Priceless Diamond Eagle of the Society of the Cincinnati Worn by George Washington Now Displayed in Philadelphia for the First Time

Diamond Eagle was Presented to Washington in Philadelphia in 1784

Display Will Complement the Museum’s Exhibition of a Recently Discovered Watercolor by Pierre L’Enfant, who Designed the Eagle

PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 6, 2017 — The Diamond Eagle — an exquisite jewel-encrusted medal owned and worn by George Washington — is now on display in Philadelphia for the first time since it was presented to Washington in this city 233 years ago. 

The Diamond Eagle is the badge of office of the president general of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization founded by officers of the Continental Army at the end of the Revolutionary War to preserve the memory of the American Revolution for all time. Members of the Society wear a gold Eagle insignia. 

The officers of the French Navy commissioned the Diamond Eagle — fashioned in gold and silver and embedded with nearly 200 diamonds, emeralds, and rubies — as a special tribute to Washington. It is on view at the Museum of the American Revolution from Dec. 6, 2017 through March 4, 2018, marking only the fourth time it has been publicly displayed in the United States.

The Diamond Eagle was presented to George Washington in May 1784 at Philadelphia’s City Tavern, just steps away from the Museum, during the first general meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati. The name “Cincinnati” was taken from the heroic Roman general Cincinnatus, who relinquished dictatorial powers after saving the Roman republic from invasion. The modern Society of the Cincinnati is the oldest patriotic organization in the United States and created the American Revolution Institute in Washington, D.C., to fulfill the historic mission assigned to the Society by George Washington and his fellow officers. The Diamond Eagle is the most prized possession of the Society.

“We couldn’t be more delighted to see the Diamond Eagle make its return to Philadelphia, the city where it was presented to George Washington,” said Jack D. Warren, Jr., Executive Director of the Society of the Cincinnati. “The Diamond Eagle embodies the idea that the American Revolution is an event of transcendent importance in world history. Remembering the Revolution is a charge that is passed down from one citizen of our republic to the next, just as the Diamond Eagle has been passed down for more than 200 years.”

The Museum has made extraordinary security provisions for the priceless Eagle, which is displayed in a specially designed, high-security case adjacent to the Washington’s War Tent theater, where Washington’s headquarters tent is dramatically presented.

“The Diamond Eagle epitomizes the idea of Washington as the ‘American Cincinnatus,’ the ultimate citizen-solider who put the good of the nation ahead of his own and returned his power back to the people,” said Michael C. Quinn, President and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution. “It is fitting for us to present it alongside Washington’s War Tent, which signifies Washington’s selfless devotion to the cause of the Revolution and his tireless support of his soldiers. We couldn’t be more grateful to the Society of the Cincinnati for allowing us to present this precious artifact to the American public.”

Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French-born military engineer who is most renowned as the master planner of Washington, D.C., served in the American Revolution and designed the Society’s insignia, basing it on the American Bald Eagle. In 1783, L’Enfant traveled to France to have the Eagle made by Parisian goldsmiths. Officers of the French Navy commissioned the Diamond Eagle, and L’Enfant carried it with him in 1784 on his return to Philadelphia and presented it to Washington on their behalf.

The display will coincide with the Museum’s exhibition of a recently acquired watercolor painting also by L’Enfant. The painting depicts the Continental Army’s encampment at Verplanck’s Point, New York, in 1782, and includes the only known wartime depiction of Washington’s War Tent. On display from Jan. 13 – Feb. 19 and entitled Among His Troops: Washington’s War Tent in a Newly Discovered Watercolor, the limited-run exhibit will bring together works of art, weapons, and other artifacts from the Revolutionary War to explore the history surrounding the remarkable recent discovery of this painting by the Museum’s curators.

Originally a surprise gift to Washington, the first President General of the Society, the Diamond Eagle became the badge of the office of President General. It continues to be passed down to each President General of the Society of the Cincinnati as part of their induction into office. The Eagle is the only object once owned by Washington that has been in continuous use for the purpose for which it was created.

When Washington died on December 14, 1799, the Diamond Eagle was among his personal possessions at Mount Vernon. His widow, Martha Washington, had the Diamond Eagle sent to Alexander Hamilton, who was elected the following year as the successor to Washington as President General of the Society. Following Hamilton’s untimely death in 1804, the Diamond Eagle was sent by his widow to South Carolinian Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, upon his election as the third President General in 1805. Pinckney donated the Diamond Eagle to the Society in 1811.

The Diamond Eagle exhibit is included with regular museum admission. Museum tickets can be purchased here and are $19 for adults; $17 for seniors, students, and active or retired military; and $12 for children ages 6 and up. Children ages 5 and under are free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days. Group tickets for parties of 15 or more are currently available for a reduced price by calling 267.858.3308. Memberships are also available for purchase here or by calling 215.454.2030.

About the Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dynamic story of the American Revolution using its rich collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and works of art. Immersive galleries, theater experiences, and recreated historical environments bring to life the events, people, and ideals of our nation’s founding and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, and Franklin Court, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.

About the Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, founded by the officers of George Washington’s army to perpetuate the memory and ideals of the American Revolution. In 2014 the Society created the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati to carry out that mission in the 21st century. The American Revolution Institute advocates for understanding and appreciation of the American Revolution, supports advanced study, presents exhibitions and other public programs, promotes preservation and provides resources to teachers and students to enrich understanding of our War for Independence and the principles of the men and women who secured the liberty of the American people. Like the Museum, the Society of the Cincinnati is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.societyofthecincinnati.org and www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org or call 202.785.2040.