In a letter, dated Philadelphia, June 10, 1783, to the Baron de Steuben, who had presided at the Society's first meeting, Major L'Enfant, later to plan the city of Washington, wrote that a medal to be worn as a badge was hardly in keeping with the objects and character of the Society of the Cincinnati, and upon his recommendation the Eagle was adopted, on the breast which were placed the designs of the medal as above described. Major Enfant also recommended that medals be struck bearing the original design and presented to each member, which medals, "on account of the precision required in the design, ought not to be less than a dollar, the subject being too complex to admit of its being properly detailed in a smaller compass."

The Society accepted L'Enfant's recommendations and resolved "that silver medals, not exceeding the size of a Spanish milled dollar, with the emblems, as designed by Major L'Enfant, and certified by the President, given to each and every member of the Society, together with a diploma, parchment, whereon shall be impressed the exact figures of the order and medal, as above-mentioned; anything in the original Institution, respecting gold medals, to the contrary notwithstanding."

Referring further to the medal, L'Enfant in his letter continued:

"A medal is a monument to be transmitted to posterity; and, consequently, it is necessary that it he executed to the highest degree of perfection possible in the age in which it is struck. Now, to strike a medal well is a matter that requires practice and a good die; and as there is not here either a press proper for this work, nor people who can make a good die, I would willingly undertake to recommend the execution of the medal, the Eagle, or the order, to such persons in Paris as are capable of executing it to perfection."

Major L'Enfant went to Paris on behalf of the Society and under his direction the original Eagles of the Cincinnati were turned out. Whether or not the medals in silver were ever made is a moot point. There is some evidence to show that the dies were cut and brought back to America, but so far as known there is no evidence that actual medals were ever struck. The failure to provide these medals to the members was always regretted, and at a later date new dies were made and medals struck, as will be related below. In 1890 the General Society adopted the design of the reverse of this medal as a seal, 2-1/4 inches in diameter.