Peter (eagle)
Peter Jefferson was a bald eagle who lived at the Philadelphia Mint from until 1836. He became well known after a while and was let out of the Mint each night to fly around the city of Philadelphia. While perched on a coining press one day, the press suddenly started, and Peter's wing was badly injured. Despite attempts to save and heal him, he died in the mint. His stuffed body is now on display at the mint.
Peter is said to have been the model for the image of an eagle on the silver dollars issued from 1836 to 1839 and the Flying Eagle cent of 1856-1858.
