 Saint @-@ Gaudens originally conceived a flying eagle design for the cent , but at Roosevelt 's request , developed it for the double eagle after learning that by law , an eagle could not appear on the cent . Writer and friend Witter Bynner recalled that in January 1907 , Saint @-@ Gaudens was seriously ill with cancer , and was carried to his studio for ten minutes a day to critique the work of his assistants on current projects , including the cent . Saint @-@ Gaudens sent Roosevelt a design in February for the obverse of the cent showing a figure of Liberty . Roosevelt suggested the addition of a Native American war bonnet , stating , " I don 't see why we should not have a conventional head @-@ dress of purely American type for the Liberty figure . " In May 1907 , Roosevelt instructed that the Indian design be developed for the eagle instead . Saint @-@ Gaudens was by then in declining health ; he died on August 3 , 1907 , without having submitted another design for the cent . 
