Quarter Eagles ! This coin has three distinctions: It is the first precious metal coin without stars issued for circulation by the USA prior to 1836; it is the first ever to show the heraldic eagle, which would become standard on all silver and gold denominations 1798 - 1807; it is the earliest made showing 16 reverse stars honoring Tennessee's admission. The dies show evidence of careless haste, suggesting time pressure. Though documentation is lacking, quarter eagles may have been included in presentation sets commemorating the admission, June 1, 1796. Prooflike presentation coins of this date are known of all other denominations above the cent except the half eagle.
Dies are by Robert Scot (possibly with John Smith Gardner's help, as Hilt {1980} believes). The obverse copies the 1795 half eagle, reverse the Great Seal of the United States (1782); compare the obverse ultimate prototype; conjecturally, it was adapted from some Roman copy of a Hellenistic goddess, her hair altered, a big soft cap added. This was long mistaken for the pilleus, alias Phrygian cap or liberty cap. The latter was a close-fitting felt cap, ceremonially placed on slaves' heads when they gained their freedom (partly to conceal the short haircuts which instantly identified slaves); it was also worn by freemen after release from the status of prisoners of war (for similar reasons, slaves were originally prisoners of war and their progeny), and by victorious gladiators whose prizes included release from the arena.