Undated (Instituted 1783) Eagle Badge of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Undated (Instituted 1783) Eagle Badge of the Society of the Cincinnati. Gilt Silver and Enamel. About Uncirculated. 50.5 mm , 30.5 mm, badge only. 23.78 grams. Obv: Drop-winged eagle with gold wings and white enamel head and tail. The eagle's talons grasp green enameled olive branches and a green wreath encircles the eagle's head. An oval medallion on the eagle's breast shows three Roman senators at the house of the Cincinnatus, begging him to lead their armies. A surrounding white band surrounds and is inscribed OMNIA RELINQUIT SERVARE REMPUBLICAM (He forsook all things to serve the Republic). Rev: Similar eagle with central oval medallion inscribed SOCIETAS CINCINNATORUM INSTITUTA AD : 1783 showing Fame with trumpet honoring the hero who drops his sword to return to farming. Spiral gold wire attachment loop with 37.0 mm x 91.0 mm white-pale blue-white moiré ribbon. The Society of the Cincinnati was a patriotic organization with strict entrance rules that only allowed membership to officers from the Continental and French armies who served at least three years, died while serving, or were officers at the time of the Revolutionary War's end. Membership in the organization was passed down only to the eldest son of the member. General George Washington was the society's first president. The society is named for Roman farmer Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, who controlled the Roman armies during a military emergency, but relinquished control to the Roman Senate at the end of the conflict and went back to farming.

Estimate:£0.74

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