large Cincinnatus with plow, house and sun behind. The motto is in small letters on a white thin border: VIRTUS PROEMIUM S.TAS CINCINNATORUM INSTITUTA A.D. 1783. The abreviation of societas is a distinguishing trait. The eagle is attached to a faded blue and white ribbon and is kept in a worn red box, 3¼ in. square, with clasp, and handwitten on bottom, "Elizabeth Duyckinck / March 15 - 1831."
The Society of the Cincinnati has seen only one other example of this Andrews eagle type; it was owned by original member Major John Berrien and is in a private collection.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $55,200 |
